Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1891 — QUEEN OP FRESH WATER SEAS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

QUEEN OP FRESH WATER SEAS.

Hw Virginia Is the Best Equipped Vessel that Evfr Sailed Into Chicago. Perhaps the handsomest, costliest |nd best equipped steamship that ever] tailed into Chicago is the Goodrich Transportation Company’s Virginia,! which arrived recently direct from the; hands of her Cleveland builders. 1 Massive in outline and construction, and yet molded on lines as graceful as a yacht’s, and combining speed and Weatherly qualities, she was the pride of every fresh water sailor who boarded her for inspection. Such a sweep of deck room, such' a diap’ay of novelty and ingenuity, that was everywhere apparent, and such thoroughness in the minor de-| tails of outfitting were never seen before on the lakes. The Virginia is! essentially a perfected edition, though ou a smaller scale, of the ocean greyhounds, whose running is one of the marvels of the times. Equipped with twin screws that are turned by power-; ful triple expansion engines, she will; doubtless be able to show her heels to anything that floats on the lakes. Her interior fittings and arrangements are rich and artistic, and include a number of novelties, among which folding berths will probably prove the most popular. The dining saloon is located in the forward hold space, and Is reaohed by a solid mahogany staircase leading from the forward end of

the main cabin. The first stairway extends from the cabin to a hallway on the main deck. This hallway is finished in mahogany, and from it the stairway continues to the saloon,which is richly furnished. The ceiling is divided into panels filled with Liacrusta walton, and in the center of each panel is an eleotrio light pendant. 1 In addition to these lights three electrotiers are hung from the central beam running fore and aft through the saloon. With the exception of mahogany the entire saloon is finished in! the tasteful and fashionable stvle of deooration known as ivory and gold, j The dimensions of the hull are 278, feet overall, 260 feet keel, 88 feet; beam, and 25 feet deep. The water bottom is divided into Bix seotions, 1 three on either side, and contains a! tank that will hold 45,000 gallons of fresh water. The hull has six water-i tight bulkheads in addition to collision! and stuffing-box bulkheads, bo that if! the boat should be cut squarely in two both ends would float.

THE VIRGINIA.