The Atlantic Ferry. By A. J. Maginnis. (Whittaker and Co.)
—This is a most interesting little history of the rise of the great steamship lines of the Atlantic, and the successive types of vessels. It is copiously illustrated with diagrams and sketches of the various steamships, and sone portraits of the promoters of steam- ship enterprise. The sums spent on the bigger steamships are enormous, as much as on a first-class ironclad almost; and the Companies must earn a great deal, or they could not afford to build these floating palaces. But there always seems to be room for big hotels and big steamships. Compared to an ironclad, a great" liner" is a much more useful affair, it begins doing its work at once and keeps on doing it ; whereas an ironclad's engines are certain to break down, its guns to burst, or the vessel itself to ground somewhere, and no inconsiderable portion of its life is spent
in being patched up. The true reason is that " Government can afford to pay for it." The agreement by which we can take over these "ocean greyhounds" in time of war, is certain to prove of incalulable value.
Previous page
