The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-08-18
THE EVENING CRITIC.
YORKTOWN CENTENNIAL.
Steamboat Arrangements for Trans
DOrfatiOu.
ESTABLISHED AUGUST

NtcHmDOHt ARRANGEMENTS IOE lEHus-
pOrtatiOn.
Baltimore and Washington steamboat
owners are just now carrying on quite an
interesting warfare with the idea of cap
turing the patronage Of people who will at
tend the Yorktown Centennial, and though
it has not been made public before, Wash
ington companies arc making active prepa-
rations for tho expected rush of travellers.
The Baltimore owners have found, accord
ing TO statement in the american this
morning, that the demand for steamers
from that port will exceed the
ability to supply them, and efforts to draw
ON the Potomac River companies have been
made, but without success. awe will
want all the steamers here that we can
get" said an experienced manager of pop
ular steamboat line this morning, "and
Baltimore will not be able to get any of our
boats. We do not propose to charter
our steamers. We will contract to take
down organizations on certain dates and
bring them back to Washington, but will
not bind ourselves to let our boats be char
tered exclusively. / have this information
from all the head officials of the several
companies sending steamers from this port.
As understand it, no interference will be
allowed with any of the regular routes.
The steamers will run as usual, and travel
between this city, Norfolk, Fortress Monroe
and other points along the river will be
continued as usual" A reporter of The
CRITIC learned to-day that the Inland and
Seaboard Coasting Company had made
ample arrangements for tho proposed rush.
They will have regular daily line of steam
ers leaving this city, and will also press into
service their New York stcamers-the
Knight and the Gibson. Their entire fleet
consists of the Jane Moseley, Lady of the
r Il I'll. III thn
York boats above named. Tho company
has lust completed arrangements with Quar-
termaster- General Church, of the Michigan
State militia, to take the governor of Michi-
gan and staff and the State officials. num-
bering in all about two hundred, and, in ad-
dition, the largest regiment in the State,
fully equipped, to Yorktown and re-
turn. The Michigan troops will spend
several days in Washington sight-see-
ing going and returning from the Cen
tennial. Tho steamer George Leary
has been chartered by the United States
officials, and during the Centennial week
will lie off Yorktown in the capacity of a
floating hotel. The new steamer Excelsior
will take the place of the Lcary on her reg
ular trips to Norfolk, touching at York
town, going and coming. The steamer
Keyport, formerly on tho Potomac river
route, but now at Baltimore, has been en-
gagged to take the place of the Excelsior on
her regular trips to Quantico. Tho Wash
ington and Alexandria Steamboat Company
are whooping up things, also. Two of these
steamers are now on the stocks ut Alcxan.
dria, preparing to meet the rush, and other
parties are negotiating with steamboat own.
ers in New York to bring some of theil
steamers here. A gentleman who knows all
about the steamboat arrangements informed
a reporter of THE CRITIC this afternoon that
at least three of the Coney Island steamer,
would be secured for transportation on tho
Potomac