Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-12
RICHMOND STANDS ALONE
ON STEAMSHIP PROPOSAL
Committee Which Visited Norfolk
Returns With Opinion No Aid
Will BE Forthcoming.
is DETERMINED
Direct Line Plan Would Eliminate
q Necessity of Four Ships and
s Would ob:iatc Exchange Of
Freight ut Titlcwatcr Port.

Members of the special committee
who went to Norfolk yesterday for u
conference with interests on the plan
Ito organize a steamship line between
+ Norfolk. retained last night with a
feeling that If the project is accom-
plished it must he done by Rich
While the Norfolk committee was
very courteous ana gave patient con-
I sidcrati ton to the proposal. action
was deferred 10 another meeting call
CO for IL o'clock noon Tuesday. ana
a special committee was appointed TO
make a report on the practicahiiity
and tho wisdom OF cooperating.
Question of dinsrentiai frsisht
and Norfolk and between New York
and Richmond was raised and prob
ably VIII stand In the way of the CO.
ton of the row corporation. Since
1896 Richmond arc Norfolk have had
equal water rates. but. under the
proposed plan for new ship line,
there probably would have To bc Il
difference in rates from New York TO
the two cities. Al least this is in
dictated in "a resolution adopted at
the conference lay the Norfolk COM
Richmond Mcn disappointed.
Members Of the Richmond commit
tee who returned last night express
cd their disappoin'ment. at tn" atti-
tee. but took Immediate steps looking
to the establishment o! an iniepcn-
dent Richmond 20 New York line in
the event Norfolk declines TO CO.
One official Of the Richmond Cham
Der OF Commerce declared that the
Chamber had never Yet started any
thing it had not been able 10 finish.
and we are going 10 put this over
he declared.
With a direct line operating
through from Richmond 10 New York
only two ships would be required TO
originally proposed four ships two
on the James River and two opcrat-
ing from Norfolk 10 New York with
transfer of freight at Norfolk, was
proposed.
Elimination of two ships and the
transfer ut Norfolk will reduce the
operatins expense, which, under the
orig inal plan. called for a capitaliaa-
tion OF Sl.>0r.00o
While no ngurcs have yet been an
bounced, II Is believed that the direct
line with only two ships could he
organized and put in operation with
a capitalization OF about Sl,O0o,O0o.
Adopt RESOLUTIONS.
The resolution adopted by the Nor
folk committee at yesterdays meet
"As result Of the active solicit
tat!on for funds to operate the pro-
posed New York line it has been
several fundamental difficulties TO he
overcome, and in view OF that fact.
III Is the sense OF this mcctIu.
That a special committee Of i've, OF
which the chairman shall he one, lac
appointed for the purpose OF decid
ing the question whether the Tide
water interests shall ondeavor to
maintain a separate line on their
own responsibility or whether II
would be TO the Community's interest
to conccdc TO Richmond the present
equali2ed freight, rate basis which
now obtains, and,
4Resolved. further, that this com
mittec be prepared 10 rcpor; back
on the several independent PROPOSE
tions thai, have been made as to
their feasibility. and ~ 10 all that
is involved in the possible accept
ance Of same, and,
RESOLVED. further, that tho COM
mittcc he requested to report back
fully and definitely TO meeting 10
be held on Tuesday, June -. ~ IL
o'clock noon in order that the dcn-
mite and conclusive reply he made To
representatives Of Richmond and
other cities who have so cordially
and painStak!ngly co-opcratcd in
every meeting and movement look
ing 70 the contamination Of that
which is vital TO tho commercial life
of all communities affected
tSiEned) IT. :. sOCTUiATE.
"W. y. con "