British Whig (Kingston, ON), 17 Jun 1898

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MARINE INTELLIGENCE.

The schooner Acacia with coal for R. Crawford is expected in from Oswego this evening.

Departures: Steamer Marion, Welland canal, light; tug Thomson, Montreal, six grain laden barges; schooner Kate Eccles, bay ports, light; sloop Maggie L., bay ports, light.

The car ferry steamer International, plying between Prescott and Ogdensburg, arrived this morning in port for the purpose of undergoing $5,000 worth of repairs at R. Davis' ship yard. Last summer the steamer suffered damage from fire.

Water was let into the dry-dock today and the steamer Rosedale floated. If it is found the new seams in her hull do not leak she will be floated out of the dock on Monday. The steamer New York will enter the dock just as soon as the Rosedale leaves it.

Arrivals: Steamer Denver, Chicago, 47,500 bushels of wheat; schooner Ralph, Chicago, 50,200 bushels of wheat; schooner Harold, Chicago, 50,100 bushels of wheat; tug Thomson, Montreal, five light barges; Maggie L., Picton, 3,000 bushels of wheat and peas; sloop Minnie, Wolfe Island, stone; schooner Kate Eccles, bay ports, 8,000 bushels of wheat; tug Reginald, Montreal, three barges, light.

Welland Canal Report.

Port Colborne, June 16th - Down: Steamer McVettie (McVittie ?), Chicago to Ogdensburg, general cargo; steamers Iron Duke and Iron City, Chicago to Kingston, corn; steamer Pueblo, Chicago to Kingston, wheat; steamers Arizona and Plymouth, Duluth to Oswego, lumber; steamer Tecumseh and Maringo, Toledo to Collins Bay, lumber.

Port Dalhousie, June 16th - Down: Steamer P.J. Ralph, Chicago to Kingston, wheat; barge Harold, Chicago to Kingston, wheat; steamer Denver, Chicago to Kingston, wheat.

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A FLOATING PALACE.

The luxurious facilities supplied by standard railroads have been a revelation in the lines of enterprise and acquirement of comfort and style. The spirit of improvement and consideration for the travelling public has carried with it a swift contagion. Steamboat lines have promptly realized the value of up to date appointments. The new steamer New York, just completed at Buffalo for the American line service to Montreal, in connection with the New York Central & Hudson River railroad, is a practical demonstration of this spirit. The prominence and popularity of her route - down the rapids of the St. Lawrence river - will make a description of this beautiful steamer particularly interesting. Being 180 feet long and of 44 feet beam, she is of the full size possible for the canal locks, used upon the return voyage. Her graceful lines, brass fittings and immaculate whiteness suggest the gratification of a millionaire's whim, the private yacht rather than a public conveyance, with intelligent and thorough provision for passengers.

Entering by the aft gangway on the main deck, the traveller must admire the handsome dining room, the largest seen on fresh waters. The entrance to the attractive retreat is through a beautiful mahogany arch, with grills in hand-carving extending across the broad deck. The floor is covered with a rich velvet carpet in a delicate shade of green. Round mahogany tables for small parties, arranged in studied disorder, are furnished with fine linen, neatest of silverware and crockery, each piece of the delf bearing a pretty hand decoration. The entire room is enclosed by large observation windows, having plate glass mirrors between, and by this ingenious arrangement none of the delightful scenery is missed, as the view not observed through the windows is reflected in the mirrors. This effect is particularly entrancing while passing through the Thousand Islands. Green silk curtains, caught up by gold cords, are draped across the windows, the soft shades blending admirably with the carpet. The panel wood-work is in white and gold. Palms lend their peculiar charm, supplying the finishing touches to a sumptuous apartment. If pleasing environment can sharpen appetite, this must be an ideal spot to dine at, especially as the American line stewards and chefs are the most skilled men obtainable, and are engaged from the Waldorf-Astoria, that synonym of all that is luxurious and tempting.

Other parts of the New York are equally attractive, particularly the forward main deck which, on ordinary steamers is devoted to freight and seldom, if ever, visited by passengers. This deck is also enclosed by observation windows, has hard-wood floor, and is arranged as a lounging and smoking apartment. A broad, mahogany stairway leads from the main to the promenade deck, directly to the large saloon cabin, fitted with comfortable, upholstered settees, ottomans, rich hangings and furnishings in the same perfect taste as the dining room, producing the most agreeable suggestion of restful summer days, in the midst of refreshing breezes and charming scenery. Scattered throughout this room are pretty writing desks for the benefit of passengers who desire to drop a line to the less fortunate ones at home. The arching for the roof of this cabin is one of the most graceful pieces of steamboat architecture ever seen in Kingston. The woodwork is all stylish and neat. On each side of the cabin is a row of staterooms entirely separated from it by a passage, a novelty making the rooms cooler and more private. Each room contains a double lower berth and upper berth, and is provided with running water, electric lights, annunciators and all modern conveniences; some even having tiled bathrooms attached. The usual cabin space is really in three sections, the saloon and the two state-room groups. The empire design on the paddle-boxes is very handsome.

A noticeable feature of the New York is her broad promenade deck forward of the saloon cabin, a most desirable feature for a steamer running upon a scenic route. The electric light equipment is a work of art in itself, supplying 300 incandescent electric lights, on each artistic shade of which is etched the "empire wreath," for the empire style is adhered to throughout the steamer. It is a pleasure to votaries of this style to study how carefully it has been followed. The steamer is literally a blaze of light at night. Even the signal lights are supplied by electricity.

The powerful machinery is situated beneath the main deck together with the electric lighting plant. Two huge boilers are located forward of the engines. On her trial trip the New York registered eighteen miles an hour, putting her well into the race for the fastest record on the river. With this addition to an elegant fleet the new American line is a great credit to the Folger system, and their enterprize in establishing a line of daily steamers from Clayton to Montreal in connection with "America's Greatest Railroad" must revolutionize transportation facilities. The officers of the New York are captain, Coleman Hinckley; first mate, A. Brown; first engineer, James Estes; second engineer, I. Noble; steward, Charles Lohmann; chef, Francois LeGoff; purser, W.H. Enos.

The state room sections were built at Buffalo by contract from designs furnished by B.H. Carnovsky, whose work throughout entitles him to the rank of architect. The boat was changed completely except the shell of the cabin, which already was a fine piece of naval architecture; and every plan and design even to those on the lamps, was furnished by Mr. Carnovsky. All fittings and furnishings were manufactured especially for the New York. The toilet rooms, captain's, officers' and crews' quarters are superior to any yet provided, and the aft cabin below the main deck provides provides a cool gentleman's cabin with twenty-five berths. The kitchen and serving pantry are excellent and the purser's office a pleasant retreat. Polished brass is much in evidence on the decks; everywhere are seen little touches of taste and finish that distinguish the artistic and luxurious. The well finished carpentry, the plumbing, electric light and general electric work were performed nearly altogether by Canadians; Samuel Wright, son of a Kingstonian, foreman of a large Buffalo factory, superintended the plumbing. The lights are in sections controlled by switches; the dynamo is new and of latest pattern. The work on the rebuilding of bulwarks and outer sections for the staterooms was done under contract. Captain James Allen, Kingston, had general care of the boat during the reconstruction. The New York is practically new. The engines and boilers are excellent. The chief engineer of the line, James Gillie, spent two weeks at Buffalo with engineer Estes in getting the machinery in such good working order that the boat on her first outing started off at an eighteen miles an hour clip.

The new St. Lawrence floating palace left Buffalo last Monday afternoon to reach her new home here. The run to Port Colborne was fast and pleasant; canal locking was rapid, though she had but two feet to spare in passing through; the helmsmen praised her for easy steering quality, and in Captain Hinckley's hands she was like an intelligent being. On Lake Ontario, about sixty miles out from Port Dalhousie, the great gale of Tuesday night struck her, and though the waves washed the promenade deck and drenched state room windows with their splashes the New York was not a high roller by any means, but may be accounted an uncommonly good sea boat, likely to be steady in the rapids. Only one of the party of guests on board confessed to having been sea-sick, and in a chronic case the boat may well be excused. The catering for the two days was done by the steward of the America last year, Charles Lohmann, who will this year sustain the reputation he has brought to the line. The waiters are experienced New Yorkers; one of the chefs is from the steamship St. Louis, sold to the United States government, which did not take over the luxurious appointments with the crafts. The New York has won good opinions from all sorts of people; the American line is all right.