Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-05-08
Friday. May s, 1908.
SOME LIGHT ON sTEAMBoATIN,

y
dent of the Weems Steam boat Co.
which sheds light on some mis-
constructions placed upon the con
duct of his line. The CITIZEN ha
taken no part in the Tourist CAROLYN
controversy, nor does it intend to
Our well-known reputation for en-
couraging new enterprises preclude
the assumption that we are entirel,
satisfied with the modes of trapsi
we now have. We want to see al
tne new lines of steamboats, or rail
roads that it might be possible t.
secure for this section, and we hal
with pleasure any innovation in thii
direction. but think such might b,
carried on in a less aggressiv,
manner. The Weems Compap,
might make Improvements in sched
ales or add more boats to &C
commodate the trade; but when We
consider the advances the compan,
has made in the past few years We
feel assured there are more improve.
ments yet to follow. While the
Weems Company may have been
"fatteniug" upon the people of this
section, as frequently asserted, the
credit due every man for good
acts should be accorded this COM
pany by saying that they, too, have
been very largely instrumental in
Building up this section and produc-
Ing the increased trade. While some
may not think it a plausible argu-
ment, yet we connot shut our eyes to
the fact that the Weems people did
this when no other would venture
here, and at times for months, and
maybe years, at loss. From our
observation it does not appear that
the Weems Company has increased its
riches toany unmerited extent within
recent years. They have been put
to extraordinary expense, have sus-
tanned some heavy losses and been
forced to make great outlay for new
boats. A personal inquiry, that
would probably have been denied bv
the officials had they known the pur-
pose in view, reveals the fact that ON
a recent trip of the steamer Essex
from Norfolk, when she was loaded
ana mad to reject small portion of
freight her cargo Melted less than
SSoo. When it is stated that it took
nearly 500 worth of coal to make
this trip and more than that fignre
tor payroll and provision bill. to
say nothing of agents and wharf
hire and percentage, it will be seen
mat there is no great profit in such
rips. The laborer is worthy of his
hire, and while the Weems people
may not have done all they might
'or this section we are at a loss TO
1nderstand-and do not believe il
ieserved-why so much present crit
cism and abuse should be heaped
ipon them. Give us all the boats
md new lines that we can get. but
10 not let us abuse he bridge that
las carried US safely for SO many
'ears. Many of those who at pres
mt are thoughtlessly denouncing
resident Williams would regret to
ZEE his hand loosed from the helm
should he decide to retire from the
worries of a trenuous business life we
would fare hard at the hands of anv
'ther monopoly that came into
control.
These passing thoughts have |
Inverted us from the main pur-
rose, which was to reproduce the
etter that was mentioned at the no.
inning and which is as follows:
EDITOR Potomac Progress.
DEAR SR:-I do not believe that Won
you'd Intentionally do an Injustice m
nyone, and therefore beg that YOU will
Drrect in your columns a statement
mich am sure was inadvertently made
you IN your paper of this week. You
~, speaking OF the Weems Steamboat
ompany, that "At the same time there
rs been an advance of o per cent ON all
eight on the Potomac and Rannaban-
'ck routes to Baltimore. This is an oh
u lesson OF the evil of monopolies more
oquent than tongue or pen can possibly
'pict." Last winter when. as Won
low, the price of coal was fabulouslv
gh and could scarcely be had at anv
nee we ana not, as some transportation
he's did, suspend the running of our ,
rats, but continued to run them os |
ual, and to buy coal at any price Mt
hich it could be obtained To prevent
e loss being too heavy, we added 10
II cent. on some of our down freight.
It on all, and we added nothing to the /
ice OF passage, meals, rooms or nm
dghts. This spring when we were able I
arrange for our supply of coal at a c
ore moderate price, although we arc
ylng now much more than we have for a
my years past, and although the cost
running the boats is from % to 80 ner T.
1T. higher than it ever was before. we {
We taken off the 10 per cent, and have g
been charging it for some time, all of d
charges being the same as they were 5
NN.a