The str. Chu-San, built by the Shanghai Dock & Engineering Ca, Ld., to the order of the Chu San Steamship Ca., Ld., was launched at the Pootung Shipyard un' Monday afternoon, Miss C. Y. Ting, daughter of the acting Com missioner of the Statistical Department of the Chinese Customs, breaking the customary bottle champagne over the prow. The Chu-san has been designed as a passenger and cargo steamer for service between Shanghai and Chusan. She is fitted with. special ports and cargo facilities for the rapid loading and discharging of cargo, and her passen—ger accommodation is large and well finished. She measures 205 ft. by 33 ft. and 20 ft. moulded depth tw awning deck and carries 810 tons deadweight cargo.
The Chinese accommodation is on the awning deck and comprises a large first class saloon and staterooms for eight first class and 40 second class passengers forward, and a large second class saloon and staterooms for 38 second class passengers aft. The engineers and compradore staff are placed amidships and the petly officers and crew in the forecastle. Qn the deck, above the awning deck there is first class accommodation consisting of a large saloon forward and_ staterooms for 12 passengers, while the Captain and officers are placed forward of this. The machinery comprises one set of triple expansion surface condensing engines with the usual auxiliaries, steam being generated two cylindrical multitubular boilers.
At_a reception in the offices of the Shanghai Dock and Engineering Ca., Mr. John Prentice, the Chairman, in proposing success to the new vessel, said that, while this was the first ship built for the Chu San Ca., he hoped it would be so prosperous that their fleet would some time number as many as the China Merchants Ca.
Yuen' Li-tamg, manager of the Ningpo 8.8. Company, replied for Chu Pao-san, chairman of the Chu San §.S. Company. Mr. Prentice then presented. Miss Ting with a beautiful bouquet of carnations and a gold watch. Her father responded and alluded to his first trip to Chusan, which took seven days—a week's trip for a thousand cash. Mr. Brodie A Clarke spoke of the splendid recod of the Shanghai Dock Engineering Ca. and proposed its health and that of his old friend, Mr. John Prentice.
A total amount of $8,800.43 was received during the week ending June 3 by various local Chinese banks, from 2,013 depositors, as savings for the redemption of the Shantung Railway, making a grand total of $29,895.19 for the first three weeks of the campaign.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.