THE HIGHWAY OF THE WATERS 



The Great Eastern marked an epoch in shipbuild- 

 ing. In size she was a generation ahead of her time, 

 but the innovations in the method of her construction 

 gave the cue to modem revolutionary shipbuilding 

 methods. Sir George C. V. Holmes gives the following 

 account of the great ship: 



"She was originally intended by the famous engi- 

 neer, Mr. I. K. Brunei, to trade between England and 

 the East. She was designed to make the voyage to 

 AustraHa without caUing anywhere en route to coal, a 

 feat which, in the then state of steam-engine economy, 

 no other vessel could accomplish. It was supposed 

 that this advantage, coupled with the high speed ex- 

 pected from her great length, would secure for her the 

 command of the enormous cargoes which would be 

 necessary to fill her. Mr. Brunei communicated his 

 idea that such a vessel should be constructed for the 

 trade to the East to the famous engineer and ship- 

 builder, the late Mr. John Scott Russell, F.R.S., and 

 he further persuaded his clients, the directors of the 

 Eastern Steam Navigation Company, of the soundness 

 of his views, for they resolved that the projected vessel 

 should be built for their company, and entrusted the 

 contract for its execution to the firm of John Scott 

 Russell & Co., of Millwall. 



"Mr. Scott Russell and Mr. Brunei were, between 

 them, entitled to the credit of the design, which, on 

 account of the exceptional size of the ship, presented 

 special difficulties, and involved a total departure from 

 ordinary practice. 



"Mr. Scott Russell had systematically, in his own 



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