The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-11-20


for the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati pack
ct line by the Cincinnati Marine Rail-
way Company, was launched from tho
ways yesterday afternoon, AS the big
packet glided into the water Miss EN-
ma Kirkup, of Newport, Ky, u niece OF
Commodore G. w, {, Johnston and
Captain James \. Henderson, broke u
bottle OF champagne over bow and said;
II christen thee Virginia" and a shout
went up from the large crowd that
had assembled to wit ness the cere-
mony
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 It's place, ana TO be sure
that her machinery was IN perfect
working order II was set in motion be-
fore she was lowered into the water.
The launching of the vessel was similar
10 that which charncterizes the launch-
Ing OF ocean liners She was built on
cradles. and as she Glidcd down the rail-
way she moved rs gracefully as bis
white swan.
The management OF the company an
nounced the officers OF the new boat as
follows; Captain, Thomas $ Calhoun;
purSeT, Robert H. Kerr; pilots, j. H.,
Ollum and T. $. Sanford; chief mate,
John Sweeney: chief engineer. George
Johnston; steward, Irwin Johnson;
electrician, " c, Phnrls.
Captain Calhoun Is Il veteran Of the
river and one OF the most popular mas
terS on western waters. In turn he has
.1..l I ln1.a
stone State, Iron Queen, Scotia and 9TH
or packets. lie Is also vice president
Of the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati
packet line.
The Virginia will leave Cincinnati
for Wheeling AID Pittsburgh on the
first water,
MECHANICAL. DESCRIPTION.
Length. 2Sj fest; beam. 40 feet; floor,
IS feet; depth OF hold. I feet; door tim
Der in two pieces, new way OF build
ing) 3hX6 inches: bow timber, Axe;
side timbers, 3iaXi; spaces OF floor, 0.
10, u, IL; main keelson, GxlO. knuckle
keelson. 5xl2: floor streak, 3X7; bulk
head. i-l0. scarfcd bolted and caulked;
clamp, 3X9-3xlO scarfed; side plank 3
inches: three breast hooks, 25sXl2:
deck beams 3S6, centre one . feet:
decking three inches Select white
pine. AL frame work and plunking-of
selected oak: deck beams Of yellow
pine; boiler beams and deck under bot
Ter are of lion.
Among the many new fcatureC in the
hull, construction may be mentioned the
divided floor. This was done for two
obvious reasons. viz: TO secure addi-
tional strength In the keclsOn on back
bone OF the steamer, and 20 secure the
very best floor with the butt end Of
every stick at the knucklc.
Another feature Is the use of yellow
pine for deck beams. Superintendents
Cofln and Ellison believing that better
results could BE- obtained In the use OF
pine than OF oak. which Is commonly
used on all steamers Particular pains
have been taken to bolt and fnstcn the
frame and planklng at NIL vital points.
In point OF fact the management Of
the Cincinnati Marine Railway Compa-
ny (buildcrs) have used every EFFORT
and exertion to make the hull OF this
boat credit, not only to themselves
but to the Cincinnati mechanics. How
well they have succeeded only needs nm
examination She Is pronounced by
experts and steamboat men In general
20 be the finest constructed hull that
was ever launched at the port of Gin
cinnati. and when the fact Is considered
that very large number OF the finest
and best steamers ever in use on the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers have been
built there. II will he seen how superior
this hull must be to evoke such great
praise.
Captain Charles Kendall who has
been longer associated with the ship
yards and boat building interests than
any man In Cincinnati, says the Nir-
ginia, in point OF model and constrdc-
ton OF hull stands at the head OF the
list OF Cincinnati built steamers
MAIN SALOON AND CABINS.
The cabin IL a model OF beuuty. IS
what is termed full length and has
fifty state rooms. The decorations are
original and novel and have been
adopted only By the Pittsburgh g. Gin
cinnuti Packet Line. The Iron
Queen" was the only steamer, except
this one, that this style OF ornamental
ton was ever used on, The finish and
decoration OF thcclblnS OF tho Iron
Queen and Virginia we're designed by
Commodore G. W. c. johnston. the
able Fecretary and trCaS"-er OF the
Pittsburgh q Cincinnati Packet Zine.
also her furnishings, which are the
richest ard most luGirlant that mSney
con purchase.
I'he interior decorations OF the Viz
ginia ARE L.h.CruBtu WaltOns, with
very high relief the rooms being
thrown In panels and decorated In To-
i'ef colorB, The upper panel Of the door
is bevaled edge plate glass mirror. A
marked innovation OF the Virginlns
cabin IN the departure from the old
style brackets, 20 commonly and gcn-
orally In use on western rivers. In
their place has been made beautiful
cove after tho pattern in use on Pull
man palace cars. This cove Is artistic
ally designed In Lln.Crusta aod high
relief work.
The lighting Of the cabin In entirely
new and original. The use Of Chnndc-
Hers ig dispensed with; electric lights
drop out OF Il panel In tho ceiling.
There nre In the main saloon 100
incnndcsccEt lights: $50 incnndcscent
lights are used IN tho illumination OF
this steamer. which includes light
IN each and every rtntc rooni There IL
nlgo "a 10000 candle power search light
and two 5000 candle power arc lights
This steamer when III up ut ilght viii
10 u beautiful sight, aud resemble a
fairy palace
THE MACHINERY.
Another II the many radical depart
,IrcB that hay" been made Oh thln
stenfnpr Ir the use Of compound ma
Chinory. The high pressure cylinder Ia
IL inches In diameter with feet stroke.
and the low pressure or compound cyl.
Under ig ~ lnchrn In diameter, Z feet
Btrokc Of piston. This machinery
dTiypa n wntU wheel q feet IN diane.
Ter with 10 foot length of bucket, the
wheel being of the divided bucket pat.
tern. Tho Pittsburgh y Cincinnati
Packet Line In the only one In the west
using this style " wnt"r wheel
Btcnm IN generated from q bnttory or
four boilers " inches In dlnmcttri ok
flrpg CnCh The Hipnmur Nv equipped