The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-29
new GOASTWISe STEAMSHIP LINE
ESTABLISHED BETWEEN PHILADELPHIA
WILMINGTON AND OTHER PORTS
Expected that the Line viii be in OPP
Grafton by the Early FaIl-Phila-
delphia Record Says Ample Capitai
is Pledged and Three Trips per Week
Each Way VIII be Made.

The Philadelphia Record of recent
date contains an article which should
be Of especial interest TO the business
men of Wilmington. 1t is in regard to
the proposed coastwise steamship line
between Philadelphia and Whining
ton and other South Atlantic seaports,
a scheme which. IL successfully estab-
lished this Fall as intended. will con-
tribute very largely TO the commercial
prosperity Of this city n section. The
Record says:
Through the energetic work OF the
Philadelphia representatives at the
Chattanooga convention, last week.
such progress has been made In the
projected steamship line from this city
TO southern ports that IL can now be
positively asserted that the line viii
be in operation by next Fall. The sub
ject was so clearly discussed by Msssrs
Clothier, Kline and Kelly of the Trades
League. that southern capitalists Of
fered 10 cooperate with the enterprise
ing Philadelphians in establishing di-
rect water connections between the
prominent ports OF the south and his
city.
The Trades League took the active
work in hand yesterday and in a very
short time succeeded In obtaining the
signatures of capitalists for
which, with the funds placed at their
by southern business men
for the purpose. viii be more han is
required 10 equip the line. As a result
arrangements are now being mad to
organize an independent steamship
company plying between this and
southern Atlantic ports. Col. N. F.
Thompson, Of Huntsville. Ala. who is
the secretary of the Southern Indus
trial Commission, came to PhiladeI-
phia last week and among his missions
was to place before the Trades League
several propositions for the formation
of a coastwise steamship line.
THE NECESSARY CAPITAL
PLEDGED.
The plan determined upon is that
Of an independent line which VIII op-
crate steamers making semi-weekly
or tri-weekly trips each way between
Philadelphia and Charleston. Whining
ton, Savannah. Jacksonville and inter-
mediate ports. The capital required has
all been pledged and representatives
of both the local and southern capital
lists are about to start on a tour for
the purpose of comforting with the Of
ficials of all of the railroads touching
the southern ports to insure their CO.
operation so as to perfect a system or
expeditions and safe freighting along
the entire line and give proper distrib-
uting facilities.
The preliminaries were all
some time age, and in every instance
they have been so satisfactory that
the promoters are convinced their plans
will meet with the hearty Endorsement
OF the railroads in question. AS soon as
their approval a been formally OBJ
tanned the new steamship company
will be incorporated and business will
be begun as speedily as money and
active work will permit. 1t is proposed
to begin with two steamers leaving
both ways once a week.
BUSINESS ALREADY PLEDGED.
AT the same time the new
will prepare itself for three trips Zach
way per week as soon as business will
warrant il. The men at the head of the
project state that they already have
pledged contracts for freight To keep
steamers busy twice a week coming
and going, and all doubt as to the sue
cess of the line has been dispelied by
the general support offered by manu-
facturers and shippers Of Philadelphia
as well as those of the south along the
seaboard, and of the inland manufac-
turing towns and cotton markets. The
detailed prospectus of the company
will shortly be given TO the public"