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An Epoch in Canadian Shipping
Bs RASiHiLPH C/IRl.yLE
' REPRINTED FROM THE CASADIAN MAGAZINE MARCH, 1907 THE ALLAN TURBINE STEAMSIIII' VICTORIAN An Epoch in Canadian Shipping By RAXDOLP11 LWRI.YI.E .\ffimUn^,i glimpse oj a tremautous ,h,ni)ir jrom the suits early 0/ navigators to tin- turbines oj t lie Allan Line IHK\ the ind()niital)le e.\- various e[K)ch> in the evolution of ocean I plortT. Jacques Cartier, first and inland navigation. Be it almost sailed I in Canadian waters, enough to >ay that to Canada may be about four hundred years aj^o, claimed the credit for producing the first he little dreamed tliat on the vessel to cro,-s the .Atlantic with no pro- other side of the Atlantic, in the ancient pelling prnver apart from steam. seaport of St. Malo, a monument would While we now regard Cartier's means be erected centuries later to perpetuate of navigation as entirely primitive, it was his name as the pioneer trader in what not until within the fourth centurv after was destined to become one of the world's he navigated the St. I^iwrence that steam ;..;reat routes of commerce bv sea. His became an actual factor in the propelling was a <;reat achievement af^ainst great of ve.sscls at sea. And it was not unii? odds. Depending entirely on wind and 1852 that Canadian shippers reallv awoke sail, he buffeted the gulf gales, and brought to their opportunities, when .Messrs. Allan, what would now be regarded as little the pioneers in steam navigation between more than a fisherman's sloop into the Great Britain and Canada, made a con- title waters of the greatest inland water- tract with the Canadian Government to way in the world. But the name of provide a mail service between the old Jacques Cartier, notwithstanding his great country and the new. That was an im- feat of discovery, is scarcely more signifi- IKirtant day for this country, and with the cant in the history of the navigation of granting of that first subsidy by the Gov- Canadian waterways and of Canadian ernment for a trans-Atlantic mail service shipping than others who have come upon went an impetus to Canadian shipping the scene some centuries later and who that is felt even to this day, and which has have been outstanding figures in the succeeded in building up between Cana- nii; < WADiAN .ma<;azink «f KnKlan.l. Ird..,„| nro,,,.,Uu.comman,l.,fabri«..illed ;„„l S..tlan.l. a "» ./„/«. ;, ves.sel that wa> emj.l.ned to with the iKst in the world. ' «arrysi.ppies,,.,hel)ukeofVVeJii„g,on, In «ho was then cam|K,innin« ..,n,i,i,.ri„K thi- urovvth a.ul .han«f, in the Penin- •n shi|,|H„jr U.twen, fana.la ..,,,1 ihr o|,| Allan s. led country, even for Canada in search «..in« hmk t-, ;,lm..s| of new ,he .arxm-s for his ••^pnn.nK .,f vessel, and it the nineteenth .enturv. isinterestinR ,he <"<;tf hat name • Allan" stan.ls h.slirst voyage from „ut ea>ilv alx'.ve all (JIasKow others an.l .. .uebec Parted a line indeed it i> im,K,>si|,U. of ..eamships ,„ ,|,,,| hat has w.th the h,.tory «one kick and forth .,f Can^iian >hi,.,,in« «i,hincreas VMth.mt nivinn lar^e plaee to ""'' '"•l-r.ance -lurinK the su.ree.l "«,v"r"'"' '^ mK Kfncral.ons ei^hty-live years. of those who have borne the name of '!'">'^ ^^''^'1 Allan an.l who have U-en «••> the pro,H.-llip.r eon- for!?...r.e, "'"Tand nected with the the voyages were various .om,Mnies of conscuentlv whuh hat name has •""'"''"''' heen so lon« i.lenti- ''"•'^'^'"1 hed. I-ew Z 7 ut,r\'" iK-rsons living now ran '^^ •"';""- «"> profitable, traee •ml•in l.>bv the.K this chain back end of ei^ht years farther than the a.lveni Captain ot the most prominent figure of all, that atcd a regular not the first of his service of clipp,r historic stock to navigate ,,,,^^^^ our waters. The founder ""''•''"''' '^' '"'«"' •'» of the .Allan to m'-!inr ^^>-^ Line was really Captain Alexander Allan father of Sir HuKh, a ^"'' ''""'' .Scotch youth, who he Jen '" "^ •" '""1^ "P"" «.ry evinced a .K^''>l^"""'l^ »f yearninK for the sea. indit^h/'''"" "ur ,Iav, I his lad, after servms his apprenticeship '"J">' -' '•'^"•••^PectiCe ^Huview oof fh^"""the small'T yet picturesque craft that immediately preceded the tuminj; jKunt in the history of marine navigation. Hut any one, however lacking in imagination, could form at lea.st a mfnlerate idea of what it meant for Captain Allan to surmount in his Fitr [..issagf tmly, apply to t'api.iin Allan, oil boiini, at the I rosri. or to Miller, Kd- moii,-i..iieaiitl Allan." Sixty- six yt-ars later, after innumer- able xidsbitude- and ( jin •: steam _ ion, the turbine engine, and ntreasc«l their alrca attained in les.> time than it takes a man to live out the allotted span. It might Im.- well here to mention that Captain Hryre .Allan was a son of .\le.\ander Alkin and a brother of Sir Hugh He acted for twenty years at Li ver|«M)l as managing owner „ of the line, and when he died his two nephews, Rola-rt and James Allan, succeeded him, and have been repre- sentatives of the line at Liver- SIR HUGH ALLAN, WHO FOR MANY YEARS WAS A PROMI- pool for the last thirty-six NENT PIGL'RK IN CANADIAN SHIPPING CIRCLSS years. Eight years after Captain .Alexiinder Allan's first vov- partnership in the shipping bu.siness with age to Canada, the fleet of the Albn -Miller, Kdnionstone and Company, a firm Line consisted, among other vessels, of which later Injcame Kdmonstone, Allan the Canada, the Favourite, the Brillianl, and Company. Kight years Liter Hugh's the Blonde, the Pericles and the Gypsie. brother .Andrew came out and soon en- Doubtless these names are familiar to tered the partnershij) with his brother. persons still living in Canada, because the .About twenty years later ?,Ir. F.dmon- vessels that carried them were favourite -stone retired, and from thi ime to the rneans of transportation across the .Atlan- present the aflfairs of the A. n Line on tic in those d;iys. Twenty years later, this side of the .Atlantic have l)een con- after iron had come into use as a material ducted under the firm name of H. and A. for .shipbuilding, the Allan fleet contained .Allan. After the death of the founder of the Slralheam. the Minerva, the Stralh- this line, two of the sons, James and blane, the Glenfinart. the Gleniffer. the -Ale.xander, conducted the business in Ardmillan and the Romsdal. Gbsgow, while their brother Bryce took \rany readers will l)e curious to know- charge of the office at Liverpool. That something about the advent of Hugh left three brothers in the old country and Allan, who afterwards became so well two in the new. The business, which was known all over Canada. He was one of by this time well established, began to five sons of Alexander Allan. The other expand rapidly, but for forty years it four sons were James, Bryce, Andrew continued under the management of the and Alexander. Hugh came to Canada quintette of brothers. Hugh became the in 1826, and five years later entered into most prominent of all, and in 1871, in ; ! TIIK CA* M>1AA MAGAZINK nunc. land in winter. lu. was n-.nnnuM.lnl An aiiem|>. w«> f. , made to kt.i^'h,. jarryo,.M|,e.o„,..,jJ,here.uh«.: ;"»' "'erefure the umlract wa» kn.«hih,,..l,|„l„ot :,; '^"'«'"- .am uit|. ., ,.,.,)j. •:;;;""'. -Hh-ns .- di.s.ou .>')« .. nrcuniMan.e. il. and A. All.n An..M,ha,|ihcx,mt. .ii.li,Kt.-,.n I,. , „H" t-.mad..,n "ip. h.m a few OoNvrnnient to yc-ars a,v, ., K s.ne ,,rovi le tl,e ^.l-.mL he > serine. Tu .arry Allan, a.,. i^..:,, out'the obje ^ j^ th. -I u„h • aRreemen. neces.ita.ed iheMTvucarc.^ f.-Io..: great a l.ii- H. S,- MnniaKu Allan. -, otlu.tleet.andassteatn.hi,. Mr. H; ^ aii,,, ;'- I.d ;|j-_An.lreu M Ihenhegun to A. Allan an,l M replace xH-hnK' usee's W j! j;rablc ' 'i"he lir>t regular >,,niluan.e Meani>l.i|, ^erxiu- i..'connec,ion wi c In- I'Mory of ,he growth --n(M-.uHri,ainan.iAnu.ri.ais.re.: of .shipping to and rom Canada. The fir.t Memur ,o he ;u. t ;va.s the Ca,„:J,a.,. She 1 wa. a 1 v /,/V^''r';V'^ f"""^^^'*' s S.S. VIRGI.NIAN—MUSIC ROOM AN KIHM II I\ CANADIW Slll|'|'l\<; S.S. VIKOIMAN — iJiNlNti SAUOll.N provide an unbroken yearly service. The was plaied in direct connection by Grand Trunk Railway was completed to steamer with London. Portland that \ery year, 1853, and there- It should not be overlooked that dur fore Portland became the winter terminus ing all the years of which mention has of the new steamship line. However, already U-en made, the steamship com- the Intercolonial was yet to come as a panies doing busine.ss between Canada condition of Confederation. It was com- and Great Britain were at a great dis- pleted in 1876, connecting Quebec with advantage, ljecau>e Canada had not Halifax, which thereafter became the cotne into the limelight as one of the winter port of the AlLnn Line of Royal (ountries of new and great possibilities. Mail Steamships. Si.\ years later the Neither had our own i)eople lieen art>u>ed fortnightly service was increased to a to the importance and the magnificent weekly «iervice, which has been continued po»ibilitie> of our e.xport trade. Tour- ever since. ists were not comini: this way in gre.tt increasing The opi)ortunitics for trade numljers. and indeed, we are -larcely between Canada and Great Britain would yet (liming into our own in that re>pe(t. not permit the .\llans to rest (ontented The Ciiiied States was the munlry in with this achievement, .^o plans were the wurldV eye then, and attention was continually being considered to embrace generally attracted that way.. The -team- new routes and additions to the llett. ship comi)aiiies doing busTncs- between In 1862 ;i line was established to run New York jiiid the large Ijirojiean ports between Glasgow and Montreal, and it injoyeil an overwhelming share of j)at- became so successful that ten years later ronage, but nevertheless the Canadian the service was increased to a ijermanent companies nv>re thnn held their ov.ii, weekly service. Later again Canad.i and forged ahead with creditable per- 8 THE '^MDIAN MAGAZINE severance. Alth„UKh in those dr. and modation was even just a decade ago. l^r.on> i.K-re ha> k-en go.jd thought It .s.,unde.l reason for these w.- S.S. VICTORIAN—S.MOKI.\G KOOM AX EPOCH IN CANADIAN SIlIIMMNi; t'veryoiu' ilnf» ii either fnr lni>iiu'>>. for |)U >iiri\ for health, or a com- hination of two or all of tlu-.tTfa.-.on>. If a person travels for hiisine? he wants to reaih his •lestinalion as soon as l>o^^il)k'. if for plea.--ure to have as mu(h comfort as possible, ani' to come into contact with new and at- tractive things; if for health, to see whatever tends to attract and solace the eye and to en- counter the thinijs that refresh and restore. For the.- reasons, if for no other, the Cana- dian route is liound to increase in pop- ularity with amaz- inj; rapidity. Perhajjs the greatest (juestion before steamship owners all over the TYPE OF FIRST-CABI.N STATEROOM I.V ALLAN TURBINE STEAMSHIPS world just now is, What is the ma.ximum of .size things must contribute to the support : and .speed in keejMng with profitable of a steamship—passengers and goods. operation? That question .seems to a|)- Of course a vessol can be profitably ply with particular fitness here in Canada. operated between Canada and Great We hear a great deal of talk about a Britain, depending entirely on gcjods for fast mail .service, about short routes, and revenue, but it is mpossible as yet to 'I about summer and winter ports, but it throw the goods out and depend entirely is doubtful whether the general public, on passengers. and even many of tho.se who do a good Hut that seems .o be e.xactly what deal of the talking, really appreciate the must happen if the speed that is talked meaning of what they j)resume to dis- about so much is ever to be accomi)lished. cuss. W'liie this article is not inteniled Every knot that is added to the speed to l)e a technical consideration of the of a vessel after it has attained what is 1 economic- of shipbuilding and ship now regarded as a fairly high rate, say operating, I'^ere is at the sime time a of sixteen to twenty-two knots, means hope that it niay serve to give some idea the elimination of a tremendous amount of what a great and involved problem of cargo space in order to provide room a serious consideration of the ocean for the increased size of engines and trans[K)rtation fiuestion really is. .Ac- coiil bunkers. cording to conditions in Canada, two The new larjie Cunarders. for instance. r lU THK CAN ,1>IAN MAGAZINE are Ituiim :^ul out for a speed of Iwciitx' rait of twenty-two knots an hour. To the five kiiot^ an hour. In order to atiain ine.xperienced mind that appears to be that their makers have had to abuiidoii tremendously out of proportion. If it almost i-ntirely the idea of uirryin;^ takes, s.iy, 250 tons of coal a day to run freij^llit. the >|)a(e usually given over for one of the Allan turbine steamers at an that purpose being re(|uired for the ex- average speed of seventeen knots an hour, tra large engines, boiler rix^ms aiier of men consume four or five times as much coal. to handle the coal and of sp;ice to con- But coal is not the only thing. There tain it. The design of tlu; -esiiel must are as well the men to handle it, the of necessity, also, be e.\tremc!y elongated space to put it in, and the men also to both from well amidshipfsi forward to run the e.xtra large engines. Each of the iiow and also backward to the stern, the Allan turbine steamships employs in order 'o cause as little friction as fios- a crew of 350, while a crew of one of sible passing through the water. To the large Cunarders numbers well up carry out a design of that kind, much towards i,2cx>. The Allan turbiner Vic- of the space that is ordinarily reserved torian or Virginian is well equipped for cargo has had to lie abandoned al- with a crew of 350. So large an army together. It is estimated also that it takes of men as 1,200 working in the lower just about twice as much motive power to portions of a vessel at sea is a thing of drive a vessel at the rate of twenty- five tremendous significance, and it might knots an hour as it takes to drive at the well be regarded as a real menace rather PROMBNADE DECK—ALLAN TURBINE STEAMSHIPS N JiFOCH IX CANADIAN SHIPPING 11 than a^help in a time of genuine peril. ciently to enable the project to be Men who work in the holds suc- of great cessfully carried vessels out. are of necessity not of the higher As it is, with vessels of a order, and it is not speed of to be expected of seventeen knots the mails from Great such that they display chivalry and Bntiiin are landed in Canada heroism in case of disaster. in about It is enough SIX days' time. to imagine what The Virginian has ac- might be the result to tually kinded them in five an equal number of days, four- passengers were a teen hcurs. It is a question, therefore, sinking ship to disgorge a thousand of It to cut that time these down to five days or men (»n to the upper decks, vieing a little less, the great expenditure with one another for a means neces- oi safety. sary would be good warranted. It is out of A idc.1 of the difference in the th( question just now to cost of maintaining one presume that of the large the Cana-lian steamships route could maintain a as compared with the smaller large and 'nghly expensive vessels miy be exclusive pas- formed from the fact senger bus: i?ss. It is not that vessels of a even certain speed of twenty-five that the Xew York route will knots can carry practiLullv maintain no cargo at It profitably, but if all, while a it should maintain vessel such as'iiie .Allan tur- It with profit, considering the biners, which m.iintain difference a speed of seven- in wealth and population of the teen knots, carry 2,000 tons United of cargo, and btates with Canada, we vessels of the type can at least hope of the Tunisian and that the day is not far distant Corstcan, with a speed of when the fifteen knots, Canadian route carry will do likewise. How- five thousand tons. It miy be ever, with steamships like the seen, therefore, that Allan tur- to increase' the biners we speed are pretty well equipped from fifteen knots to seventeen after all. The Albns were knots means a diminishing the first to of capacity put the turbine theory into actual from s.ooo tons to 2,000 tons, prac- while to tice in trans-oceanic increise the speed from navigation. They seventeen knots are, therefore, to the pioneers in that re- twenty-five knots means the cutting spect. To them as a out of cargo altogether. Canadian com- Briefly, that is pany also can credit be given for the great problem that other confronts Cana- initial steps. dian They were the first to shipowners to-day. It would no build a steel ocean steamer, doubt be a very nice thing which was to see vessels the Buenos Ayrean, that could built in i88i. They maintain a speed of twenty- were the first trans-Atlantic five knots sailing up line to use and down the St bilge keels on vessels, beginning in Lawrence, but if that 1884 picture is ever to with the be Parisian. realised, it looks as if there will have It should be satisfactory to be an entire to all who are revolution in the system interested of in Canadian shipping to know propulsion at sea. Under existing that the turbine in ocean conditions no steamship navigation has company in not proved to be Canada would the failure that so many scarcely undertake to persons predicted. On the other hand provide vessels th?t would maintain a the owners appear to be speed of twenty-five greatly pleased knots, unless the with the venture. From the standpoint Government would subsidise them to of the passenger, the the extent of almost Allan turbiners bankrupting the leave httle to be desired, and that, after r>iiblic exchequer. The new Allan tur- all, 's what the public care biners are of most about. 12,000 tons register. If But from they the owner's standpoint there had to maintain a speed of twenty- seems to be certain five limitations; for in- knots they would have to be of about stance, the turbine would ^0,000 tons register. not be the most economical Those who means of propelling a advocate a fast steamship vessel of MM !e.^ speed than the VictoriuH vice should stop to consider whether or Virgintan, or in other they would be words, than a willing to back up a pri- vessel with a speed of less v/te company with than seventeen public funds suffi- knots. As vessels of the size and type 2 1 THE 'C j.*^ . i >1aix Magazine^ of the Allan turbiners seem to have n order to make her rfciched about the maximum doubly secure against praaic- the heavy weather able in the ocean of the North Atlantic. Mcamship business to the 1 he first-class accommodation, bt. Uwrence, for some time which, as at least, usual, IS It IS only amidships, is of the reasonable to huppiTse most com- that plete and aj)proved they will stand as the order. Perfcrtly moiiel oi (he high- heated est present and ventilated staterooms, day attainmer.t f„r our waters and suites of rooms, a For the benefit spacious iind well-fitted of thu. , f<> ',vhom the dining-saloon, name an elc-ganllv "turbine" does not ,„nvey any appointed music-room, and a clear ,dea, it iuxuriouVb- equir.ped may be * xr,l,,i..,ed that the smoking-room are some of mode of producing rot, ion ,hV iVatLres motion in IVot less the comfortable shafting and it* attached proportionaulv are propellers he serund-cla.ss >s, in principle, quarters, and, as ttu- .,umc as that of alreadv the ind.catc(i, third-class old-fashioncd pas.sengers are cater- wimlniiil, the force in tur- ed to in the most liberal bine, however, hiinu >leam manner. Flectric instead of hght throughout, wind, and the a complete printing out- an^icd t.rms and sails of fit, and an in.Malhition of the windmill being represented Marconi's wire- in the ^ss teegraphy are among turbine by metallic vanes the arrange- set on the ments for the comfort surface of a conical and convenience of casting, which pa.ssengers. forms, by attachment, the forward end The cargo space available of the propeller shafting; i.,, notwilh- these vanes .slanding the workinor mto large complement of passen- counterpart flutings on a gers comparatively large fixed :: -rounding, :md the facilities . hollow casting, com- for lis rapid handling plete :i device. The an.' discharge are steam, entering of the most at the torward up-to-date and efficiem end of this combined ar- nature Four large derricks are rangement of blades, can only find arranged pas- on each mast, the sage by forcing lifting capacilv of each the parts attached to the being up to seven tons. These.' shafts into rapid revolution. together Rushing with two crane post along with the derricks, make ten momentum due to its in all for the working of volume and boiler whidi ten double pressure at one end cylinder steam winches are supplemented by the supplied. withdrawal of Special attention atmospheric has been given Vo pressure by means of power- the arrangement of the cargo ful air pumps operating holds, and the at the other end, ordinarA- round the steam pillar supports for imparts a steadv, unceasing, the decks have been largely rotatory movement to the discarded in propellers, favour of special utilising girders and supports to the best advantage the whole which leave the holds ^reer for boiler power of the ship. the recep- tion .stowage, A few and discharge of cargo. words on the "Victoria. ch Insulated chambers for the apply also to the Virginian, might carriage of not be fruit and dairy produce out of place. from Canada are Her length is 540 feet; her provided in conjunction with breadth, 60 feet; refrieeratine her depth, 40 feet 6 plant. ° inches She is divided bv bulkheads mile it must be admitted into eleven compartments, and that the with the possibilities of ocean sub-divisions of her navigation are double I'ottom she still uncertain, it is sate to has twenty water-tight predict that spaces. She is far as as Canada is concerned built to the highest the pioneer ( lass of the British name of Allan will Ion? continue Corporation Registri- of Shipping, to be and associated xvith the her hull has been highest attainment speciallv strengthened in this most intricate science above the requirements of and ^oic- the corporation turesque art. mi^