Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-16
THE NEW RIVER LINE
Steamers to Run from Here to Balti-
more via the Noble James.
FIRST ONE TO ARRIVE SATURDAY.
Three Trips n Week, Requiring
About Eighteen Hours Each Way
The virginia and Her Crcw-A
Lively Rate War Promised.

The new steamship line between Rich
mond and Baltimore, which is to be
known as the James-rlyer route, will be
inaugursted this week.
The first steamer will arrive here Satur-
day, and there will be triweekly trips.
Colonel II. NJ. Boykin. the popular local
representative Of the Seaboard Airline,
has been appointed general agent Of the
Baltimore Steam-Packet Company, which
inaugurates the new enterprise Colonel
Boykins duties will thus be largely in
creased. and there will be a considerable
addition to his office force.
There promises TO be a lively fight, and
perhaps a rate war between the Balti-
more company and the York River, or
Daytime, route. The Packet companys
service is extended TO Richmond. as has
been explained In the Dispatch, in re-
taliaton for the York-River or South
ern putting on steamers between Balti-
more and Norfolk, where for years the
Packet company had no such competi-
ton.
VIRGINIA TO RUN HERE.
The Baltimore Steam Packet Company
has decided to place the Virginia, one OF
its finest vessels, exclusively on the
James-River route. The Virginia Is
side-wheel steamer, built Of iron and 800
tons register She has accommodations
Tor 900 passengers, including ninety-elght
staterooms. She is lighted by electricity,
including a l0,OOO-candle-power search
light. is heated by steam, and Is pro-
vided with modern appointments for the
safety and comfort of her patrons. Her
interior finish is mahogany walnut, and
other rich woods, and the decorative
work in her saloons is white and gold,
giving the interior an artistic appear
ance. The Virginia has been specially
overhauled and refitted for the Baltimore
Richmond service by the James-Riyer
route. and is a palatial steamer As the
Virginia is very fast, she can leave Rich
mond in the afternoon, and reach Balu-
more the next morning, giving patrons
ample time TO do business or leave on
trains. reaching New York at L. NJ,
and Boston at IL y. NJ. They may also
return in the afternoon from Baltimore,
If they wish, reaching home the following
forenoon.
As soon as the fight was begun in
May, the Baltimore company, in letter
from Traffic Manager Il. w. Thompson,
gave notice of its withdrawal from the
Virginia Freight Association in order
that it might be in a position to cut its
rates. The substance Of this correspon-
dence has already been printed.
THE VIRGINIA'S CREW.
The Virginia will be manned by officers
who are well known to many people
here. william Porter. her captain, has
been in service on the Chesapeake bay
and James river over a quarter of a
century. He has commanded all the
vessels of the Bay Line. at different
times. and was formerly with the famous
Powhatan Line. on the James, which
included the steamers Shirley and West
over Mr.. Fitzhugh Carter, the first
mate. is one Of the famous Carter family
of Virginia, whose estate, "Shirley-on-
James-River," is one of the most noted
in the Old Dominion Like Captain
Porter Mr.. Carter has had long and
varied marine experience with the old
Bay Line and other companies. An
other descendant OF a noted Virginia
family is Mr.. c. F. Spotswood, the purser
of the Virginia. He has long been occu-
pying the same position on the Alabama.
Chief Engineer Martin Rudolph has been
with the Baltimore Steam Packet Com
pany for thirty-five years, and Is one or
the most efficient officers.
The Baltimore Steam Packet Company
is closely allied to the Seaboard AIRLINE,
which owns nearly 1000 miles OF railroad
in the Southern States.