The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-29
THE STEAMSHIP LINE.
BOATS WHICH WILL PLY BETWEEN
NEWPORT NEWS And LTTERPOOL.
Arrangements for the Big Enterprise Are
Being Pushed as Rapidly as Possible.
Some Very Interesting Facts.

The transatlantic steamship line from
Newport News to Liverpool, published in
Sundays Times. has attracted much in
terest and attention in this city.
The report. as published. has been con-
frmed. and the lire will be in operation
as soon as the ships can be built.
l called on Mr.. Elenore Hotchkiss.
general freight agent OF the Chesapeake
and Ohio railway, In the company's office
building yesterday afternoon.
After carefully reading the description
in Sundays Times. he said It was sub
gave me a number Of interesting facts
in connection with the rapidly growing
freight traffic of his road.
In reply TO my questions he said the
line was an assured fact and the ar
rangements were being pushed, but that
they could not give even an approximate
Idea as to the time the line would be in
operation, as it would take, perhaps
twelve months or more to construct the
six ships.
The Furness Company has for years
been running a line 10 Baltimore, and
for some time has been sending an oc-
casional vessel to Newport News to load
for foreign ports direct.
This is the company contracted with TO
build and operate the ships.
They will be owned mainly by the Fur
ness Company. but will be run under the
control Of the Chesapeake and Ohio.
They will sail weekly from both Liver
pool and Newport News, and will occupy
only ten days in the passage.
They will not pay great attention 10
I,rf mill ,cHu
tons and a speed equal to many passen-
ger ships on Northers lines. they should
attract share OF that trade.
While the export trade from Newport
News has been less this year than last
on account Of the smaller demand for
American grain. the increase is steady,
and the Chesapeake and Ohio look to a
large transatlantic business as the re-
sources along the line are developed.
The shipping business done now con-
sists principally Of grain, lumber and
cattle.
The Cuhc. one Of the largest OF the
old White Star fleet. is now loading at
Newport News for Liverpool. She has
loaded $4,000 bushels Of grain in bulk, and
Is now taking In a general cargo. she
Is also equipped for carrying cattle be-
tween decks, and there are 700 now on the
way from Chicago by the Chesapeake
and Ohio to load her.
The Chesapeake and Ohio has been
peculiarly fortunate in shipping cattle
across the ocean. In the five years that
they have been engaged in this class OF
freghtage only two losses have occurred
on the water, whereas other lines have
had frequent accidents.
The road also ships immense cargoes OF
slaves TO the German establishment Of
the Standard Oil Company, who ship
their oil in tank vessels and barrel it
after It gets there. These CargCes some
times number a million slaves.
The coal and lumber business is grow
ing rapidly, and the latter is becoming
very valuable. The new line up the
Gauley river. in West Virginia, Is oen-
ing up a large quantity of walnut lum-
Der which will still further increase this
trade.
The fact that there will be a steamship
line from RichmOnds outer port 10 the
foreign markets is looked on here with
degree Of no little Importance. The
further fact that IT Will be a direct line
with Newport News as the terminal point,
gives confidence that the determinations
in favor Of New York will not have to
be submitted to. as was the case with
another venture.