Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-27
MAKING PREPARATIONS.
Big Steamship Lines Getting Ready
 for Jamestown Exposition.

Norfolk, Va, June 7.-Foreseeins that with the coming ot the spring months they will have to handle pas. senger conditions of magnitude ut terly beyond their present capacity
 the bay and coastwise steamers have already begun to prepare for the rush of visitors to the Jamestown ex- position to be held in 1907 at Hamp- ton Roads near Norfolk.
 To meet these changed conditions the Old Dominion line running be- tween Norfolk and New York and Richmond have already rebuilt one of their four passenger steamers and will shortly rebuild two more. so that at the opening of the Jamestown ex- position it will have in commission a squadron of four first-class screw steamers, one leaving Norfolk and one leaving New York each day. The trip from Norfolk to New York takes approximately sixteen hours. The length of the trip is 325 miles. The Old Dominion lines largest steamer is the Monroe, of 4,700 tons. The next largest ship is the Hamil- ton, formerly S04 feet in length with a tonnage of 3.100 tons. In view of the crush to be expected next year, she was recently taken to the yards of the Newport News Shipbuiding Co and heightened to $50 feet, in- creasing her tonnage to 3,723 tons and providing for the several new staterooms which have been added. Between this writing and the open ing of the Jamestown exposition the steamers Jefferson and Princess Ann, each BOA feet in length and S,100 tons, will be taken in hand and en- larged to the dimension of the Ham, ilton. These three last named yes sells will then have accommodations for ITO first class passengers and 200 of other classes. The Monroe will provide for more than either.
 The New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk railroad now has in com mission the screw steamers Pennsyl- yania. New York. and Old Point Comfort, plying between Cape Charles, Old Point Comfort and Nor- folk. The Pennsylvania was recent Iy reboilered and given a general oy- erhauling. Several extra trains will be added to the schedule of this route which is now the quickest between Norfolk and New York. The Norfolk and Baltimore or Bay line has just put into commission the steamer. Virginia. She will carry 400 passengers. as will two other vessels of ihe line. and this capacity can at need be increased to 100 in each yes sel, and as the time taken for trip one way is only twenty-four hours, the line vill have maximum carry ing capacity of 2.100 persons each day. The Georgia, now lying in re- serve. is to be used on this James town exposition service.
 The Merchants and Miners Trans portation Co. touching at the ports of Boston. Providence, Philadelphia. Baltimore. Norfolk and Savannah, with a fleet of eighteen ships in active service. and others in reserve, is able to handle It's trsfic with the steam CTS now in hand. but will make ex- teusive additions to facilitate travel over its line to the Jamestown ex- position
 The Clyde line and the Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Co have also taken up the matter Of passen- ger traffic to the Jamestown celebra- tion and tentative plans for the im- movement of the service are before the officers of each company.