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WATER FRONT OF THE SEATTLE CONSTRUCTION & DRY DOCK CO.'S PLANT © YARD: onthe Pacific: coast is better equipped for the prompt repair of vessels than that of the Seattle Construction & Dry Dock Co., Seattle. The company has sufficient dry dock facilities to dock any vessel that is likely to visit the port, and has a full equipment of cranes and machine tools. At the present time the yard is crowded with vessels that are being .repaired and are fitting out for the season. The steamer City of Seattle, of the Pacific Coast Steamship Co.'s fleet is undergoing most extensive repairs. The sides from the main deck up to the upper deck, formerly of wood, are being rebuilt of steel. The entire main deck, the galley, pantry, dining room, officers' crews, crew's quarters -and cargo spaces are being entirely renewed. The observation room on the upper deck is being extended and 'a new pilot house and texas built. The steamer is also receiving a new _ battery of Scotch boilers, new winches and cargo-handling gear, new and complete electric wiring and new heating system. The machinery is also receiving a general overhauling. Transformed into Oil Burner The steamship Governor, of the same fleet, is undergoing 'alterations consisting of the installation of fuel oil tanks and oil-burning equipment. The Dahl oil-burning system of me- chanical atomization will be installed. The -- steamer President, of the Same company, recently underwent similar alterations and is now jn suc- cessful operation. Among the vessels now at the yard undergoing repairs of various kinds are the following: Iro- quois, Bellingham, Admiral Sampson, Knickerbocker, Manhattan, New Eng- land, W. B. Flint Abner Coburn, Azelia, Pioneer, San Juan, Major Samuel J; Ringgold, Oceana Vance, Dora, Santa Cruz, eine Union iron: Works Co.' San Francisco, have been very busy on fitting out and repair work since the first of the year. The two large grav- ing docks at Hunter's Point and the two floating docks at the yard have been in constant use and a number of vessels have had to wait their turn. The largest repair job has been the Union oil steamer, Santa Maria. Prac- tically her entire bottom plating had to be renewed, faired and replaced. The British oil tanker Cowrie, which struck on the bar in entering port, is also in dry dock for extensive re- pairs. . Considerable work has also been done on the American-Hawaiian steamers Nevadan, Nebraskan, Colum- bian, Isthmian, Georgian, Honolulan and Arizonan. The Standard Oil Co. has also sent quite a fleet to this yard for the usual spring fit-out. Consid- erable repair work has been done on the Wilhelmina, Matsonia and Lur- line of the Matson Navigation Co.'s fleet. The ship yard of Nilson & Kelez, Secale. is--quite busy on new work and general repairs. At present the company is building a cannery tender for the. Pacific. American. Fisheries Co., a halibut schooner for Moe Bros., of Seattle, and has just received an or- der for a ferry steamer from the Ju- neau Ferry & Navigation Co, tobe 93 ft. long, 19 ft. beam and 11 ft. 6 in. deep. The ferry will be equipped with a 250 H. P. Speedway gas en- gine. The. Moore & Scott Iron Works, San Francisco, some time ago placed the ferry steamer Sausalito in dry dock to receive a new rudder and other hull repairs" caused by striking the bulkhead at Sausalito during a heavy fog. The steamer Mackinaw, owned by the Robert Dollar Co., was placed in dry dock for cleaning and painting and general fit-out. Ex- tensive repairs were also made to the machinery of the steamer Pleiades. The Key Route steamer, San Fran- cisco, also underwent general over- hauling at the yard. New Ferry Steamer The Commercial Boiler Works, Seat- tle, recently completed the job of converting the bark Nuuanu into an oil barge. New boilers have also been 'provided for the steamers Atlas and Sampson, as well as fuel tanks for the fishing steamer San Juan. The ferry steamer Alameda, built for the Southern Pacific railway by the West Oakland shipyard, went into commission on Feb. 23 and will cut the running time between Oakland and San Francisco by 5 minutes. Like the Contra Costa, the paddle wheels on each side will be operated by sep- arate engines, four in all, allowing the vessel to be turned around in her own length in time of emergency. Special safety features consist of sev- en bulkheads up to main deck and five more extending to platform deck, any one of which may be pierced dur- ing collision without endangering the vessel. The cost is estimated at $500,- 000. On the upper deck ample pro- vision is made for many outside seats and the greater portion of these are protected overhead and on either side. The interior finish is of mahogany. Ventilation is provided by special ventilators on both decks. The din- ing room is located beneath the main deck, seating 76 passengers. The vessel is equipped with electric lights and searchlights for navigation. at nights. Oil will be used for fuel. The general dimensions are: 292 ft. 4 im