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wet-pipe system, where all the pipes are filled with water under pressure, was impossible because of the great weight and danger of freezing. The dry-pipe system with pipes filled with air under pressure which, when released, operates an automatic valve admitting water to the system, was not used because of the possibility of flooding a section of the ship where the pipes might be damaged in case of collision. A watchman's time detector is con- nected with 38 recording stations so located that in order to make a proper record, the watchman must pass through every section of the ship. Wrecking Pumps. An 8-in. wrecking suction pipe is run fore and aft under the main deck. This is connected by 8-in. valves and suction lines to each compartment above the double bottom. The valves are so located in the compartments that they can be operated from the main deck. This system is connected to the two 18%4-in. by 12-in. by 12-in. pumps on the main deck. The 10-in. by 814-in. STEAMER COMMONWEALTH, OUTBOARD by 12-in. bilge pump, located in the engine compartment, has an independ- ent suction line to each compartment above the double bottom and a con- nection to each of the 46 water-tight compartments in the double bottom. The four 12-in. circulating pumps are each fitted with 12-in. bilge stictions. Twelve metallic lifeboats, ten 26 ft. by 7 & by 2 it. 9 im deep, and two 20 i. py. 6 {t- 8 in. by 2 ft. 9 in. deep; Po ic talts, six 7) ft. by 6 ft. 8 in. god six ie ft by 6 ft. 8 in by 2 it. 3 in. deep; 2,250 block cork life pre- servers distributed throughout the staterooms, crew's quarters and saloons, and a Lyle gun complete the life saving equipment. A standard long distance telephone is located in every stateroom and at va- rious places throughout the saloons and crew's quarters, all inter-communicating through a_ switchboard. Independent telephones are fitted between the pilot house and engine room, and pilot house and wireless telegraph room, The location of the passenger toilet rooms between engine and boiler en- VIEW. closures, entirely away from ventilation through outside windows, as usually in- stalled, utilizing a portion of the steam- er that is undesirable for staterooms, is a departure which the result in use has justified. Large ventilators ex- tend from "the © toilet. rooms te the upper deck, one ventilator immediately back of the kitchen range and the other against the iron engine room enclosure. The heat from the range and engine room enclosure creates a draft through these ventilators affording perfect ven- tilation. In addition suction pipes are eonmected to each urinal and . toilet bowl extending to siphon, hoods on the upper deck, The officers' and crew's quarters are located mainly on the dome deck for- ward of the dining room and kitchen, though the deck hands and firemen are located below the main deck forward. On the dome deck is located the officers' mess room seating 46, 30 of- ficers' staterooms; with three water closets and two shower bathrooms for crew. The kitchen and pantries are Joca-