Daily Republican., 1881-06-14
1.-THE BETSEY ANN
Her Second Cruise Around the
River Road.

mESSho' EDlloitS.-oWlnB 10 Jne
urgent demand for river read, Presi-
dent Crozier ordered out the Betsey
Ann for her second cruise of exploration
on the 18th inst.
AT 9 o'clock, q. m.. sharp, the mag
niticent steamer Betsey Ann dropped
from her moorings in Shellpot bay. In
addition to the officers and crew, a
number OF the stockholders of the
National Gum Log Bank, and other
distinguished guests, accompanied the
expedition. Before leaving the wharf
President CroZier detailed two detatch-
ments of sappers and miners for land
service, one of them to he stationed at
or near the Jackson & Sharp Car Works
on Seventh street, and the other at a
point where Nandever avenue intersects
the p, w. & b. Railroad Major
Andrew Il. Stewart was directed to
erect platform forty feet in height at
the foot Of Fourth street on Christiana
River, as signal station for the ste amer
BetSey Ann, to get observ ations from
her pilot house to that point. From
this station telephone connection was
made with the corps at Vandever
avenue and Railroad crossing, so that
direct communication could be kept up
with Major Stewart and the officers of
Betsey Ann.
At 9.20 a. m, the Betsey Ann steam
ed out the ChriStiana into the Delaware
river with magnificent bunting floating
from every spar. President Crozer's
Mammoth Telescope, was placed in
position on the promenade deck near
the pilot house, The old gentleman
was so delighted with the prospect of a
speedy opening up Of the River Road
that new life was infused into his veins
and skipped about over the promenade
deck of the BetSey Ann us lively as a
youth of eighteen summers would do
on a Sunday evening on his way to
court his first gal. Major Bob Banks
looked as jolly as old Santa Claus does
when distributing toys to the urchins,
the night before Christmas.
Rear Admiral Christy was for the
first time equipped in his new uniform,
of the latest navy regulations, and
looked every inch an Admiral of the
first magnitude. After the Betsey Ann
had got to a point in the Delaware be-
yond where the flats extend out from
the mouth of the Christana river, the
steamer was headed up the Delaware.
Major Steuart OH his elevated platform
at the foot of Fourth street then ex-
changed signals with Admiral Christy
of the BetSey Ann, which worked ad-
mirably. Major Stewart then telephOned
Col. Lee File, at the Nandever Avenue
station to run up his flag on the forty
feet high pole, erected at that station,
which was Immediately completed and
President Crozier was delighted with
the perfection of the arrangements
which were planned entirely by the old
hero, and salute was fired from the
Swamp Angel Battery stationed at the
wharf of the National Dredging com
pauy, under the command of Major
VIM. s. Bullock. The Betsey Ann was
then headed for the dredging Company's
wharf and to the surprise of the officers
in charge depth of Ii feet OF water
was sounded within short distance of
the wharf at low water. The anchor
was then thrown out and Quatermaster
Banks invited the officers guests and
crew into the magnificent saloon for
dinner. The viands spread upon the
board were varied and prepared in a
manner that would reflect credit on the
butler of her Royal Highness Victoria
1st. Be it said to the credit of Major
Banks nothing of an intoxicating char
acter was allowed on board of the
steamer. This was heartily approved
of (in contrast with an expedition
made over and by an inspection Of city
officials to the river front u few days
prevrouS.)
The First Regiment band, which had
enlivened the trip ont the ChriStlana,
then struck up Columbia the Gem of
the Ocean, and OH being enCOred played
"rhe Star Spangled Banner, and God
save the Queen with Yankee Doodle
variations. When the national air of
Mai. Banks native land was struck up,
the Major clapped his hands with de-
light at the Old familiar air he first
heard at his boyhoOd home in Yorkshire,
England.
The Betsey Ann was then moored to
the dredging company wharf, and two
corps of engineers with the latest i'm
proved instruments and mathematical
appliances, maps, charters, Nc, of the
city and its surroundings were then
sent ont. one of them to Major Stew
arts Signal Station at Fourth street
wharf, the other to the Nandever ave-
nue. station with strict instructions to
note distances, land, mOrasses, width OF
streams to be crossed, &c. AT $50 p |
m, the two corps returned to the Betsey |
Ann and submitted their report. Presl-
dent Crozier presided at the meeting
held in the saloon Of the steamer, and
Col. George A. Henderson acted as Sec.
retary. After hearing a full report OF
the engineers, the feasibility OF the two
routes were ably discussed by the OIL
GERS and invited guests. On vote be.
ing taken it was the unanimous sense OF
the meeting that either one or the other
of the two northern rOntes should With
out delay be decided upon, and road
opened to the river front.
IT. was the opinion Of large majority
of those present the best route would be
TO run the road from the dredging Com
panv's wharf direct to the intersection
of Seventh street, near the ChrlStlana
river, and extend the same ron that
noint TO the Fourth street wharf on the
north side of the said river; but owing
70 the great amount OF damage to the
business of the Jackson & Sharp Car
Co., which would be caused by building
the road through their works, they were
If the opinion that it would be eilnproper
1t this meeting to decide definitely on
said route. The route by way OF Nande.
YER avenue is somewhat longer and
would have to be DETECTED by Eleventh
street at it's junction with the Avenue
% bring it into the business part of the
.ity. By this route, however, the
bridging of the Brandywine Greek
would be avoided at present, and from
PRESENT indications, damages to indi-
riduals and corporations would be much
ess than by the Seventh street route.
BY connecting the river road with
eleventh street, .he bridge on said
t. would soon have to be re- built as its
condition would render it !
Ins;,fe for the large amount of travel a