National Republican., 1875-09-14
BUSINESS ON THE POTOMAC.

Can steamboating be made profitable on
the Potomac river? Heretofore, it must be
confessed, it has not been success. There
have been so many adverse circumstances
to contend against that the business has
been little less than series of struggles
too often ending in utter failures. This has
been more particularly so with those who
have attempted to establish line between
this city and Norfolk. Many of our readers
will remember, with kindly feelings, Capt.
Mitchell and his favorite steamer, the
Oceola, and how manfully he struggled to
maintain a line between this city and Nor
folk. He served the public well and faith
fully, but his enterprise, instead of being
rewarded with success, as it deserved,
found him with an empty pocket.
1t is true, before the war it was the too
unsafe steamboat would do to run and lay
her bones on the Potomac. When q boat
was no longer fit for the trade and travel of
certain Northern rivers she was sold or
sent down here TO run on the Potomac
Indeed, it must be confessed that until
y
running on this river that were neither
safe, comfortable nor worthy of patronage
1t was only natural that the travelling pub
lie should not feel safe in them, and should
seek other lines of travel and other locali-
ties for their recreation. The prospect,
however, is beginning to brighten, and
change for the better has already taken
place. Instead of those old, rickety and
uncomfortable steamers timid people used
to be so much afraid of, we have in the
Jane Moseley and Lady of the Lake two
of the strongest, best equipped and safest
steamboats, of their size in the United
States. To these boats third will soon
be added, to ply exclusively on the river,
and, if possible, secure its trade to Wash.
ington. These three will compose fleet
of steamers, all of them nearly new, Wash
ington should be more proud of than Bal
timore is of its Bay Line, and should also
extend liberal patronage to.
The business and travel on the river has
steadily increased during the past few years.
But it does not say much for the foresight
snd enterprise Of our merchants that the
most valuable Of the river trade goes to
Baltimore. The short-sighted policy which
permits this reeds correcting. One farmer
in ST. Mary's county, few days ago, was
shipping twelve hundred and sixty bushels
of wheat to Baltimore because he could get
nine cents bushel more for it there than
he could in Washington. His freight, too,
was less in proportion, and he could obtain
his supplies in Baltimore on longer time
and at least five per cent. less than he could
in Washington. There is disposition, too
to patronize Baltimore, because It is what
they believe wholesale market whereas
Washington is only retail. Nor is this
disposition to patronizs Baltimore confined
to Marylanders. Many of our own people
will proceed to Baltimore and take the Bay
Line for Norfolk, at an increased expense
of two dollars, to say nothing of the annoy
ance of reaching the boat through the
crowded streets Of that city. This, too, in
the face of the fact that our steamers are
decidedly the safest, best and most comfort
able, and that the river passage is much
pleasanter.
As q proof Of the increasing trade on
the river, the little steamer Pilot Boy.
making her two trips week, and confin-
ing them to the vicinity of Blackstone Is
land, has had very profitable season. In
short, there were trips when she had not
capacity enough to do the business. Col
toms and other second and third-class re-
sorts in the vicinity of Blackiston's Island
have been overcrowded for three months.