Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-11-20
REGISTER WEDNEsDAY. NOvEMBER 2O.1895
VIRGINIA LAUNCHED.
New Cincinnati and PittSburg Packet
Glid0S Into the Water
At Cincinr a 1.-THE Crew Of the
Boat and a Large Crowd Present.
A Description Of the New Steam
er-Other River News and Notes.

er-Other River News and Notes.
The new steamer Virginia, built for
the Cincinnati and Pittsburg packet
line by the Cincinnati Marine Railway
Company, was successfully launched at
Cincinnati yesterday afternoon. AS
the big packet glided into the water
Miss Emma Kirkup, of Newport, KY,
a niece Of Commodore G. w. C. john
ston and Capt. James A. Henderson,
broke a bottle of champagne over her
bow and said: Il christen thee Vir-
ginia," and a shout went up from the
large crowd that had assembled to wit
ness the ceremony.
The Virginia is probably the only
river packet that enjoys the distinction
Of having been launched equipped
complete from bow to stern. Every
thing was in its place, and, to be sure
that her machinery was in perfect
working order, it was set in motion be-
fore she was lowered into the water
The launching of the vessel was similar
TO that which characteTiZes the launch
ing Of ocean liners. She was built on
cradles, and as she glided down the
railway she moved as gracefully as q
big white swan.
The Virginia was built to take the
place of the burned Iron Queen, of
which Capt. Calhoun was commander
at the time she took fire. The vessel is
one of the finest ever constructed, as
her cabin is a dream of beauty. She
viii cost in the neighbOrhOod of S65, 900
and is the largest boat of the line, being
more thon three feet wider than the
Iron Queen. which was the largest when
she met with disaster.
When the Virginia was launched she
was gaily decorated with the American
colors and the flags of all nations, all
floating from fiagstaffs on the boat.
Among the many new features in the
hull construction may be mentioned the
divided floor This was done for two
good reasons, viz: To secure additional
strength in the kelsOn on backbone of
the steamer, and to secure the very best
floor with the butt end of every stick
at the lnuckle Second, the use of vel
low pine for deck beams. Supts Coffin
and Ellison believing that better re-
suits could be obtained in the use of
pine than Of oak. which is commonly
used on all steamers.
The cabin is a model of beauty, and
is what is termed full length. and has
30 staterOOms. The decorations are
original and novel and have been adopt
ca by only the Pittsburg and Cincinnati
packet line The Iron Queen was the
only steamer. except this one, that this
style of OrnamentatiOn was ever used
on The finish and decoration of both the
cabins of the Iron Queen and the Vir-
ginia were designed by Commodore O..
w G. Johnston, secretary and treasurer
of the Pittsburg and Cincinnati packet
line. also her furnishments, which are
the richest and most luXuriant that
money can purchase.
The interior decoration of the Vir-
ginia is lincrusta Walton, with very
high relief. the rooms being thrown in
panels and decorated in relief cOlOrs.
The upper panel of the door is beveled-
edged plate glass mirror. A marked
innovation of the Virginia's cabin is
the departure from the old style brack-
cts. so commonly and generally in use
on Western rivers. In their place has
been made a beautiful cove, after the
pattern i'm use on Pullman palace cars.
This cove is artistically designed in lin
cruSta and high relief work.
The lighting of the cabin is entirely
new and original. The use Of chande-
liers is dispensed with, and electric
lights drop out of panel in the ceiling.
There are in the main saloon 100 mean
descent lights and $50 incandescent
lights are used in the Illumination Of
the steamer. which includes a light in
each stateroom. There is also a 100000
candle power search light, and two 5000
candle power arc lights. The steamer,
when lit up at night, will be beautiful
sight. and resembles fairy palace.
Another of the many radical depar-
lures that has been made on this steam
err is the use of compound machinery.
The high pressure cylinder is 10 inches
i'm diameter. with seven foot stroke, and
the low pressure or compound cylinder
being 80 inches in diameter, seven foot
stroke of piston. This machinery
drives a water wheel "a feet in diane
ter. with 30 foot length of bucket, the
wheel being of the divided bucket pat
tern. The Pittsburg and Cincinnati
packet line is the only line in the West
using this style of water wheel. Steam
is generated from battery of four boil
ers A inches in diameter. six fues each.
The steamer is equipped with steam
freight holsters, steam capstan, steam
pumps. and a special automatic steam
water works pump, which carries
constant supply Of water to all parts
of the boat.
There were . feet 6 inches Of water
in the channel last night. Falling.
The Liberty cleared Yesterday for
Parkersburg and way landings, with
good trip.
The Lexington departed yesterday for
New Matamoras and ether down river
points.
Special to the Register.
Parkersburg. w Va, November 10
Ohio . feet and falling. Weather fair
and warmer.
Pittsburg. November 19.-River 1
foot eight-tenths and falling at the dam.
Weather rain