The British India Steam Navigation Company is another of the old clients of the Scotts. This Company, originally formed in 1856, under the title of the Calcutta and Burmah Steam Navigation Company, which was changed in 1862 to the title now known in all maritime countries, had its first steamship built by the Scotts, and it is therefore interesting to illustrate the one recently built at the same Works—the Bharata. This vessel is of the intermediate type, carrying a large number of British and native passengers, and nearly 4000 tons of cargo. The length between perpendiculars is 373 ft., the beam 45 ft., and the depth, moulded, 29 ft. 6 in. The cargo carried on a draught of 24 ft. is 3940 tons, and this is handled by eight hydraulic cranes, some of them of high power. The passenger accommodation, in the centre part of the ship, includes state rooms and saloons for forty-two first-class and thirty-six second-class European travellers, while in the 'tween decks a large number of native passengers are accommodated.

The machinery of the Bharata gives a speed of 16 knots, when the displacement is 5560 tons. The engines are of the triple-expansion type, and develop 6000 indicated horse-power. Five single-ended boilers supply steam at 180 lb. pressure. This vessel in service carries her cargo of about 4000 tons and her passengers at a speed of 16 knots, for a consumption of ordinary coal of about 50 tons per day.

Plate XXXIII.

THE BRITISH INDIA COMPANY'S STEAMSHIP "BHARATA."

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In our historical Chapters it has been clearly shown that the Scotts took a prominent part in the evolution of Channel steamers, and reference may be made to the latest vessels of this class now being built at the Company's works—two steamers for the old and successful firm of G. and J. Burns, Limited. These vessels, the dimensions of which are:—Length 233 ft., breadth 33 ft., depth 24 ft., are to have a speed of 13 knots. They are to be employed on the service between Glasgow and Manchester, and are fitted for steerage passengers, and also for conveying cattle, horses and sheep. The machinery consists of three-cylinder triple-expansion engines of 1750 indicated horse-power, having cylinders 23 in., 36 in., and 58 in. in diameter respectively, with a stroke of 42 in. The boilers, of which there are two in each ship, are 14 ft. in diameter and 12 ft. 6 in. in length, with a heating surface of 4000 square feet, and a grate area of 120 square feet. They work under natural draught at a pressure of 175 lb. per square inch.

We might continue almost indefinitely describing different types of ships, but will content ourselves with a reference to the fleet of Thames passenger steamers built in 1905 for the London County Council. Of the thirty vessels constructed for the Council, twenty had their boilers and engines from the Scotts' Works. Ten of the steamers, in which this machinery was fitted, were built on the Clyde by Messrs. Napier and Miller; six at Southampton, by Messrs. John I. Thornycroft and Company; and four at Greenwich, by Messrs. G. Rennie and Company. These vessels are 130 ft. long, and of very light draught—2 ft. 10 in. when loaded. An idea of their proportions is given by the engraving on Plate XXXIV., facing this page, showing one of the Clyde-built vessels ready to steam from Greenock to London.

The engines for all of these vessels are of the compound, diagonal, surface-condensing type, the two cylinders being 16 in. and 31 in. in diameter, with a stroke of 3 ft.