Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-01-27
SOME STEAMBOAT NOTES


SOME STEAMBOAT NOTES.
Mail steamer Owen billiard missed
her trips to Urbanna Wednesday and
Thursday.
A steamer will attempt to leave
Baltimore this (Fridsy) afternoon.
the first leaving for the Rappahan-
mock since Monday. There is much
ice up the bay.
Steamer Calvert, Capt. Dan Davis,
which recently took the place of the
Northumberland, on the Rappahan-
mock, has been substituted for the
Middlesex on Saturdays trip up the
river to fredericksburg. In their
trip last week to Fredericksburg Of
ticials of the new company were i'm
pressed with the fact that boat of
the Middlesex' class was too much
boat and too valuable to make the
clrcuitous and arduous trip on the
upper river. The party of officials
who made the Fredericksburg trip
were: Messrs. Willard Thomson,
presiden,;J. A. Joynes, general super
intendent; w. l.. Rothstein, treasurer,
respectively of the Weems Steamboat
Company; ID. w. Downey, agent, &C.
companied by Mr. Thomson, Of Phils-
delphia- They expressed themselves
as greatly pleased with Fredericks-
burg and the Rsppahannock river.
DISCUSSION OF ROUTES.
From q private letter of some
length to the CITIZENS editor we
take the following excerpt, for which
transgression We are sure the writer,
Q former Westmorelsnd boy, will
pardon us:
Like all loyal lovers of the old
home, feel deepinterest in every
thing pertaining to the growth and
development of the lower Rsppahan-
mock Valley and watch with keen
interest every change being made.
Il am not writing this for publica
ton, but merely to suggest some
thoughts which doubtless have al.
ready presented themselves to your
mind, but which 1 believe are
worthy the consideration of the peo-
pie of the Northern Neck.
'Since it was first rumored several
months ago that the Pennsylvania
X. X. was likely TO come into con-
troll of the Weems line Of steamboats,,
and with it the Rappshannock river,
| have thought that it would be the
beginning of new era of prosperity
for that section of the country pro-
vided its citizens were alert to grasp
the opportunity. In fact, before ]
had heard hint of such change in
your steamboat management. have
frequently discussed the railroad
question of the Northern Neck as
having, been previously agitated
from u reverse point Of view. Instead
of building a road to the bay, | have
thought the profitable scheme was to
begin at the bay near the mouth of
the Rappahannock aud build an
electric road up towards Fredericks-
burg, and run a steamer connecting
with the road to some point touching
the N. Y, P. and N. Railroad, giving
your truckers equal facilities and
markets with those of Norfolk and
vicinity. Now that the Pennslvania
II. r. controls the Weems line of
steamers, it appears to me that a
vastly more valuable arrangement
for the farmers and merchants along
the Rappahannock and Potomac
rivers than q semi-weekly trip to
Norfolk would be to have a steamer
connecting the Northern Neck with
the N. Y, p. & N. r. r. at Cape
Charles or Cristeld, giving you a
connection which would put produce
shipped one evening into the Phila
delphia and New York markets early
the next morning. and would give
your merchants larger aud better
business connections.
! am firmly of the opinion that If
a suitable service is given and the
people of your section will encourage
and patronize it that within few
years the value of farm lands from
the Chesapeake bay, at least as far
up as Warsaw, will have increased in
value one hundred per cent. Am /
wrongg Take the situation In Acco-
mac county before the produce
Express" line was established and
compare it with to-day and we have
an illustration.
This arrangement would give you
connection at Cape Charles with
Norfolk until.the Norfolk business
would justify a regular steamer.
Having this line connecting you
with Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
York and the North, Norfolk and
the South, and then when the cleo
trio car line, which Mr.. Gould pro-
poses to build, gives you connections
with Richmond aud the West, you
should have in the Northern Neck
literally 'the garden spot of Vir-
ginia" and the most prosperous and
healthy section of the entire country.
Wishing you q happy New Year
and much success in your efforts to
build up our beloved Northern Neck,
| am, with regards,
Yours truly,
j. K. T. HUNTER.
Newport News, Va.
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