Beginning of Atlantic Ferry 61 



We note, too, that a cargo space for 

 225 tons was provided. The four new 

 liners had two decks each, speed of 8J 

 knots, with a coal consumption of 60 tons 

 per day. Seen out of the water the 

 paddle-wheels were enormous, having a 

 diameter of no less than 28 ft. The 

 blades numbered 21. What kind of 

 paddle-wheels should we be using to-day 

 supposing the screw propeller had never 

 passed the experimental stage? I think 

 we can say the steamship would have 

 ceased to grow had the paddle-wheel 

 remained the propelling force. We cer- 

 tainly cannot imagine the Olympic say 

 a vessel roughly forty times the tonnage of 

 the Britannia having paddle-wheels any- 

 thing like forty times the size of those 

 fitted on these pioneer Cunarders! 



On July 4, 1840, the Britannia swung 

 out of the Mersey on her first voyage 

 amidst wonderful scenes of enthusiasm. 



How little did those pioneers think of 

 what the Cunarders of the future would 



