The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-27

MENsH CROWDS or VISITORS TO TIE NEW
STEAMBOAT, &C.
The large and elegant new steamer City
OF Richmond, OF the Virginia Steamboat
Company,s line, arrived here from Norfolk
Yesterday afternoon Just before 3 o'clock.
She made no particular effort at speed In
coming up: nevertheless the run was con-
siGered a good one. During the afternoon
hundreds, yes thousands, OF persons visited
the steamer lying at her wharf at Rockets,
and were highly pleased with her beauty
and completeness Of her appointments.
The City OF Richmond is the largest and
finest river steamer that has ever been to
Richmond. and Is licensed to carry 1000
passengers. She is $50 feet long, and GO
feet beam over all, has an engine OF great
power, 54-inch cylinder and 12-feet stroke,
with wheels 32 feet In diameter and 81 feet
face, and is capable OF very great speed.
She has two boilers, which are located in
the hold. They are % feet long and III
feet diameter OF shell, with 200 feet OF CRATE
bar surface. The machinery Is OF the latest
and most improved patterns, and works aoi-
mirably 10 be as new as il Is. Throughout
she Is model OF beauty, strength, and
| completeness. The windows in the upper
saloon are so arranged that the entire
apartment can be thrown open fore aud
oft Both saloons are elegantly uphol-
stored, and the floors are covered with Tine
Brussels carpet. In The upper saloon, Just
over the dinng-ro0m. Is mammoth mirror.
The dining-roOm is conveniently situated,
and better ventilated than any we have ever
seen on sbipboard. The floor is made OF
hard wood. alternately black and white. The
same walters that were on the Ariel are en-
ployed on the new steamer, and are noted
| for their polteness and kind attention to
messengers. The dining-rOom is so ar
ranged that passenger will have fresh air,
in fact an abundance OF 1t, wherever he may
sta consummatiOn devoutly to be wished
in case OF q rough seat at breakfast or dim
ner.time. The bay and river steamers have
been famous for good living, and the fri,'nds
OF the City OF Richmond are anticipating
good breakfast this morning on the way
down. Some OF the visitors went so
| far Yesterday as to say that person
ought to be satisfied TO sit in the
dining-room all day without eating NOR
sci. The winding stairway which connects
the upper SALOON with the dining-room is
fine piece OF work. The newel-posts, hand
rails, and balusters are made OF costly wood.
There is also a neat and comfortable dining
room for colored passengers in the lower
cabin, similar to the dining-rooms on the
Bay steamers. She has twenty.one state
rooms, two large bridal chambers, two pri-
vate saloons, and a number Of berths that
can be put up in case OF q crowd. The rooms
are neatly-nay, handsomely fitted up, the
| bridal chambers particularly. The saloons
are ornamenied on the side with beautiful
| stained-elass transoms, through which col
| ored rays OF light are admitted. The hand
some painting and carving on the wheel
houses, and the Oat.oi-arms OF Virginia,
deserve special commentator. They are
| the work OF mechanics well skilled IN
their respective branches. II. w. Gra-
ham did the painting. Frank Cox the
joiners' work, and Mr.. Sayler, who is
said Ia be an artist Of great talent and col-
siderable merit, did the carving.
The City Of Richmond was built by
Birely, Hilman & Streeker, builders OF cell
ebrated fast-sailing yachts in Philadelphia /;
the boiler and engine by Neaflie q Leary.
who enjoy wide reputation as designers
and builders. She was built under the spe-
ciaI supervision OF Mr.. l.. Il. Tatum, OF this
city, Superintendent OF the line. He de-
serves much credit for what he has accom-
plished.
Captrin, II. G. Clifford; Chief Engineer,
John HaQcn GuTseT. NcOISc la, Ioi (,
Mate, Walter Barnes. All OF these officers
are well known. Captain Clifford formerly
commanded the Eliza HancoX and John
Sylvester, which ran between Richmond
and Norfolk before the Ariel came on the
line. He also commanded the Ariel, and
is an experienced officer. No man Is
better acquainted with the channel
OF The james than Captain Clifford, and cer-
tainly n more capable and efficient officer
could not have been selected to take charge
OF the new steamer. Engineer Haden Is
an experienced engineer and line me-
cbanic. George Taylor will be remembered
as the courteous and polite purser OF the
Ariel. He is an old Norfolk boy, having
resided there nearly all OF his life.
To-day the City OF Richmond VIII make
the run 10 Norfolk and return TO Richmond
this evening about s O'Clock, feat never
before attempted by any other steamer: She
has made 1SA miles an hour on theDela-
ware river, where the current is swifter
than that Of the James. She leaves this
morning at 6 O'Clock, and will no doubt
carry down large number Of passengers
on this her first trip from Richmond. SUI
perintendent Tatum will accompany the
steamer down this morning.