21 JULY 1894, Page 25

Our Ocean Railways. By A. Fraser Macdonald. (Chapman and

all.)—There is always a certain amount of fascination about the history of the great steamships and their racing, but this is not the first account of the subject, and there is little that is fresh in it. Four interesting comparisons are made between the working expenditure of the successive types of vessels, from which it appears that economy in the working of engines only just keeps up with the increased demand for power. Of course, these great steamships carry passengers principally, and passengers pay better than cargo. We have also a description of the `Teutonic's' armament and capacity as a troopship. The hook is well illustrated.