Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-11
Inauguration Of the New Steamship
Line a Great Success.
MEANS MUCH FOR THE VIRGINIAS
And for Shippers South and West.
Guests of the Company Take a
Sail on the Rappahannock-
Banquet at Old Port Comfort
A Distinguished Delegation.

The officials Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad Company are to be congratu-
lated upon the success Of their excur-
sion, rendered to the leading exporters
and importers of the West and North
west, upon the occasion OF the inaugu'
ration OF the new ocean line OF freight
steamships to run between this port and
the various ports Of Great Britain and
the continent. On the train which left
Cincinnati yesterday at 6 q. m, and
which arrived here at an early hour
this morning, there were about one nun
dred and seventy-hve representatives. OF
the industries interested.
1t took six Pullman sleepers to ac-
commodate the party which seemed to
enjoy thoroughly the ride through the
fine scenery for which the Z. IL o. Is
Justly celebrated. A heavy rain, which
commenced falling after supper last
evening, was general along the line. and
re endered the journey an exceptionally
pleasant one.
Kentucky has the largest delegation
OF any State. Louisville alone has
nearly twenty gentlemen representing
her. Tobacco, OF course, Is Kentucky's
great article Of export, and an lnspec-
tion OF the great docks crowded with
thousands OF hogsheads OF tobacco i'm
presses the visitor with the immensity
of the trade of the Bluegrass State in
this particular. The Kentuckians who
have never been here before are
charmed with the superb facilities OF
Newport News as harbor. The iarg-
est OF ocean steamers can anchor along
side the c. & o. docks without trouble,
and this port undoubtedly has great
future, there being none to surpass IL
for room and depth OF water on the At
lantic coast.
The establishment Of the new line OF
steamers means greatly improved and
more rapid transportation for our snip
pers. BY the old way OF shipping East
via New York lines, many OF our mer-
chants complained Of the frequent long
DELAYS in the great freight yards at
Cleveland, Buffalo and other large cities
Freight would get side tracked for
months at these places. BY the Z. o. O.
we have direct and rapid communica-
tion with the seaboard, with rates only
16% cents, as against 25 cents via New
York. The great increase In the traffic
has necessitated the double-trackiDg OF
the line for large portion OF the way,
the MANAGEMENT being determined TO
make the road frst-class in every re-
spect. During the past four years there
has been a steady increase In gross and
net earnings, and in the year ending
with June last there was surplus over
all charges Of S423,76O.
Up to the present the c. & y. Com
pany was dependent upon the Irregular
Furness line Of tramp vessels for ship
ment OF European consignments. The
Chesapeake and Ohio Steamship Com
pany (imited) was organized by the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company,
with capital stock OF 81, ,OOO.0OO and
S75O,OO 5 per cent. debentures, OF
which the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road Company subscribed for 100000
of the stock, for the purpose OF estab-
fishing regular and efficient steamer
service between the port Of Newport
News and ports In the United Kingdom.
giving the Atlantic seaboard another
and very accessible means OF inter-
changing foreign traffic by utilizing
the magnificent harbor OF Hampton
| Roads.
The steamship line as now organized
comprises a feet Of six new steamers.
three Of which. the Appomattox, Chick
ahominy and Greenbrler, were built by
Furness, Witty & Co., At West Hartle-
port. England. These ships are all OF q
uniform type, and OF the following d.
mensions: Length, 345 feet; breadth.
Al feet inches; depth, 2s feet inches;
draught, laden, % feet 6 inches; ton
mage. gross, 5000 tons; tonnage, net,
| /. 600 tons; cargo capacity, 5000 tons
measurement, fittings for $50 head OF
cattle. water ballast, 500 tons; triple
expansion engines 2s, A, 70 by 4s inches
stroke. ard 100 pounds steam pressure.
Three larger vessels, constructed by
A. Stephens e. Sons, Lipthouse, ION
| the. .Clvde), Glasgow, are named the
Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Kan
awba. and are OF the following dimen-
.ion.: Length. $40 feet, breadth a
feet. depth 81 feet 6 inches. draught,
laden. 25 feet inches, tonnage gross
| 2. $50 tons, tonnage net 2,45O tons,
| Cdrg0 capacity o, 80 bohs
fittings for no head OF cattle. water
| ballast 500 tons, engines triple eIpan.
sion 2s. 46, rs by 81 inches stroke, and
steam pressure 100 pounds. The con-
struction OF these ships consists OF
every possible convenience and neces-
slty for the safe ard expeditions hand
ling OF live stock, and there are no
ships afioat to-day that VIII exceed
them in this respect
! II is the expectation that cattle
fine will be established through the port
nf Newport News that can not but be OF
great and lasting benefit 10 the cattle
SINNERS OF the West. Tobacco comes
next. in hog.hezds. drawn principally
| from the Kentucky tobacco region.
while cotton is handled In large quanti-
ties through Louisville and Lexington.
coming from Tennessee and Alabama
The cotton districts OF Arkansas and
Tennessee are also contributing largely
~ the volume OF traffic being exported
and the Kentucky district Is fortunate
In having q port and equal adjustment
Of rates in order to take care Of I'm
mense crops Of tobacco and wnea; that
are annually exported from the State:
Everv possible appliance for cheap and
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