The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-06-05
SOME NEW HAVEN LINE HIS
 TORY.
Steamboats' Probable Removal to Prov
 idence Discussed.

that city:
 Every move in the negotiation of tht
 New Haven line is now watched witt
 interest This hangs on the date a
 which the line may come to this city
 The prospect of better freight and pas
 senger connections and the possibility
 of better rates are of more than pass ing importance.
 That the new line will come to this
 city seems to be fairly probable. | Well-posted steamboat man summed uI
 the situation when he pointed out the
 relations of the two companies in the past and the liability that there might
 be a war between them in the near fu-
 ture. In reviewing this matter he gave
 an outline of the old-time policy of the
 two companies.
 Before the consolidation of the New | Haven road with the roads east of New
 London, it's traditional policy, it is said,
 was adverse to the ownership of steam | boat property, It preferred alI-rail car riage and no division of the profits, but in spite of this fact it maintained close
 relations with the New Haven Steam
 boat line at New Haven, where it leased
 
 company.
 Belle dock is one of the largest in New Haven, and the distributing point for coal for many points inland as far aa Springfield and along the Air line. Steamboat tfafs for years, have run to this dock over the Consolidated in con- nection with the New Haven boats, and trolley cars accomodate the local traf- fic.
 The expansion of the New Haven railroad system has left it with much steamboat property on it's hands, includ- ing the vessels of the Fall River, Ston- ington and Providence lines. The query has arisen why 1t did not operate it's own line from New Haven, in view of this fact, instead of permitting the New Haven boats to monopolize the water traffic There are those who think they can trace in the coming of the latter to Providence a determination on the part of the Consolidated to establish such a line. The other day it was re- ported that the steamer Connecticut might be repaired, and she was lowed from her resting place at Groton to New London for the reputed purpose of enabling some of the railroad officials to inspect her, It is suggested that she would be an excellent boat for the New London line, and if the passenger busi- ness of the Stonington line should be given up. the Maine and New Hamp- shire, now running on that route, would be well suited to the demands of the, short run from New Haven.
 The New Haven line, which has ac- quired, it is said, fine wharf property in New Haven, in a measure, would probably be independent of the Consoli- dated should the latter decide on util- izing some of it's fleet in New Haven line.
 Another point that should. be borne in mind is that c. W. Chapin, the larg- est owner in the New Haven Steamboat company, is also identified with the Bos- ton and Albany railroad Through the Boston and Maine the New Haven line also has railroad connections separate and independet of the New York, New | Haven and Hartford Railroad com- pany.
 HISTORY OF THE LINE.
 The New Haven Steamboat company has vested" rights almost that cannot be lightly disregarded. The organiza tion of this company came about in 1922, although the germ dates back of that to 1915.
 In that year the first steamboat came to New Haven. The rumor had been spread that "boat on wheels" was to come up Long Island Sound. At last it came. It was an Al, copper fastened, copper boiler, fast sailing, sea a-going Fulton. She was the first boat propelled by steam to pass through the Sound and she ran to New Haven
 Later two steamboats were purchased and put on In run from New Haven to New York. Not to New York city, for at that time there was a law pro- hibitng boat propelled by steam to pass through her waters, but to Byram Cove, at the boundary line between the state and Connecticut. From there con- lections were made by a 25-mile stage lrive to the city But in 1924 the re- itrictive laws were removed, and in darch, 1924, the steamship United States began regular trips to the landing place 1t the foot of Maiden lane.
 QUEEN or THE SOUND" From the day of the Fulton and the United States to the Richard Peck, the Queen of the Sound" Is long step. , This boat claims the title by right of ,eing the fastest of the Sound steamers. ; 'he certainly presents a handsome ap- l )earance on the water and carries a ainty, jaunty air. Her graceful lines make her a marked boat, that may be asily recognized. , Standing proudly well out of the wa , ar, as though conscious of her charms, f his vessel measures from water line to . he top of her pilot house 43 feet. Her I angth on water line is 300, over all 316, r cam AS feet, breadth over guards 62, f epth of hold IS. She has six steel q cotch boilers, with 400 square feet of s rate surface. They supply steam for f wo triple expansion surface condensing + ngines; her cylinders being 60 3S and 24 f lches. with 90-inch stroke She has r 900 horse power and a thorough elec- ric light plant. I Interior fittings are all that could be xpected to make the Richard Peck a oating palace. The dining room is on lc upper deck and is reached by a q tide stairway in the forward saloon. The ladies cabin and social hall are | lodels in their way. The latter is fin- r hed in cream and terra cotta, the i: ght shades making q harmony of color c