Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-24
FUNDS NEEDEDFOR
SHIP LINE PLEDGED
BY BUSINESS MEN
72 Chamber of Commerce
Members Give Word to
Raise 100000.
MONEY TO BE REALIZED
WITHIN NEXT TWO WEEKS
Importance of Enterprise Ex-
planned Fully at Jefferson
Hotel Dinner.

Seventy-two members Of the ad-
visory council OF tho Chamber of
Commerce who attended a dinner
last night at the Jefferson Hotel.
rendered them by the finance com
mittce OF the Richmond-New York
Steamship Company, pledged their
word to that body that they will raise
within tho next fortnight 100000
needed to mako up the sum of $780,
900 desired for tho successful fnan-
cling OF the company.
Nine teams of eight men each were
organized. each man agreeing to be
responsible for subscriptions aggre.
eating at least $4,000. the slight de-
ffcit remaining between tho $2ss.O0O
thus to be gained and the 5000, ,ooO
needed to be cared for by the finance
committee of the line.
Holds Pledges for S45I, 900.
T. NJ. Darlington, chairman of tho
finance committee OF the boat line
announced that he holds pledges for
s451,oo with sufficient promises in
sight to pass the half-millIon mark
be was given, several pledges for
good-sized sums by individuals pres.
ent after he had read list of sub
scriptions that he considered adc.
quate to the means and ability OF
the subscribers. He characterized
the number Of names on this list as
being far below its rightful size.
MT. Darlington reviewed the arcu-
ments which he and his associates
have put forth to mako the COMPANY
Richmond owned, pront-making
operator of actual ocean going yes-
sells. capable of calling at any mort
in the world. and the hrst vessels
or that description to navigate tho
James River.
Not single share Of this stock
VIII be allowed to pass into tho con-
troll of any railroad, DECLARED Mr.
Darlington He was followed by w
l. Reed. long a ,closo student nj
traffic rates between Richmond and
every comm ercial center OF the conn.
ery. He recalled every instance 4,
which hc and his associates In rho
traffic department of the Chamber of
Commerce had seen the removal az
preferential freight rates from citios
having water transportation fac,Ii-
ties when they allowed these to mass
from their grasp. Mr.. Reed obtained
the support OF four Of the five large
tobacco companies here for the new
iine, and the NTH concern has prom.
ised its reply on tho question very
shortly. He severely scored tho sub.
tie attempts of railroad interest.
particularly by the Pennsylvania N
prevent successful operation of OCEAN
ships in the James.
Tells OF Boats Record Tr,n
II. Watkins Ellerson described -.
operations of the company up to date
giving the facts OF the record tr,n
made here from New York bv tha
Lake Sterling. the second of the com
pany's boats. in .thlrty-eight hours
On this trip she burned 80 per cent
less coal than the boats of tho Ola
Dominion Line used The boats OF tb.
new company need ono foot less a,
water when fully loaded than did
the old ones. even at low It'd. III
described how the protests of tbe
freight handlers at both ends OF thn
line against the lack of tween decrs .
on the new boats had been effectn.
ally disposed of and predicted that
when the Sterling returns from drv