▁and ▁distinguished ▁career . ▁Though ▁soon ▁out class ed ▁by ▁newer ▁ships , ▁she ▁continued ▁in ▁operation ▁for ▁some ▁ 4 4 ▁years , ▁p lying ▁various ▁trans at l antic ▁routes ▁and ▁later ▁playing ▁a ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁Al ask an ▁gold ▁r ush ▁and ▁serving ▁as ▁a ▁tro op ship ▁during ▁the ▁Spanish – American ▁War . ▁The ▁ship ▁was ▁finally ▁destroyed ▁by ▁a ▁fire ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 8 . ▁ ▁Development ▁The ▁four ▁Pennsylvania ▁class ▁lin ers ▁were ▁constructed ▁at ▁a ▁cost ▁of ▁$ 5 2 0 , 0 0 0 ▁each ▁by ▁William ▁Cr amp ▁& ▁S ons ▁on ▁beh alf ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁Ste am ship ▁Company ▁( ASC ), ▁a ▁subs idi ary ▁of ▁the ▁Pennsylvania ▁Rail road ▁Company . ▁The ▁Rail road ▁intended ▁to ▁util ize ▁the ▁vessels ▁to ▁bring ▁European ▁imm igr ants ▁direct ▁to ▁Philadelphia , ▁thus ▁ens uring ▁the ▁company ▁a ▁steady ▁stream ▁of ▁customers . ▁In ▁recognition ▁of ▁this ▁purpose , ▁the ▁four ▁ships — P en nsylvan ia , ▁Indiana , ▁Illinois ▁and ▁Ohio — w ere ▁named ▁after ▁the ▁four ▁states ▁serv iced ▁by ▁the ▁Rail road . ▁Design ▁of ▁the ▁ships ▁was ▁entr usted ▁to ▁Charles ▁H . ▁Cr amp ▁of ▁the ▁Cr amp ▁& ▁S ons ▁ship yard , ▁and ▁Bar nab as ▁H . ▁Bart ol , ▁a ▁director ▁of ▁the ▁ASC . ▁ ▁Const ruction ▁At ▁ 3 , 0 0 0 ▁gross ▁tons ▁ap ie ce , ▁the ▁ships ▁were ▁ 1 ,