The daily gazette., 1880-10-05
THE EXCELSIOR.
THE NEW POTOMAC RIVER FERRY
STEAMER READY TO DEPART,


STEAMER READY TO DEPART.
The Excelsior, the new ferry steam
boat just built for the Potomac Steam
boat Company by the Harlan & Hol-
iingsworth Company, of this city, is now
in the dry dock, having her bottom thor
onghly painted. She will depart for
washington tomorrow or next day.
Ihe general appearance of this steam
er bss already been fully described in
the GAZETTE, and it is only necessary
to briefly allude to her principal points,
She Is 24O feet long, 40 feet wide and 12
feet deep. Her propelling power COM
pr,ses two separate beam engines, each
with a 60-inch cylinder and 1O-feet
stroke. The wheels are q feet in diam
eter and 8 feet face, with 26-inch buck
cts. The engines are of 450 horse power
each, aud the steamer is of TIA tons
burthe 1.
The Excelsior, though owned by the
Potomac Steamboat Company, will be
run principally as railroad ferry, in
connection with the Baltimore & Ohio
and the Richmond, fredericksburg g.
Potomac Railroads. On her main deck
is railroad track, neatly 250 feet long,
capable of accommodating four cars.
The cars will be run upon the boat at
Sheppard's, four and one-half miles be-
ow Was ngton, and conveyed to Guam
tlco, the no bern terminus of the Rich
mond, fredericksburg g. Potomac Rail
road, thirty-two miles below Washing
ten. She will also take deck passengers
between Washington, Alexandria and
Quantico.
The passenger accommodations Of the
Excelsior are simply superb. The sa-
loon is about 175 feet lorg, caipeted with
an ADMINISTER almost Oriental in its col
o: aud quality. Dining tables extend
yearly the entire length of the apart
ment, handsomely set Off with all the
elegant appointments of first class table
service. Along the sides of the saloon
are parlors, smoking rooms, closets, state
rooms, offices and other aparime IFS for
the proper service of the boat, all painted,
panelleG, vanished and finished in the
most elegant manner. The interior of
the saloon, from one end to the other, is
a marvel of tasteful shading and exqu-
site blending of colors. A more perfect
work of decoration was neve.' performed
on any steamer in this section of the
country.
On the main deck, on either side of
the railroad track, are accommodations
for the deck passengers. They CON-
prise sitting rooms, closets and smok-
ing rooms for white passengers, and
similar apartments for colored passen-
gers. Below are a dozen berths for
steerage passengers, and hunks for the
crew. The hull of the steamer is
stoutly constructed, and the deck i'm
mediately under the railroad track is
strongly supported by double trestle.
The heighth OF the ceiling on the main
deck is seventeen feet. The steamer
has ample freight accommodations.
The officers of the ErceIsior are:
Captain-Joseph White.
First Officer-John A. Beecham.
Second Officer-James johnson.
Chief Engineer-James O'Donnell.
Assistant Eng'er-Daniel Webster.
Purser-James McManus.
Caterer-Nelson Brummager.
Captain White superintended the
construction of the steamer, and yes
terday afternoon he set out fine col
lation in the saloon in honor of hei
completion. His invited guests were
Charles Chauncey, of Philadelphia,
President of the Potomac Steamboat
Company, Moncure Robinson, lead
ing director, J. Taylor Cause, of the
Harlan & Hollingsworth Company, and
representatives of the city press.
President Chauncey was warm in his
praises of the elegant appearance and
superior construction of the steamer,
and declared the Ii. & II. Co. had done
themselves, as well as the owners,
great honor and credit in turning out
such a masterpiece of marine work
manship.