Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-05-18

Press ExcURsIoNIsTs- "A Delightful Trip
The complimentary excursion given to the
preSsby the Pennsylvania R. R CO. last week
was ali that could have been wished. There
were enc hundred and sixty invited guests
which included representatives of the press
from this city, Washington, Baltimore, Phil
adelp hia, Wilmington and other places. The
guests from Washington left that city at an
early hour "Wednesday morning in q special
train, proceeding TO Baltimore, from which
city the excursionists from this city aud
Washington were taken to Wilmington
where they We've met by those of Philadel-
mia and Wilmington. From the latter city
the entire party were carried over the new
Prnn-uar railroad to Cape Charles City.
Among the equipments of the train were
dinns-room and buffet cars and in the
course Of the journey dinner, quite equal
to those of the first hotels of the land, was
served, choice wines being one of the lux
uries The entire country along the route
i, notable for its fatness and much of it for
liz primitive aspects. A portion of it is the
famous peach growing region of Delaware
and Maryland, and the vast orchards of
peach trees were gaZed upon with amaze.
ment. Cape Charles was reached at p. M,
where the excursionists boarded the new
aud elegant steamer, Cape Charles, to make
the trip to Old Point Comfort twenty six
miles distant. The bay was very rough
and the rolling Of the boat caused a number
of the eXcursions's to become quite sea
sick. although everything was taken good
naturally. A. Old Point the excursionists
had warm welcome from mine host Phoe-
bus. 1t is almost needless to say that all
were astounded with the extent and APP
pontments of this palatial hostelrie. With
out question it is one of the finest in the
world and its popularity with people from
every section of The country is such that it
is almost continually crowded the year
round Thursday the excursiOnists found
day full OF interest and instruction. Fort
reSs Monroe, with its vast armament, was
closely Inspected. This was followed by g
visit to Hampton, mile distant, at which
is located the Normal and Agricultural In
stitute and Soldiers Home. On returning
to the Hygeia the party found an invitation
from Rear Admiral Franklin to visit his
flagship, the Pensacola, lying nearby in
Hampton Roads. 1t was accepted, and at
1 D. M the decks of the vessel were alive
with the ardent curiosity seekers. The
officers took great painsin explaining every
thing of interest relating to the vessel.
In the evening the entire party boarded
the magnificent steamer Virginia, Captain
Dawes, of the Boy Line, ami became the
guests on the trip to Baltimore of the Bay
Line Company. To make each and every
one comfortable, and the trip a merry one,
seemed to be the aim of those in charge. In
the course of the evening the newspaper
clan assembled and passed complimentary
resolutions to the Pennsylvania Railroai
Company and the Bay Line Company, auh
also took occasion to express in very ct.n-
mandatory words the merits of the new
railroad recently added to the PenDsyiva
MIA Railroad Company's system. Baltimore
was reached at $50 O'Clock Friday morning
and after an exchange of farewells, the par
ty proceeded to their respective cities. The
excursion was in every feature successful
and delightful one. AS for the Pennsylva
MIA Railroad Company, il provided festiv l.
ties and creature comforts with lavish
hand, and lis representatives were constant
ly on the alert with the view of permitti ng
no means or methods to escape that cot,ld
in any way conduce to the welfare and
pleasure of its guests. This stuperdo Us
corporation fully realizes the value OF The
press, aud most invariably invokes its aid
aud influence in placing its new enterp, Uses
before the public This is not only peri ect-
in consonance with that wisdom and sag ac-
ity which always characterizes its policy
and government.
Very many people speak of the Penns 81
vauia Railroad as "a great institutio n"
without precisely understanding the signi-i
canoe and force of the word "great" as APP
piled to it. The fact is that in the extent Of
its system, the ramifcations of its opera
tons, the developments of its methods and
the perfection of its government that corpo.
ration is really an empire, uurivaled of its
character, perhaps, in the world. Each sue
ceeding year, indeed, witnesses new addi
tons TO its territory and its increasing in
tluence on material interests, and when and
where the limit of its progress will be made
manifest is hard to foretel. Its latest ac.
QUESTION is the New York, Philadelphia and.
Norfolk Railroad, organized under its pres
ent management little over year ago.,
and opened TO traffic last November. 1t be-
gins at Delmar, the Southern terminus o.
the delaware division of the PHILADELPHIA s.
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, an d
runs thence directly South in a perfectly
straight line to the terminus at Cape Charles
near the Southern point Of the Virginia per-
insula. Its almost phenomenal straight
hess renders the motion of the cars as little
perceptible as possible, and the speed attain.
ed is equal to that of the very best roads OF
the country. The distance from Delmar to-
Cape Charles, ninety five miles, is said to be
the longest straight stretch ofrailroad in the
East. There are no grades to speak Of aud
the track is laid with sixty pound steel rails
1t was to have the public more thoroughly
understand the importance ofthis new route
that the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
invited the press to an excursion over it.
The excursionists were in charge OF
Messrs James R. Wood, General Passen ger
Agent; George w. Boyd, Assistant Gen sral
Passenger Agent; E. T. Postlethwaite, A. sis
tant to Vice President Thomson Gee rge
DeHaven, Passenger Agent Baltimore Ibis
trct, and R. A. Parke, South Eastern Pas
senger Agent. Each of these gentlemen did
all in Ills power to make the excursion q
success and that they succeeded goes wi tn
out saying.
ApPo1NTMENT.-Mr Samuel L. Monroe