[Illustration: THE NEW BRITISH PACIFIC LINE EMPRESS OF INDIA.]
The Empress of India is intended to be the pioneer of three fast mail
steamers, built by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company for service in
connection with the Canadian Pacific Railway, between Vancouver and
the ports of China and Japan, thus forming the last link in the new
route to the East through British territory. Her sister ships, the
Empress of China and Empress of Japan, are to be ready in April next.
These three ships all fulfill the requirements of the Board of Trade
and of the Admiralty and Lloyd's, and are classed as 100 A1. They will
also be placed on the list of British armed cruisers for service as
commerce protectors in time of war. For this service each vessel is to
be thoroughly fitted. There are two platforms forward and two aft, for
mounting 7 in. Armstrong guns. These weapons, in the case of the
Empress of India, are already awaiting the vessel at Vancouver. The
Empress of India is painted white all over, has three pole masts to
carry fore and aft sails. She has two buff-colored funnels and a
clipper stern, and in external build much resembles the City of Rome.
Her length over all is 485 feet; beam, 51 feet; depth, 36 feet; and
gross tonnage, 5,920 tons. The hull, of steel, is divided into fifteen
compartments by bulkheads, and has a cellular double bottom 4 feet in
depth and 7 feet below the engine room. There are four complete decks.
The ship is designed to carry 200 saloon passengers, 60 second cabin,
and 500 steerage--these last chiefly Chinese coolies, for whose
special delectation an "opium room" has been provided on
board.--_Daily Graphic_.
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