The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-30
THE NEW ROUTE TO NORFOLK.
our FORTRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE.

-suEboAsAf WuO tAe fOrt9mOufh NAVY Y0Nd--J
strand Dinner, AToasts, Speeches, sc.
$50 ihla FoRrRn8 MONROE Nov. 81, 1865.
An important movement towards Southern recos
strucon, and the nrm and abiding re.establishment
friendly and business relations between the North an
the SOUTH has just developed itself in the ompletiou
new air line ronte between Norfolk ana New Yor
and the Intermediate citea The praccability ana in
portance Of this route talked over and proecte
before the war; but with many other enterprises ookn
TO increased commercial activity and growth this toe
became submerged in that allengulfing aelstrom
war Of the rebellion. This nsrce frssricidal CON
test ended the old project was revived, an,
met with the most encouraging support. Tire
weeks ago the last Of the railroad track was laid from
Princess Anne TO Annamessic the eastern shore Of
Virginia Two magnificent steamss the City Of Norfoll
and Lady Of the Lake. launched from the ways
run between Annamcssic and Norfolk and via whining
ton, air limo route thus formed TO Philadelphia
and New York, enabling the journey be- made from
Norfolk TO the former city In thirteen hours and 10 New
York sixteen gain Of eight hours on any pre-
vious route Projected also in connection with this wa,
. line Of railway from Wilmington to Reading, thu
placing the coal regions Of Pennsyvania in immediate
connection with the great Southern seaboard railways
The promising commercial importance of all this can b<
at glance. Impressed with It's vast importance
and for the purpose not at all OF simple pleasure trip
u UNDERSTANDING
advantages the business and commercial people of the
North and South offered BY this route tho Mayor
and Common Council Of Wilmington. Del. together
with leading railroad men and capitalists Of that CITY,
Philadelphia Reading and other cities determined on an
excursion the road This determination has just been
carried into effect and the enterprise most fully
thoroughly and satisfactorily inaugurated.
START OF THE ExCURsIONErA
The excursonsts, numbering some ono hundred and
MY aogethcr lett Wilmington at ten A. M.yesterday
Included among them besides Mayor Valentine and t
Common Council Of Wilmington. were Hon. Hester
Pennsylvania, Mr. Edward Brooke, President Of the
Wilmington and Reading Railroad, WIN. W. Taylor
brother Of Bayard Taylor Chief Engineer Of the VIII.
mineton and Reading Railroad and other notables too
numerous TO mention. Representatives Of eleven
Northern newspapers, all the way from Boston to Will
mingon comprise the last but mot least in the category
swift and reliable engine and commodious sent
Thorn whirling through Smyrna, Dover, Seaford and
other pleasant towns bordering the beautiful banks OF
Somers' Cove Annameesc they rapidly made their
way seeing either sidethough now at the close Of
the rude autumnal baats-Inost fertile farms. and
country OF supaseing productiveness and picturesque
scenery. $3.50
Evening found them on the Chesapeake bny A regal
supper awaited them, and the fine staterooms Of the
steamer City OF Norfolk were ct their service with The
courteous and accomplished Captain Thompson at the
helm ything went on swimmingly. The sea was,
happily, a. smooth 40 glass; and the sail proved most
and inyisorating.
AT NETWORKS NEWS.
N Inc nfst ldndng the steamer made was At NewpOrtS
News, which place was reached At daylight this morn
ing Two hours spent IN strolling about here The
principal idea was TO see the terminus Of the railroad
now In process OF construction between this point and
Richmond From what was TO DO seen and learned
from the projectors and managers OF this road ts
feasibility evident TO all and the most hearty
cess wished them in their new enterprise Not a few
found great interest In looking at the still visi.
BILE wreck Of the old United States frgate
Cumberland, and hearing recitals Of the naval
conflict between the rebel ram Merrimac and feet
then here resulting in the loss Of the Cumberland and
forest we're also looked at in harbor SO full OF inter-
esns associations from the war Of the Revolu-
About eight o'clock the steamer landed Of the Eng-
neers wharf here and the party Of excuronsts az once
proceeded inside the fort Over the parade ground front
OF civilian pursuits along the immense circuit Of para
pet all about where anything curious strange to
be the party made their way General Hayes the tenn
porary commandant tho fort received them with becom
Ing hospitality and during their stay rendered them the
freedom OF the fort Many were on the sharp
Tying their curiosity On leaving General Hayes Major
McErah Adutant Piper and Lieutenant Zal'nski accom-
paried them to the steamer, and for thor hospaole
pains received parting furious clangor Of cheers.
WELCOME At NORFOLK
quiet sail was made up the Ezabeth river. As
The boat touched the Norfolk wharf the perfect
lion Of generous hospitality awaiting them began
to show ITSELF. There was welcoming mulc from
Mayor and Common ind Select Councils and Board Of
Trade and leading citizens Of Norfolk came directly on
duced Mayor Ludlow 10 Mayor Valentine Mayor Ludlow
made the following welcoming speech -
Council q Ss city snd ospd Of Trade and is eadne
cizens II IL moet pleasant duty TO extend 70 you the
Inequalities Of our city. Our greeting is not one Of
To-day extend TO all the right hand Of fellowship
loud chesrsD For over four years country OBJ
from evsry side This strife Is ended Thank Cod The
dark clouds have rolled away. We meet to-day as
friends and brothers, loud and prolonged cheersj We
God bless and save her In conclusion would say thai
today isassarases sst and glorious scheme destined
eur ows Tnis 10 the time TO cement friendship Let
bygones be bygosea 0snusmsa, the city a your dis
posaL. loud and continuous cheersl
sponse Mr. Mayor and members Of the Common Coun-
eli ana citizens Of Norfolk-0n behalf Of tho common
are With us desire 70 return scsrs thanks for Ie Kind
aud cordial reception extsuded 70 We appreciate
fully your kind and ssosrous uttsrences and ex-
tend 70 you the hand Of true fellowship. Like
you, Ne are mos. sincerely glad that the
strife Of war 10 pasl To-day We meet not
Same grsss republic. the United States Of America
will only ssy In conclusion, Mr. Mayor. that have
come herr % establish sta, no: only equally social sG. bus:
Of ua great line Of communication with the North
has been opened and h youss and ours to seize and
word and improve the freedom OF the city you osr
~ 10 us until one O'Clock tonight
series OF cheers followed the CONCLUSION oil this
speech. and mutual ntroduciions after which line Of
march IN column Of two abreast, headed by baud OF
music, taken mp tor the Opera House.
srxrcHE AT INN OPERA HOUSE
The Opera House. which capable Of holding two thou
sand people, denscly hlcd. The gussis and recep.
committees took their places the cspacous
white the ample arrangements were made for the
accommodation Of members Of the rrcss Mayor Lud-
low presided and introduced the speakers speeches
we're made by John Goodc, OF Norfolk; Samuel Har-
rington, OF Wilmington Del, and former Secretary OF
state OF that state and Charles sbarpey, Of Norfolk
Zach speaker did himself credit and the most
friendly tone and sentiments their speeches On
the one side denounced untrue that the soldiers
OF re and Johnston entertained III feelings towards
those who followed the buee blasts OF Giant and Shcr
man, bot tue utmost friendly fseiipR expressed
and claimed. On the other side little warm feeling
was uttered and 70 these counter expressions Of
timents the wafmest cheers followed several pieces
played by the band. and the hour spent In the
Opera House passed most asrscabiy TO alt
march In the same order from the steamer snsued
through the streets OF the city The ncancss and ap.
parent prosperity Of Norfolk impressed the most