The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-28
.NORFoLK'S ADVANTAGE
Col. Andrews Tells Why the Southern Rail-
way Transferred Its Operations Here.
OUR HOME AND FOREIGN SHIPPING
Is Superior to That OF Other Virginia
Ports, aud the Distance to South
ern Pointa is Much Nearer-The
New Line ofsteamers TO baltimore
md the Business They Will Carry.

The Baltimore Sun of yesterday has
the following which will be read with
| interest in this section:
Colonel a. 3. Andrews. who. in the
absence OF MIR. Samuel Spencer, Is the
acting president OF the Southern Rail-
way Company, was in Baltimore yester-
day looking after the interests of his
company in connection with the York
River Line OF steamers. President
SPENCER is now abroad. In discussing
The plan for stopping some of the steam
crs Of the line at Norfolk Colonel An
drive said:
THE Baltimore, Chesapeake, and
! Richmond Steamship Company, popu-
larry known las the York River Line.
is owned by the Southern Railway Com
pany. and for many years traffic be-
tween Baltimore and places an nll the
Southern States, reached by the Rich
mond and Danville nov a part of the
Southern Railway Company was car
red 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
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-
lions. Its greatly superior shipping.
both home and foreign gave the rail-
roads which terminate there advantages
over the old Richmond and Danville on
through and export business. The dis
lance Via Norfolk TO points in she Caro-
linas. Georgia, and beyond is less than
via West Point; the railroad grades are
lighter; five trunk lines and several
smaller lines terminate there; u large
number of Ocean and coastwise steam
ers stop there and make trips more fire.
quently.
Ten years ago 1t was clearly realized
by those In charge OF the Richmond and
Danville that West Point should never
have been selected as a terminus, and
that I'm using 1t they were seriously
handicapptng the company. Steps were
then taken to acquire an entrance into
Norfolk by purchasing u stock interest
In the Norfolk and Carolina Railroad.
The subsequent financial disasters of the
Richmond and Danville Company check
ed the completion of this plan, not.
however, until an investment of several
hundred thousand dollars had been
made.
IN connection with tyhe subsequent re-
organization OF the Richmond and Dam
willie it was inevitable that this invest
ment should be utilized, and. with this
in Wow, steps were taken which Rave
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 i...e Of rail
way over ';he 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 ether steamboat lines plying to
Norfolk.
Having changed its terminus to Nor
folk il has become necessary 20 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 tina, route
from Baltimore to places on the South
ern Railway. To accomplish, this double
service the York River Line has been
strengthened by tbs addition of the
steamer Atlanta, and on and after July
the Southern Railway will have a daily
connection between Norfolk and Basil
'A'' anu ~ ''-N SS'NiS hp w Ssl f'Olnt
and Richmond.
This proposed change has caused
some criticism by the other lines en-
gagged i'm business on the Chesapeake
Bay, which charge that we are encroaoA-
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
timore nearly thirty years as a part OIL
the Richmond and DanVille system and
that this change in the route of some Of
Ms boats l. made necessary by the selec-
ton of Norfolk as the eastern terminus
10: the through rail business of the
Southern Railway, It seems hardly rea
sonable 20 expect THAT this line should
tjuner Withdraw from the Chesapeake
Bay and lose its large and valuable bus
mess with Baltimore. or tina, II should|
continue ITO rum all it's boats to West
Point after Ithe bulk Of traffic which /,
formerly sought TO handle through tina,
point has been turned ITO Norfolk"
When asked regarding local business
Colonel Andrew said: This line cannot
refuse any business that ia offar.1