Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-30

The Trip to Norfolk.
The steamer Lady of the Lake, lately put on
the Norfolk line by Messrs. Brown, Plant &
Co., returned this morning with the excursion
party 1t took down on its Thursdays trip. The
party was very pleasant as well as q distin-
guished one, embracing Cabinet officers and
congressman, with their families and many
well known citizens. Among them were Attor-
Dey General Hoar, Senator Chandler and his
daughter, Miss Minnie Chandler; Postmaster
General Creswell, Mrs. Creswell and Miss Mary
Mcintyre; Senator Morrill,, of Vermont, Mrs.
Morrill, and Miss Swami; Senator Edmunds,
Senator Norton, with his wife and daughter;
Judge Welker and Mrs. Welker; Senator Cra-
gin, Mrs. Cragin, and HI. W. Cragin, of Yale
college; Senator Hamlin, Mrs. Hamhn and
Mrs. Peters; Hon. Burton c. Cook, Hon. John
A. Bingham, T. b. Connery, of the New York
Herald; Moses Kelley and Mrs. Kelley, w. s.
Huntington, j. w. Thompson and Mrs. Thomp-
son, Mr.. and Mrs. d. q. Forney, General Chip
man, Mrs. Chapman and the Misses Lawrence
Collector Tullock, A. w. Nichols, Mr.. JOS L.
Savage and wife, Mr.. G. Gautier, Mr.. W. H.
Cooley, &c, SC.
The Lady Of the Lake is a fine. large boat, we
may say in the start, and agreeably disap ppointed
everybody by its proportions and accommoda-
tions; many having supposed that it was merely
intended for freight boat. But it shows itself
to be admirably fitted for first-class passenger
business, as it should be on line Of this impor-
tance. 1t was built by Harlon Hollingsworth &
Co., and ranks as an A side-wheel steamboat.
Adjoining the main saloons are some thirtv-six
staferooms, handsomely fitted up, and the sa-
looms are arranged after the style of the better
class river and Sound steamers of the North,
with an eye to the comfort and conve-
nieDee Of passengers. The Lady Of the Lake
is also provided with capacious berths below
decks, and the boat altogether furnishes Sleep
ing accommodations for about one hundred pas
sengers, with opportunity to increase the &C
commodation If found necessary, which is very
likely to be the case, from the popularity the
line has already attained In the three trips ir
has made. The proprietors also propose to put
on another boat little later in the season, in
order to fully meet all requirements.
Capt Denty Of the Lady of the Lake Is known
as most competent and reliable officer. He
was formerly captain of the z. c. Knight, run
ming to New York and, since Mitchell, has pro-
bably no equal in knowledge OF the navigation
OF the Potomac and the neighboring waters
Mr.. James p. Willett, well known In Washing
ton, has been secured as the steamers clerk,
and the company have in Mr.. Charles Spear,
General Superintendent, good active officer.
hessrs. Brown and Plant fals0 give their per-
sonal supf rvisi0n to the business Of the lne and
we hardly need speak Of their business capacity
and ability to carry out what they undertake.
The boat reached Norfolk early Friday morn
ing, and our party proceeded to the new hotel
the Atlantic, which, with its fine proportions
and commanding French roof, is the handsomest
as well as the most conspicuous object in the
city. 1t Is admirably conducted by A. G. New
ton, or hotel fame, who is assisted by his son, a
young gentleman who hos many " friends in
Washington, and everywhere else that he is
known.
About 10 a. m. the Mayor of Norfolk, accom-
panied by committee of the Board of Alder
men and Common Council, called upon the
proprietors of the steamer, at the Atlantic Ho-
tel, and the Mayor rendered to them, and
through them to the distinguished party, the
hospitalities of the city. Mayor DeCordy stated
that, in consequence of the sad calamity at
Richmond, the citizens were about to assemble
to offer their condolences and to raise funds for
the immediate relief Of the sufferers, and as soon
as the meeting was over they would meet the
party with committee of the Board of Trade,
and after visiting places of note in the city would
accompany us to the receiving ship New Hamp-
shire and the navy yard, upon an invitation
previously extended by Admiral Sands and
Commodore Kitty.
Mr. s. p. Brown on the part of the proprietors
OF the Lady of the Lake replied to the Mayor,
thanking him for their kind attentions He said
that while accepting the hospitalities rendered
through him to the distinguished gentlemen
and ladies comprising the party, he would say
that such attentions were entirely unexpected,
but would be highly appreciated by the entire
party. They did not wish to interfere for q
moment in any manner with the demonstration
in behalf of the afflicted and griefstricken peo-
pie of Richmond, but would wish to add their
own profound and heartfelt sympathy to the
sufferers by that APPALLING calamity. Mr.. Brown
then introduced the city authorities and Board
Of Trade to the visitors after which they sepa-
rated to meet at the steamer to be conveyed at
the appointed time to the navy-yard and re-
ceiving ship.
Most of our party embraced the opportunity
to see something Of Norfolk, and the vehicular
capabilities of that city were speedily exhausted
Norfolk Is a sort of Venice, and everybody goes
everywhere by water; that is the reason, we
suppose, why only three hacks were to be found
in all that city of thirty thousand inhabitants,
and two of these were of the dilapidated style
Of carriage known in Washington as ''night-
liners" The ladies, and such OF the gentlemen
as were q little shaky on their pins, were placed
in the carriages, and the others started out to do
the city on shanks mare. The evidences of
growth in Norfolk are not marked, though some
few buildings are going up, and we noted some
evidences Of undermining and smartening-up
OF old buildings in the way of bay windows and
Mansard roofs. But, perhaps, the most healthy
sign OF improvement noticed was q quantity of
iron rail, dumped along one Of the principal
streets, indicating that Norfolk means to have q
street-railway.
The active operations Of q mandatory for q
convenient and cheap style OF strawberry basket
also gives life to part OF the city near the river;
a kind Of manufacture quite apropos to one of
Norfolk's specialities, the fruit and truck busi-
ness. The country about Norfolk, everybody
knows, supplies the North with early fruits and
vegetables, but 1t may not be known to what
extent this business has increased the value OF
this poor, sandy land in this neighborhood. In
approaching Norfolk Mr.. Chamberlain. in the
boat pointed out to as sandy patch Of sixtv
acres, near Lambert's Point, that he bought for
81 800 some years ago, sold Afterwards for Ss ooo
and which sold few days ago for sa2, 900, or
over $500 per acre! 1t Is all laid out in straw
berries. -.rl. - +
Mr.. Plant, Of the steamship line, took Us to see
the Norfolk market. IL In abOut a he,x>..la,