The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-30
NORFOLk'S ADVANTAGE
Col. Andrews Tells Why, the Southern Rail-
way Transferred lis Operations Here.
OUR HOME AND fOAEIGA SHIPPING
IL Superior to That of other virginia
Ports, md tho Distance TO South
ern Points is Much Nearer-Ths
Now limo orstoamcrs to Baltimore
and the Business They Will Carry.

The Baltimore Sun Of Saturday has
the following which will be read with
interest in this section:
Colonel A. B. Andrews. who, in the
absence of Mr.. Samuel Spencer, Is the
acting president of the Southern Rail-
way Company. was in Baltimore yester-
day looking after the interests of his
River Line or steamers. President
Spencer is now abroad. In discussing
the plan for stopping some of the steam
ers of the line at Norfolk Colonel An
drive said:
The Baltimore, Chesapeake, and
Richmond Steamship Company, popu-
larly known as the York River Line,
is owned by the Southern Railway Com
parry. and for many years traffic be-
tween Baltimore and places in all the
Southern States. reached by the Rich-
mond and Danville (now a part of the
Southern Railway Company. was car
ried by the steamers of this line to West
Point Va, on the York liver, which was
the Easter terminus of the Richmond
and Danville.
THAT isthe shortest route TO Richmond
and such places in Virginia. as are reach
ed through Richmond. 1t Is, however,
out of the track of foreign and coast
wise steamers, and inaccessible for
steamers of heavy draught Conse-
quently, export trade and traffic from
and for the far South and West has
never been advantageously moved
through West Point.
Norfolk Is free from all these objec-
tions. It's greatly superior shipping.
both home and foreign. gave the rail-
roads which terminate there advantage
over the old Richmond and Danville on
through and export business. The dis
tance via Norfolk TO points In che Caro-
linas. Georgia. and beyond is less than
via Wost Point; the railroad grades are
lighter; five trunk lines and several
smaller lines terminate there; a large
number of Ocean and c0aStwiSc steam
crs stop there and make trips more fire.
quently.
Ten years ago 1t was clearly realized
by those in charge of the Richmond and
Dnnville that Yves. Point should never
have been selected as terminus, and
that in using 1t they were seriously
handicapping the company. Steps were
then taken to acquire an entrance into
Norfolk by purchasing a stock interest
in the Norfolk and Carolina Railroad
The subsequent financial disa sters OF the
Richmond and Danvii!a Company check
ed the completion of this plan, not,
however, until an investment OF eeveral
hundred thousand dollars had been
made.
I'm connection with Me subsequent re-
organization OF the Richmond and Dan
vile II was Inevitable THAT this invest
ment should be utilized, ana. with this
i'm view, steps were taken which have
enabled the Southern Railway Company
to complete the plan undertaken by Its
predecessors. The Southern now has
ample terminal facilities at Norfolk and
direct connection with It's own line of rail-
way over the Norfolk and Carolina
Railroad. Since this was done the
Southern has had Its full share Of
through business from and for all places
except Baltimore. The change, however,
has resulted In a material reduction OF
the traffic through West Point and a
proportionate increase in the traffic of
the other steamboat lines plying to
Norfolk.
Having changed its terminus to Nor
folk 1t has become necessary TO run some
OF the steamers of the York River Line
| to that port instead of exclusively to
West Point. as heretofore. to accommo-
date the large shipments by that route
| from Baltimore to places on the South
ern Hallway To accomplish this double
service the York River Line has been
strengthened by the, addition of the
steamer Atlanta. and on and after July
! the Southern Railway Will have a daily
connection between Norfolk and Balt!-
more and a t,i-wesky line ITO West Point
and Richmond.
This proposed change has caused
some criticism by the other lines en-
gagged In business on the Chesapeake
Bay, which charge that we are encroacl-
Ing upon territory of which they have
had the exclusive control for many years.
When II Is remembered that the York
River Line has been running from Bal
tlmore nearly thirty years as a part of
the Richmond and Danville system and
that this change in the route Of some of
hts boats is made necessary by the sslec-
ton OF Norfolk as the eastern terminus
for the through rail business of the
Southern hallway, It seems hardly req
sonablc 20 expect that this line should
either Withdraw from the Chesnpeake
Bay and lose It's large and valuable bus
mess with Baltimore, or that II s.ould
continue no rum all Its boats to Nes.
Point after the bulk OF traffic which II
formerly sought to handle through that
point has been turned ito Norfolk
When asked regarding local business
Colonel Andrew said: This line cannot
refuse any business that is offered
either for or from other railroads termi-
mating In Norfolk, or by local shippers
The rates charged will be the same ne
those charged by the other companies "