The Mighty Deep 



four thousand tons burden, and able to get along 

 at the rate of twelve knots. 



In 1893 steel-built vessels replaced the Iron- 

 built ; the length had grown to four hundred and 

 seventy feet ; and the speed had increased to 

 seventeen or eighteen knots. 



The Celtic, mentioned above, launched in 

 1 90 1, of over twenty thousand tons, is seven 

 hundred feet in length, and though not equal 

 to many modern ships in speed, can do her 

 seventeen knots with ease. 



The same advance was seen in another line of 

 steamers, plying their way to and from the Cape. 



Before the middle of the century, ships two 

 hundred feet in length, and going at the rate of 

 seven knots an hour, were reckoned sufficiently 

 up to the mark. Now vessels five hundred feet 

 in length, steaming at a pace of twenty or more 

 knots, are in use. One cannot but question how 

 long it would have taken, under the old regime, 

 to transfer two hundred thousand soldiers from 

 Great Britain to South Africa. Under the new 

 order of things that feat was lately accomplished 

 in less than eight months. 



The same steady growth is apparent in Mer- 

 chant vessels generally — in their gradual increase 

 from small to large, from slow to fast. 



268 



