Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-11
NEW FERRY LINE BOATS.
Contract Awarded for Early Construc-
ton of Two Steel Vessels.

The contract for the building of two new
steel ferry boats for the Norfolk and WASH
ington Steamboat Company of this city has
been awarded to the Harlan Il Holdings
worth Shipbuilding Company, as was stated
in The Star, and the two steamers will be
constructed at the yards of that company
In Wilmington. Del
They are to cost within less than a hun
bred dollars of $4,000 each. and are to be
used on the ferry route between this city
and Alexandria. This afternoon a confer
ence was held between the representatives
of the shipbuilding company and Mr.. John
Callahan, second vice president and gen
eral manager of the Norfolk and Washing
ton line and the contracts for the building
of the new steamers were signed.
The plans for the new boats are prac-
tically completed. and IL Is stated, the keel
for the first one will be laid within the
next ten days or two weeks. The builders
have five months In which TO complete TINS
boat but. II is stated. 1t will be complete d
and ready for service well within that time.
The second boat is to be completed as soon
as possible after the completion OF the
first steamer. probably ten months from
date.
The new ferry boats are to be 100 feet
long over ALL and will be SO feet wide at
the water line. 30 feet on deck and % teet
over guards. From main deck to bottom OF
hold will be 10 feet inches. and they viii
draw . feet 3 inches. The Harlan K Hol-
lngsworth Company guarantee a minimum
speed Oh miles an nouI. anu say iidh
this speed limit will be excelled
The engines are to be of the triple expan-
sion type and two Scotch boilers Will furz
nish steam for the engines at a working
pressure of over 80 pounds to the square
inch.
The size of the engines and boilers is left
to the builders as the guaranteed speed IL
sufficient to allow the steamers to make the
run between the two cities in twenty min
utes The boats will have propellers on
each end. of a shaft running their length. so
that while one is showing the boat ahead
the other will be pulling.
The specifications call for steamers as
near perfect as 1t Is possible to make them.
In a.dition to the steel hulls. the center
houses about the boilers and engine. will
also be of steel. and a steel protected deck
will be built above the wagon ways
general description of the steamers has
been published in The Star. and the details
given above are the notifications that have
been made.
Manager Callahan states that the steam
ers will be modern in every respect. and
will be as fine steamers for the service as
can be found in the country.
President Woodbury.. Vice President
Norment and all the other directors OF
the Norfolk and Washington company.
are very enthusiastic over the reorgan-
ization of the ferry company and the
building of the new steamers for the
Alexandria and Washington route. and
also for the new steamer which Is to be
built for the day service. The directors
are going heart and soul into the new
enterprises, and have authorized Mr.. Cal
lahan to at once have plans and specifi-
cations prepared for the new boat and to
ask for bids for its construction.
The vessel Is to cost about S25o,0OO, ana
will be a handsome, modern steamer.