Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-26
FLAGSHIP IN SERVICE
STEAMER NEWPORT NEWS GIVEN
GENERAL ovERHAULINa.

The steamer Newport News, the flagship
of the fleet of big and fast steamers be-
longing to the Norfolk and WASHINGTON
steamboat Company Of this city, returned
Saturday night from the Newport News
ship yards, where she had been greatly i'm
proved. 1t is claimed she Is now one of
the handsomest steamers in service on
Chesapeake bay. She has always been able
to show the way on the bay to the big
steamers out of Norfolk and Baltimore
and the overhauling her machinery has re-
ceived. 1t is declared. has made her by far
the fastest steamer on the bay. Sunday
evening she resumed her trips between
this city and Norfolk, under the command
OF Capt. Fred Posey. relieving the steamer
Norfoik. which has gone to Newport News
10 receive her annual overhauling in prep
aration for the heavy passenger traffic
which is anticipated during the coming
summer IN consequence OF the James
town exposition.
BY special invitation of Mr.. D. ]. Cal
iahan, assistant general manager, a Star
reporter, with representatives of the other
newspapers OF the city. inspected the News
as she lay at her dock at this city this
afternoon, and afterward the newspaper
men were entertained at luncheon aboard
the steamer by Mr.. Callahan.
The greatest change made in the steamer
Is the addftiO nof twenty-four state rooms,
which fill out each side of the hurricane
deck, In the space where the lifeboats were
formerly located, and yet take little. ii
any. from the open deck space given over
to the passengers.
These new hurricane deck rooms are fit
TED with two enameled iron berths with the
latest type of bed spring and soft mattress
the lower berth being wide enough for two
persons. and the upper for one thus giving
each room sleeping accommodations for
three persons. For day use the upper berth
is so arranged that 1t can be swung back
he yUn of he
rooms, like the others aboard the steamer
are light and airy, and are as comfortable
as those in any high-grade hotel ashore.
The Newport News now has 100 state
rooms In all and has sleeping accOmmoda-
tons for 800 passengers. Her capacity for
daylight trips is 1000, without crowding. A
new feature, and one somewhat novel In
steamboat construction is the fitting up of
all the state rooms on the steamer, the old
ones as we'll as those recently added, with
corner washstands of enameled iron, with
running water spigots above them. These
running water pipes have been installed
throughout the entire steamer. The big
saloons on the saloon and gallery decks and
all the state rooms have been recarpeted in
the most luxurious manner, and the interior
of the saloons have been pai.-ted in neutral
tints, giving them most elegant appear
ance. The entire steamer has been painted
inside and out, and she looks as if fresh
from the builders hands.
Down in the engine room the big engines
and boilers have been thoroughly over
hauled and renovated and the vessel is ca
pable of making her highest speed in trips
between this city and Norfolk. The steamer
has also been equipped with new and mod
ern electric lighting appliances and modern
fixtures have been installed in the saloons
and in each stateroom,sO that when running
at night her saloons will be brilliantly illu-
minated.
The steamer is one of the handsomest on
the Atlantic coast, and her equipment Is
modern in all respects. AS now planned. she
will be used as day boat between this city
and the jamestown exposition, with the new
iron fireproof steamer as her running mate.
The jamestown schedule as now arranged
by the Norfolk and Washington Company
calls for morning and evening trips from
this city throughout the period of the ex-
position. The steamers Norfolk and Wash
ington will run upon the evening route.
leaving here at $50 o'clock each day. and
the Newport News and jamestown upon the
day route, leaving here each morning at 8
O'Clock.