The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-19
THREE STEEL BOATS.
DhrIY LINE ON J.imES RryER M
TUEEN RICHMOND and NORFOLK.
wharf Property Already Bought ard the
line VIII be Established Next spriag.
The Vessels win be Fast and Elegant.


Said Dr. y. G.. Booth.
We are going to wake up->
lie referred TO new boat line.
II will indeed be n biz thing FOR Rich
mond.
Mir. enters great half million hotel
and daily steamer line On James river
These are two great advantages Rich
mend is going to enjoy before another
twelve months
DR. Booth came up Thursday from Car
ttr's Grove, on James river. 70 at'eal
our great demonstrated
He was in high spirits about the pro
posed line. and enthusiastic about the
great benefits It would bring to the IN
dustries along James river.
Last Monday a deed was recorded IN
the chancery court conveying 800 Feet
of wharf property in Rockets running
hack 10 Lester street. from Thomas w.
McCance. trustee. to Ed L. Barney.
This was the first move in the new en-
terprise although II was not known at
the time the purchase was mace IO'
what purpose IL was 10 be used
Mr. Barney is a wealthy resident OIL
Dovton O. and the owner OF the famous
hog Island plantation, in the lower
II is understood that Mr.. Barney will
be the secretary and treasurer OF tne
steamer line, and the purchase was mace
FOR wharf and warehouse room Tor their
,essels II seems that this enterprise
has been under discussion for some tlihe'
and that, besides, several prominent
Richmond citizens, such men as NJ. l..
ingalls, president Of the Chesapeake ana
OHIO railway. and ". T. Clyde, or the
steamship line Of that name are inter-
ested.
direct. and all that he told me was con
frmed by a well-known merchant "ho
IS a stakeholder I'm the new company
Indeed. there can be no doubt but that
the new line is a fixed fact ana WINE
all the arrangements have not peen luily
completed, they are in preparation ana
a charter will be filed probably the hTst
of next week.
An application for a charter. in Which
the officers named for the first year are
M. +. ingalls,, president; a. II. Dre"ry,
first vice-president; j. ID. Platt, second
yice-president; +. G. Barney, secretary
and treasurer, and G. i. Burgwyn, en-
gineer has been made
The directory comprises the same
names and perhaps one or two Richmohd
capitalists. ..oooo
The minimum capital is placed al SlO'oV0
and the maximum at 100000.
The plan Of the company is to run
q daily line Of first-cass passenger side
wheel steamboats, between Hichmond
and Norfolk. which shall be both fast
and elegant in their appointments.
II is said that these steamers have al
ready been contracted for with Harlan
e. Hollngsworth. the extensive boat
builders at Wilmington, Del.
/ was unable to ascertain any par
ticulars concerning the dimension Of the
boats. but they will be Of ample pro-
portions with steel hulls and powerful
machinery. The feet will comprise
three OF these splendid steamers, and 1t
is proposed that one shall leave each
end of the line daily, giving n SWIFT pas
sage up and down the historic James In
daylight. giving special attractions 10
tourists and those who desire 10 traVei
IN ease and luxury
The steamers will be fitted with IN
closed excursion decks, which VIII make
the observation of these banks so en-
twined with the colonial and later his
tory Of Virginia n matter OF pleasure
and comfort in all weathers.
1t is proposed that the state-room ac~
commcdations shall be elegant and com
modious, and every Improvement and
.ships will be embodied in them.
First-cass accommodations will also be
Furnished for colored people who are able
10 pay for them but they will he separate
and distinct in every particular
Cheaper accommodations Of superior
character will also be furnished.
The table viii be conducted on both the
American and European plans and ele-
CANT meals will be served at any hour.
One of these boats will lie at the wharf
1T Norfolk and one at Richmond every
night. and passengers from incoming
trains or other boats can repair imme-
diately to them and secure accommoda-
lions similar to those afforded at first
class hotels.
1t IS thought this feature will prove
very attractive to tourists and travellers.
These boats propose to land at all the
Wharves along the river, and give the
utmost accommodation to the residents
along its banks.
TO this end each boat viii carry an as
eistant male and female purser, whose
business it shall be TO so ashore where
ever the boat lands and take orders from
any farmer merchant, citizen or house
keeper for any article needed and deliver
the same on the return trip.
This method Of shopping, il Is thought,
will increase the traffic largely and prove
a valuable accommodation TO the public.
full orchestra will be carried on each
boat and will furnish orchestral and
dance music.
They expect to carry the United States
mails, and this alone will prove a great
boon to the residents along the river who
for many years have put up with receiv-
ing their mails two or three times a
week
The name OF the new company has not
yet been decided on. but the plans con-
template the absorption Of the Virginia
Steamboat Company, who now run the
steamer Ariel, though another name Will
DO taken.
The few people talked with yesterday
all agreed that the move was the most
important one TO Richmond which has
been inaugurated In many years and I'M
der the control Of the men named in the
charter it Will prove grand success.
When / mentioned to a well-known
business man that II seemed strange that
Mr.. Ingalls, should establish line OF
boats to compete with his railroad he said
that Mr. ingalls, was far-seeing man,
and that such a line would attract a
large travel on James river which would
contribute materially TO the Chesapeake
and Ohio main line.
The company is a very strong one, and
the investment already made here is an
earnest that their plans Will be carried
out.
II is quite significant that this large
business enterprise. which has been I'M
der consideration for a long time. should