Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-19
THE BOUNCING BALTIMORE.
THE SHIP At VEST POINT.

West Point.
Although West Point is only thirty
eight miles from Richmond, and IS
easily reached over ona Of the smooth
est railroads in the world, there are
Richmond people who have but poor
idea of the great traffic carried on there.
II is worth q visit to sec the steamers
lying there, loading and unloading pre-.
cious freights hear the hoarse roar OF
the cotton-compress see the steve
dores in hundreds, working like beav-
ers, and watch the great rush OF Lie
shown in this busy little burg, which,
hardly q decade ago, was unknown In
the world Of commerce, but which to-
day cannot be overlooked, will not be
forgotten, and is fast asserting its claim
for recognition.
The Richmond and Danville railroad,
by its York-River line, takes you to
West Point, and thence it provides a
line Of steamers that ply between the
terminus Of the railroad and the busy
marts Of the world.
Yesterday was notable day at west
Point on account Of the fact that a
new and beautiful boat, built in the
CITY of Baltimore, made its initial trip
and came up TO West Point laden with
freight and passengers.
The authorities of the Associated
Railways of Virginia and North Caro-
lima were determined to celebrate the
occasion, and consequently special
train left the Richmond and Danville
depot at s O'Clock yesterday morning
for West Point, having on board Col
onel A. S. Buford, president Of the
Richmond and Danville road; Decatur
Axtell. of the Richmond and Allegha-
ny; Mr.. John p. Branch; Mr.. Charles
Harvood, Of the Atlantic Coast Line I;
Mr.. Thomas Carpenter; a number OF
newspaper-men from Georgia, North
Carolina, and Virginia, and sharp
sprinkling Of invited guests.
Owing to some miscalculation the
new boat (the Baltimore) did not leave
Baltimore at o'clock, as was expect
ed, but started at 8 O'Clock the previous
day: hence the Richmond party found
time hanging on their hands when they
reached West Point. 1t did not weigh
heavily, for there was plenty to attract
and hold their attention.
The most interesting thing was the
cotton-compress. Here everybody who
had anything to do with the work were
as busy as bees. Two or three stall
wart negroes were busily engaged in
snatching great bales Of cotton upon
trucks and rushing them to the COM
press, around which eight burly negroes
stood, three on each side and one at
each end. The men would whirl bale
Of cotton in twinkling upon the COM
press, and force Of 1900 tons would
be brought upon it in an instant. and
the bale would be rolled away
with two thirds Of its bulk gone. The
darkies sing as they work, and the re-
frain of one Of them was, 81 gwine
run away next Sunday" which was a
signal TO the man on the other side,
whose duty it was to send through the
grooves OF the compress the ties.
The Artesian wells came in for a
share of notice. The water is pure
a, d clear, and comes forth with great
f ce.
The people round about West Point
!, iicated their interest in the arrival OF
T. new boat by turning out in num-
/ rs to welcome her. The ladies were
beautiful. and would have done credit
to Baltimore or Richmond, celebrated
as these cities are for pretty women.
Lying at the wharf was the Danville,
a commodious steamer Of the York
River line, and on the hurricane-deck
of this boat the ladies and gentlemen
awaited the appearance Of the Balti-
more.
BY and by away down the river the
steamer was seen, and as she steamed
up to the wharf salute frsm every
steam whistle in the town and from
every boat at the wharf was heard.
The combination of sounds produced by
these hundreds ofwhistlcs reminded one
Of a great city. At 1910 O'Clock the
Baltimore stopped her paddles at West
Point. She was built in Baltimore for
special work on the York-River Line.
The new vessel is a schooner-rigged
propeller steamship Of handsome model.
Her dimensions are Length, 236 feet
over all, 2l5 feet on keel, 3S feet beam,
IL feet depth OF hold, and 10 feet be.
tween decks. Her carpenter's measure
ment is l,S00 tons, l,400 tons gross,
and l,0l2 registered. She has acarry.
ing capacity of 500 tons Of freight, and
has Accommodations for $50 first-class
passengers and so second-claSs.
The motive power is furnished by a
compound surface-condensing engine
with cylinders 80 and s. inches in
diameter and &c inches stroke of piston.
They are powerful engines of their
class, and embrace the very latest inn
provepents in marine engineering.
Most Of the working parts are of steel,
and the bearings phosphor bronze.
Each cylinder is provided with an ad-
Unstable cutoff, and the maiu engine is
controlled by an auxiliary starting en-
CINE. Steam is supplied by two Scotch
boilers, III feet long by II feet in
diameter, constructed of e-fourth OF
an inch plate-iron and braced for a
working pressure of 30 pounds Of
steam. Eleven engines Of different sizes
are used throughout the vessel for
various purposes.
The Baltimore is lighted by sixty
five Edison incandescent lamps, fur
nished by dynamo situated in the
engine-room. In addition are hand
some antique bronze oil-lamps placed
throughout, which are said to have
alone cost nearly $1,000. A steam
windlass for raising anchor or hauling
into dock, steam hoisting-engines. fire
apparatus and grenades distributed
through the vessel, and number OF
life-beats and preservers show the
great regard of the company for the
prompt working of cargo and preservs-
tion Of life on board.
Interior inspection Of the steamer re-
veals one OF the handsomest and most
complete vessels now used in the inland