THE WEST SHORE. 181 THE OLYMPIAN AND ALASKAN. THE growth of the inland commerce of Puget Sound has certainly been remarkable. A few years ago half a dozen small steamers and a few schooners did all the paflfwnwr and fi-wanl, f offl.c cf the ttholo SoUiid, while now seventy-eight steamers are profitably employed in the local traffic of its harbors, bays and rivers. Pas senger accommodations have always been of the most inferior kind, and became last year totally inadequate, giving rise to many discomforts and annoying delays. To remedy thiB defect the Oregon Eailway & Navigation Company contracted for the construction of two large iron and steel side-wheel passenger steamers, such as would place the traveling public of Puget Sound on an equality with those of Long Island Sound or, the St Lawrence. These two steamers, the Olympian and Alaskan, have been completed, have made the long jour ney around the Horn, a voyage of unusual magnitude for Bide-wheel vessels to undertake, and are now in our waters, the former, on the Sound and the latter in the Willamette at this city. The Alaskan, which was built by John Eoach & Son, of New York, is now being thoroughly overhauled and fitted up internally. She is a little larger and more powerful than her sister vessel, but has not so handsome an interior. She is 280 feet long and 75 feet wide over the guards. Her wheels have a diameter of 36 feet and the shaft is 29 inches in thick- The upper saloon is 240 feet long, 30 wide and 12 ness. high, with a dome and ceiling. Seventy state rooms and four family rooms, or bridal chambers, comprise her first class accommodations. It is not announced yet whether she will be at once put on the route between Tacoma and Victoria, to run in connection with her consort, or whether she will be put to another use during the tourist season. i The Olympian, of which we present engravings of both the exterior and interior, has already taken her pluce on the daily line between Tacoma and Victoria, stopping at Seattle and other intermediate points, and making close connection at Tacoma with the fast mail from the East She was constructed by the Harlan & Hollingsworth Company, of Wilmington, DeL, and oost 1260,000. She has accommodations for 250 first class passengers, the Alaskan accommodating 300, The Olympian is pronounced by the Nautical Gazette to be " one of the finest steamers of her class ever con structed for the western coast of the United States a beauty in model a fine specimen of naval architecture, and a vessel of ereat strength and lasting endurance." Her length is 261.5 feet between perpendiculars, or 270 feet over all; length of beam, 40 feet; depth of hold, 10 feet: retristered tonnage, 1,416.60 tons; draft, when light, 8 feet and 2 inches. The vessel is constructed of iron throuehout and is Dlated with the best steel, and has been put together in a manner calculated to give her great strength. The beams of the forward and after ends of the boiler are of iron. alo one each in the forward and after holds. The other beams and carlina throughout the vessel are of the best yellow pine, with iron plate knees. The motive power consists of one vertical surface con densing working beam engine, 70-inoh cylinder and 12 eet stroke, fatted witn StevetiB' cut off, and calculated to carry a working pressure of 45 pounds of Bteam.. In iont of tue engine is a novel contrivance termed the "Steam Engineer," being a small engine which Bete in motion the large working engine, facilitating the ease and rapidity of handling the vessel. There are two largo boilers, a donkey boiler and pump to be UBod for fire purposes, and an engine for generating the electricity used in lighting the vesaoL She has oorapoBito-radial paddle wheelB, with wooden buckets, 32 foot in diameter and 11 feet 3 inches face. Her interior fittings, passenger accommodations and decorations are extremely convenient and elogant Her saloons, cabins and state rooms are lighted by electricity and heated by steam, and she is supplied with all the modern appliances for safety and comfort The grand saloon, which is divided into forward and after cabins by the machinery, is about 200 feet in length. The furniture is of massive mahogany, richly upholstered in crimson plush, and the carpet is of the finest volvet-ftnishd Wilton. Elogant electrio chandoliors depend from the ceiling in each cabin, and numerous lamps are arranged along the walls, all being plated witli nickeL Fifty state rooms open into the grand saloon, each fitted with two large berths, hair and spring mattresses, Cherry wash stands, plate glass mirrors, eta Aft are four large family rooms, with double mahogany bedsteads. From the after, or ladies', cabin the grand stairway dosconds to the lower deck and main gangway. The elegantly carved stairway is of Spanish oodar and mahogany, and the newel posts, each surmounted by electric lamps, are of mahogany, with ebony trimmings. Opposite the foot of the stairway is the dining room, which has Beating accom modations for WO guests. The sideboard is large and extremely handsome. The same goneral style charac terizes the appointments of tho vessel throughout The Olympian, with it crew of fifty inon, is under the command of Captain Wilson, an experienced and careful seaman, assisted by thoroughly competent men as second offioers and engineers. With this elegant steamer to bear him along, even the most phlegmatic traveler must experience a thrill of pleasure as he posses through the beautiful scenery of Pugot Sound SUNSHINE AND BLEEP. SLEEPLESS people and there are many in America should court the sun. The very worst soporific is laudanum, and the very best sunshine. Therefore it ii very plain that poor sleepers should pass as many hours as possible in the sunshine, and aa few as possible in the shade. Many women are martyrs, and yet they do not know it They wear veils, carry jmroHoU and do all possible to keep off the potent influence which in intended to give them strength and beauty and choerf ulnwts. The women of America are pale and delicate; they may be blooming and strong, anil the sunlight will be a potent influence in this transformation.