Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-10


Saturday evsnin0. a called meeting Of the direc-
tors And members OF the Norfolk Merchants anu me-
chances Exchange al their rooms was Leiu ~! se
purpose OF receVng propOsluohs anu NasiL
nom Col c. L. Thompson, President OF the NolIotA ,
aDJ g. Nazarie Steam Navigation Company, LOT the
- I'll .shment of the line, in accordance win
10 bart,r of the company, granted by the ieSlaia
.nTe on the 18th of December looo. Col: ueorse
Sanoslrr explained the object OF the meeting 10 DC
- tIs nur,,ose of hearty and Jealous cooperation
~ s-vsrIinV the proposed enterprise. Col. ThomE-
con was introduced the meetn!. he SAID that ne
rad Leen induced to embark IN tais enterprise by
w Ballard Preston, TO whom the legislature hau
granted a charter in 1858, for the purpose OF secu
fnr direct trade between this city and - Nazare'
m France no partic pated in the desreti Mr. Pres
ton. and nj once proceeded TO work, and was happy
10 state that the legislature had granted to The or
ranizaton very liberal charter-ncreasing It's cap
ital stock and privileges tie was prepared 70 stae M
that the organization was so far matured' tnat all
that was required from Norfolk and her merchants
was hearty and Jealous cooperation IN the enter
prse lie was followed in his remarks by DoctoI
Stnait Gwynn Managing Director OF the celebrated
Randall Steam Construction Company. Mr. Gwynn
- g1Tth the feasibility OF the scheme and its I'M
mense advantages to Norfolk, which IS selected as
the in-point OF location in preference to any
other seaport in the United States. lie
nrged that il was Of the first Importance that
marine aud sectional dry dock, with foundrles and
shin Yards attached should be constructed here
Hs was followed by Captain Henry Randall the IN
yentor of the new method Ofconstructlpg ana bnEd-
inc ocean steamships. The Captain submitted his
Mans drawings and models, and fully explained
their advantages of carrying capacity, light drai''
GREAT strength and high rate OF speed. 10 sailor
the advantages of his models were apparent At a
GLANCE One great improvement which he men
toned il in securing longitudinal resistance. ihS ~
was secured by meanS of a strengthening arch fore
and aft connecting with the frame by diagonal iron
braces and coTrister steps. The popularity OF TINS
model was that the vessel had good bearings which
threw the water from the wheel as she ran, anu
each revolution thereof, struck IN hrm wafer Tue
dead water passing outside of the peak name by her
prow The plans submitted were Of the following
dimensions: length, 4SO feet breadth, 6O teet over
all sS feet; tonnage. 4, 100, with capacity oil ac
commOdatng 3 900 passengers, each steamer TO De
fitted with two Lighthalls improved marine engines
of 900 horse power 80 inch cylinder, q feet stroke
and q feet crank motion With this model and mac han.
ery he stated that he would pledge his professional
raDutaton that the vessel could make the tlp IfOm
tbs port to st. Nazaire ~ eight days ana ne
,ould with ease accomplish the round trip, load
and discharge inside of thirty days. All That stoou
in the way Of the building OF these ships was
place where lumber, labor and material were availa
BILE and he knew no better place than this vicinity
which possessed all these advantages. They had
machinery which was capable OF bendin8 all their
breast hooks, knees &c., required As the Patehlee
of these machines for the construction OF ocean
steamers ne felt assured that all lie promised Tor
them could be accomplished, as steamers are now
running built upon his plans, which have fully
proved all he had SAID.
| Mr. g. C. Walker, after a few practical remarks,
moved that a committee OF three be appointed by
the Chair to tender the gentleman who had addressed
the meeting their hearty and Jealous cooperation IN
all measures having for their object the advance
ment of the interests of Norfolk. Ihe motion
was unanimously carried ana the IOl0"hS
gentlemen viz: C. {. Walker, Jas. Bggs anu Henry
Kimberley wore appointed committee to DRAFT
series of resolutions in accordance with the motion
offered When this committee retired, Col. William
Lamb being called tor stated that he had no conf
dpnce in resolutions, and preferred action He was
i'm earnest and cordially desired to cooperate and
lend his humble aid to any enterprise that would de
yelope the advantages and secure the interests oil
Norfolk lie advised that instead OF the city sacrl-
6cinp the valuable property OF the tobacco ware
hon. and wharf that the city council should tender
Il for a term OF years TO the first company which
sbnuld establish a transatlantic line Of steamers
from this port to Europe. The committee appointed
70 draft series of resolutions returned and submit
ted the following, which were unanimously adopted
Resolued That we have listened with pleasure to
the remarks this evening by Colonel Thompson, Dr.
Gwynn and Capt. Rundall, relative TO the establish
mcnt of Il steamship line between TINS port ana 81
Nazarie France, and we trust that in the language
of Capt Samuel Sneeden they Will act
ReSOlped That we, the members OF the Merchant
and Mechanics Exchange OF Norfolk, do hereby
pledge to Col Thompson and his associates our
hearty and energetic cooperation IN their etors To
carry into effect said enterprise and will to the eX-
tent of our ability, sustain them that their efforts
| will be more successful.
Resided That we consider the construction of
shiU.yar,ls machine shops, sectional and dry docks
i'm The city, matter of the very highest Importance
10 our commercial interests, and that we cordially
invite Dr. Gwynn and his associates to seat IN our
m DIST hereby pledgng ourselves to aid and second
his and their efforts in their behalf in every way in
| our power.
Resoleed, That the importance of these and other
lenterprizes demands the manifestation, on the part
of the real estate owners of liberal and therefore
wise spirit such as will encourage rather than Te,
strain improvement, and we earnestly ask from all
our citizens a hearty cooperation in this respect
Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, congra-
tUlatng the citizens and the Board of Exchange
pon tie certain prospects of success OF the project
| of the long-talked-of direct trade with Europe
Colonel William Lamb, after a biief address upon
the prospect of direct trade and its advantages Of
| f.red the following resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted.
Re olued, That the Board Of Directors OF the Mer-
chants aud Mechanics Exchange OF this City pc
ttion the City Council that the tobacco warehouse
and wharf owned by the city be rendered. free OF
relt for term of years, TO the first company that
establishes line Of steamers trans Atlantic, from
/ this port TO Europe.
| Unon notion the meeting adjourned.