Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-26
JAMES, RIVER LINE ASKS
INCREASED FREIGHT RATES
Virginia Navigation Stockholders De-
fer Action on Proposed
Dissolution.
RAILROAD MEN DOMINATE
Affairs Of Both Navigation Company
and Old Dominion Steamship Com
pany Controlled by Five Trunk
Lines Radiating From Richmond.

AT a conference yesterday with Chris
| state Corporation Commission, George
w. Stevens. president OF the Chcs-
apcake and Ohio Railway Company.
| and II. b. Walker. president of the
Old Dominion Steamship Company. in
| timated that the Virginia Navigation
Company would file. within the next
few days. an application for an in
| crease in its freight rates on the James
River. 1t was authoritatively stated
yesterday afternoon that the company
would request a considerable increase
over the present rates.
Stockholders OF the Virginia Navi-
Cation Company held a second meet
ins yesterday without taking action
on the Recommendation OF directors
that the company be dissolved because
of the fact that il was being op-
Grated at loss. The first meeting
was held two weeks ago yesterday,
and adjourned without definite action.
Owners of the stock yesterday adjourn
ed the meeting until August !. In the
| meantime the application for an in
crease in rates will be filed with the
State Corporation Commission.
POCAHONTAS WILL. CONTINUE
IN SERVICE FOR PRESENT
The Focahontas Will continue in SER
vice as daytime steamer on the
lanes River for a short time, at least.
The general opinion last night was
that the future of the service was de-
pendent entirely upon the action of
the Corporation Commission in the rate
case, and in certain circles it was con-
sidered improbable that as great an
increase as will be sought, according
10 reliable information, wilrbe granted.
Strong protests against the with
drawal OF steamer service on the James
River have been filed with the com :
mission by patrons of the line. Many
communities along the James River are
dependent almost entirely upon water
transportation for all supplies. and at
this time OF the year heavy s;hipme nts
OF produce are being made to the mar
kets. a continuation of service, they
assert. is A necessity.
subsidiary of the Old Dominion
Steamship Company. which owns 9S
per cent OF the stock. The directors
are practically the same for both COR
porations and the Old Dominion Com
pany is controlled by five railroad
radiatins from Richmond. The re-
| Inaindcr OF the stock is said to be held
by the Havemeyer estate
DIRECTORS ARE OFFICIALS
OF RAILROAD LINES
Directors Of tho Virginia Navigation
Company, indicating the various in
teresis in the company, are:
Key Compton. Baltimore. president
| OF the Chesapeake Steamship Company
| and representative OF the Southern
Railway Company; W. ]. Harakan
president of Seaboard Air Line Rail-
way; l.. Z. Johnson. of Roanoke. pres
ident Of Norfolk and Western Rail
| way: George w. Stevens. president OF
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway: Henry
walters. chairman Of the board of Tho
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; ID. R
DAILY. Jersey City: George A Elliott,
Wilmington. Del: r. H. Richards VIII
mipgton. Del; F.. H. Won Stad. New
York; H. 5. Walker. president Old Do
minion Steamship Company: w. l.
Woodroe. OF Old Dominion Steamship
Company.