In no branch of human activity had there been a more marked advance in the last quarter of a century than in ocean transportation. The progress made in size ,character, and speed of vessels, and in the provisions adopted for safety of life and property and for the comfort of passengers cannot be more vividly realised than by a comparison between the old timers and an Express steamship of the present day. Around 1870 the largest steamer that entered  the port of New-York on regular service acrosse the Atlantic was of a Gross Register Tonnage of 4670, her length was 440 feet, her beam 44 feet and her horse-power 3000. The passenger accomodations on the steamers of that period were commensurate with the size and speed. As against the modest dimensions of the largest steamship  of those days , the horse-powers of these ships varied  according to the service they were built.

The double bottom itself was divided into twenty-eight watertight compartments and and constituted one of the most important factors in the steamers safety, as it affords a most effective protection in case of damage  to the bottom of the steamer. These various compartments also were arranged to serve as tanks for the supply of fresh water for the boilers, as well as for drinking purposes, and for the storing of water ballast to compensate for the loss of weight  caused by the consumption of coal and provisions during the voyage.

The Kaiser Wilhelm II had five decks-the spar deck, the upper deck, the main deck, the lower deck, and the orlop deck.

Above the spar deck there was a second promenade deck and the awning or bridge deck. There were, thus, seven stories constituting the height of the vessel from the double bottom as the ground floor, to the height of these stories ranging from 8 to 14 feet. The total height, measured from the top of the keelson tot the roof of the Smoking Room, was 72 feet ,7 inches, higher than the ordinary city house.

The steering apparatus was placed below the waterline, in view of the possible use of the steamer as an auxiliary cruiser in time of war. The engine turning the rudder was capable of moving it from "hard-a starboard" to "hard- a port" in a few seconds. One one of the upper decks a second reserve steering apparatus of half power had been installed,either apparatus being worked from the forward bridge and the after bridge by means of a telemotor, or by a hand-wheel through signals from the bridge; and in case of emergency or breakage the steamer could be steered by a tiller workes by means of tackles.

track, 590 feet long, conveyed the coal from one to the other. The Fire Room Force consisted of 237 men. The nineteen boilers were connected with the four large smokestacks, each 16 feet 5 inches in diameter and 131 feet in height above keel. The daily coal consumption  amounts to 625 tons. The main and auxiliary engines together number 79, with 124 steam cylinders, and the condensors contain  piping amounting to a lenght of about 40 nautical miles.

Fire protection was ensured by an extensive system of piping for both water and live steam, entering in every compartment.

There was also a system of electric alarm bells which would automatically report a fire that might had broke out in any part of the ship. Twenty-eight lifeboats were in readiness on the bridge deck of the Kaiser Wilhelm II and could be quickly and expeditiously launched, four boat hoists being provided for them. Seventeen powerfull steam pumps were installed on the steamer, capable of discharging 9360 tons of water an hour in case water should have entered in any compartment.

Fresh air was provided by natural draught and also through artificial means by the aid of electricity.  The Kaiser Wilhelm II carried wirelss telegraphic equipment, and was capable of sending and receiving messages by this system.  The electric plant for the lighting of the steamer consisted if 2700 incandescent lamps 25 candle-power each. The Smoke Room and the cafe's were equipped with electric  cigar lighters, and the first and second cabin staterooms with electric curling iron heaters for the use of ladies. The whole steamer was fitted out with a telephone system and the necessary electric call bells internally.

Of kitchens there were four,-one for the first class,one for the second , one for the third, and one for the crew. The first class kitchen was 56 feet long and 30 feet wide. All the kitchens were fitted with the latest inventions, such as patent cooking ranges, patent sauce-pans, coffe mills workes by steam etc. The pantries and sculleries were equally large. The first cabin pantry, for example , was 70 feet long and 18 feet wide, while the scullery for all the kitchens was 36 feet long and 17 ft wide.

The pantries and adjacent entrances contained large cupboards for the silver and the china, plate warmers, electric machines

for cleaning plates and knives, and everything else needed in these departments. The large number of passengers carried on the Kaiser Wilhelm II naturally called for enormous space for storerooms, which aggregated 26.000 cubic feet, and held fresh meat, preserves, wines and spirits, dry and liquid provisions.

The two giant bronze propellers were 22 feet 10 inches in diameter, each had 20.000 horse-power behind it, fed by her 4 giant engines , two sets of two units placed in tandem.

There is a special post office on board for the sorting of the Imperial German and United States mails, several post office officials of both countries being engaged in this work during the whole voyage. Owning to the introduction of the Schlick system of balancing the the engines it was expected that the vibration would be reduced to a minimun and would not be felt to any appreciable extent in the passenger quarters of the ship. There are 290 rooms for first cabin passengers and 107 for those of the second cabin. The most luxurious taste would find gratification  in the two so-called "Imperial Suites" , consisting of a bedroom, bathroom, parlour , and breakfast room, besides which the Kaiser Wilhelm II was provided with eight "cabins-

de luxe" , consisting of bedroom, bathroom, and sitting room, and with twelve state rooms with private bathrooms.

The Dining Room for first cabin passengers was 108 feet long and 69 feet wide, and contained 554 seats; it had an area of 6560 square feet, and was decorated in white and blue. The woodwork was stained blue from the floor to the ceiling; all other parts were in pure white, the ceiling being decorated with oil paintings. From the centre of the Dining Room ceiling  rose the large skylight through three decks, measuring about 480 square feet, and decorated with paintings representing the seasons, hunting, fishing, agriculture etc. The skylight was enclosed by colomnades, through which one could look down from the decks. From the Dining Room a staircase with richly carved banisters led to a vestibule built around the skylight, and at one end of this vestibule the office of the Chief Steward was situated, enclosed in a brass grating, which also contained the central station for the telephone system and a large safe for the passengers' valuables.

The door at the end was executedin rich architectural design, flanked by columssurmounted by a strongarched corniche, on which rested two allegorical figures, representing Commerce and Shipping. Opposite there was a magnificent fireplace with a marble mantelpiece and a copper hearth. The wainscoting of the Smoke Room consisted of mahogany with gold-bronze ornamentation, and was inlaid with leather in ornamental designs. The rounded corners of the Smoke Room showed allegorical reliefs, and the lounges along the walls of the room , as well as the armm-chairs and chairs, were covered in leather and arranged in groups. The ceiling was constructed in a design of light wood, from which incandescent lamps shed a

pleasant light over the large apartment. On the deck above,-the bridge deck,- two Vienna Cafe's had been installed, the larger one for smokers , the smaller , forward one for ladies. Both were elegantly  and cosily furnished, and besides coffee, all sorts of daintiescould there be had; in the larger ones hot dishes were served if desired. In fine weather chairs and tables were placed outside the cafe, as in Paris and other large continental cities, enabling passengers to enjoy their afternoon coffee in the open air with the view of the ocean before them. Aft of the larger Vienna Cafe an open bower was built, where passengers could sitin the open air, sheltered from wind and rain. The bridge contained a larg wheelhouse, which sheltered the man at the wheel and was equipped with telephones and speaking tubes leading to all parts of the vessel.

The Officers' Quarters were situated immediately aft of the bridge on the bridge deck, the Captains Room was immediately below the wheelhouse. The engineers were berthed around the Engine Room. The total complement of the ship's company consisted of 600 persons, comfortable quarters for whom were provided.

KAISER WILHELM II, A PHOTO-HISTORIC ARCHIVE

Construction, launch and delivery: