Evening journal., 1909-08-26
UNIQUE RECORD BY.
RIVER STEAMERS.
BrOndywine And Chester
Pioneers of Class Have
Run 5000, 1000 Knots
WILSON LINE A SUCCESS

Running on the Delaware are two
steamers which are among the most re-
markable in point or record OF perform
ances. Of any vessels In the world, says
the National Gazette In an editorial. They
are she Brandywine and the City OF
Chester, single screw propellers. the pio-
neers OF their class IN this country.
which ply In the Wilson Line between
the cities OF Philadelphia and wllmlne-
ton, covering each year more miles than
any other vessels OF like character aioat.
The distance from city 20 city between
which they operate is 80 miles, and one
stop Is made at Chester. about equi- dis
tant between the terminal points H. "a
- The Brandywne was built IN
1885 and has made IN the "A years OF her
existence over S46S.o0O miles, while her
consort the City Of Chester. built three
years lafr, has covered over 10000
miles.
The Brandywine is i77is H. between
perpendiculars or 1856 IT, over all. 25,i n.
beam, IS n. over guards and So n. depth
OF hold. Her engine Is OF the compound
type with cylinders "a and a. IN. by "a
In. stroke. Tho gross tonnage Is i07 and
net tonnage 2i5
The city Of Chester is slightly larger
than her consort, beng iS5ia n. between
perpendiculars. 1876 IT, over all. Is n.
beam. 55 IT, over the guards. and II.
depth OF hold There Is a triple expan-
sion engine, size iSia. q and a. In. cyln-
ders by "a In. stroke. The gross tonnage
is GIT and net tonnage s27
These wonderful boats are operated at
fun speed on every run. making as high
as Is miles at times. So we'll and so
reliably do they perform that they are
rarely minute over their schedule time
Of arriving or departing. and this pune
tuality Is in large degree responsible for
the extensive patronage they enjoy both
from regular traveller and excursionisi
alike.
The route which they traverse ha,
been served by steamboat since the ear,
Hest days OF steam navigation. and ha,
continued 10 be a favorlte means OF
travel between the Delaware River ports
between which they ply Tor over thre,
quarters of a century. and notwithstand
ing the event OF the paralleling of tho
course years ago by two railroads ans
the more recent trolley system built Il
competition both with steamboat an,
steam railroad through liberality Of man
agement and adequate and highly ef
lost patronage, but indeed have greatl,
augmented Il. For the trip from Phla
delphia TO Wilmington. total OF 6s mile
for the round voyage, on these fine
speedy steamers can be made for tn
sum OF % cents. an amount ridiculousl
low. and probably unmatched in an!
other country.
So successful Is the line that two ne'
and larger steamers have been ordere,
not TO take the places OF the presen
day favorites. but to add TO their SCI
vice These boats will come out new ne
spring. and II the contemplated plans
the owners are carried out. they will ir
mediatly leap into fame as being amoi
the most important OF their kind IN n
country already the home Of the I'm,
inland steamers IN the world
The Wilson Line Is and has been Z
decade upon decade managed by steai
boat men. not the oid-fashioned. hii
bound. conservative kind. but progre
sive. alert and up-to-date and even
advance OF their times That IS WI
the line IS operated so intclligently az
so successfully. The very first 10 Il
augurate the hgh-speed passenger pr
peller-the Brandywine-in competitio
= with the old-style paddlewheeler. the
20 stand pioneers In this respect.
In the matter OF the stan attached
y the boats the line IS the most liberal "
knowd. Although the steamers are onl
operated between 73O In the morning an
. ll30 at night. yet fun 2i-hour crew,
I, stipulated by the government. is prl
~ yided. The engineer force works onl
-. four days a week and the others n,
~ days. Notwithstanding the boats are ~
4 seven day sin every week. There are
y bars on the steamers and no intoxica
ing liquors are sold. which keeps asho
- rowdy element all too prevalent :,
cheap-fare steamboat lines running o
Of our cities. These and other comme
dable features make the line one OF Il
institutions Of the Delaware.