THE CONQUEST OF TIME AND SPACE 



miles a day. Something like four hundred and fifty 

 tons of coal were consumed on the voyage, which im- 

 pressed many as a great extravagance of fuel. Some 

 of the ocean liners at present consume more than 

 twice this amount in a single day. 



On July 4, 1840, the Britannia , the first steamer of 

 the Cunard Line, started on its maiden voyage from 

 Liverpool to Boston. The voyage was made in four- 

 teen days, among the passengers being Samuel Cunard, 

 a Quaker of Halifax, who was the founder of the enter- 

 prise. The population of Boston went mad on the 

 arrival of this boat; streets and buildings were deco- 

 rated, and the day was given over to the regular holi- 

 day amusements. Cunard received upward of eigh- 

 teen hundred invitations to dinner that evening. 



The year 1840, then, may be considered as one of 

 the vital years in the progress of steam navigation. 

 Since that time no year has passed without seeing some 

 important addition and improvement made in the 

 conquest of the ocean, either in size, shape, or speed 

 of the "greyhounds." 



SHIPS BUILT OF IRON AND STEEL 



Even before the introduction of steam as a motive 

 power for boats shipbuilders had been casting about 

 for some satisfactory substitute for wood in the con- 

 struction of vessels. One reason for this was that 

 suitable wood was becoming scarce and very expen- 

 sive. But also there was a limit to the size that a 

 wooden vessel might be built with safety. A wooden 



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