Evening star., 1901-03-19
Washington Steamboat Company In
terests in New Hands.
DEAL said TO HAVE BEEN EFFECTED
Transfer to Be Made About the
First of April.
NO CHANGE IN SCHEDULE

For several days past rumors have been
flying. about among the steamboat men
along the river front of a deal whereby the
Washington and Alexandria ferry line was
to be or had been sold to the Washing
ton, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway
Company, which operates the electric rail-
way between this city and Alexandria, but
no definite information could be obtained
of the deal. The Star learns, however on
good authority that the entire property of
the Washington Steamboat Company lin
tied, has been sold by Mr.. Henry Hart of
New York, it's owner, to Captain E. S.
Randall Of this city for the E. S. Ran
dali Potomac River Line Company, and
that Captain Randall has sold the ferry
line to the railway company.
1t is stated that the Randall Line Com
pany retains possession Of the river steam
ers Wakefield and T. V. Arrowsmith, and
the railway company takes the Washing
ton and Alexandria ferry wharves and the
steamers Columbia and Belle Haven.
The first intimation that the deal was
on hand was given several days ago, when
representatives of the New York owners
OF the Washington Steamboat Company
were in this city and Alexandria looking
over the plant, and representative of
the railway company was stationed on the
ferry wharf here checking the passengers
carried by the boats. Captain Randall
made flying visit to New York early last
week, and it is said the deal was then con-
summated.
This sale will place the freight and pas
senger business between this city and all
the landings in the Potomac river in the
hands of the Randall Line Company and
the traffic between Alexandria and wash
lngton will be controlled entirely by the
railway company.
Neither Afirms Nor Denies.
Captain e. S. Randall. when seen by a
Star reporter at his office at the foot OF
Sth street this morning. would neither af-
f1rm nor deny the rumor of his purchase of
the Washington Steamboat Company but
smiled when he was asked regarding the
deal.
z Fhere is, however, but little doubt that
the sale has been made and that the trans
fer of the boats to their new owners will
take place about April /. 1t is stated
that no changes will he made in the run
mug Of the river boats, and that the resi-
dents of the down-river counties will re-
ceive better service than they have ever
had. Regarding the ferry line, one rurnor
says that only the steamer Columbia will
be Kept upon the route, while another
states that another double-end ferry boat
Will be brought here and the service will
be improved by this addition. Should the
ferry line be discontinued, however it is
generally believed that a new COMPANY
wiz be organized in Alexandria and an
The officials of the Washington Steam
boat Company here and in Alexandria saw
they have no knowledge of the sale and
express a disbelief as to the truth Of the
rumor.
President G. E. Abbott Of the electric
railway company mentioned was asked to-
day whether or not the report of the sale
Is correct. He declined to discuss it.
Causes Surprise In Alexandria.
The announcement which was received
IN this city from The Star Office this morn
ing that the Washington and Alexandria
ferry line had been transferred to the
Washington, Alexandria and Mount Yer
non Railroad Company, occasioned con-
siderable surprise. A rumor that the ne
gotiations for the transfer were pending
had been circulated but confirmation
was not obtainable until this morning.
Nothing definite was known at the office
OF the ferry company on the Strand
How the deal will be received by the
public is as yet uncertain. A reporter for
The Star visited several of the leading citi-
zens this morning and discussed the mat
ter, but in every instance they declined to
give an opinion until the purpose and
policy of the electric railroad company be-
comes known. They thought the change
onered possibilities for the betterment of
the city and otherwise All would depend.
they said, on what the purchasing com
pany proposed to do.