Evening star., 1924-09-13
new RIVER BOAT
TAKES TO WATER
District of Columbia Launch
ed-WiII Be Used in Capt.
taI-to.NorfoIk Service.
BY a Staff Correspondent.

WILMINGTON. Del, September 10
Amid rouSing cheers, footing of whis-
ties and blowing of horns, the steam
er District of Columbia was launch d
this afternoon from the shipbuiIdng
yards OF the Pusy & Jones Company
OF this city, for the Norfolk and Wash
lngton Steamboat Company of WASH
ington. D. c.
Miss Margaret Callahan, daughter
of Daniel J. Callahan, vice president
and general manager of the Norfolk and
Washington Steamboat Company, was
the sponsor for the vessel AS she
broke bottle of champagne across
the nose of the boat, christening it in
honor of the Nations Capital, she at
the same time pulled a string releas-
ing three pigeons from a cage on the
deck of the boat to carry messages to
President Coolidge, Rear Admiral
Benson OF the Shipping Board and
Rear Admiral Moffett, chief of naval
aviation. The message was a greet
ing and announcement of the launch
ing, and was signed by w. G.. Cox,
president of Pusy & Jones Company
The boat took only II seconds in it's
slide down the ways to the water
Distinguished Party Present.
The new ship. which, when COM
pleted next December, will be put
in service with the Southland and
Northland on the night run between
Washington and Norfolk, it is a
duplicate in dimensions and engine
power of the steamer Northland.
There was distinguished gather
ing at the yard to witness the launch
ing. Among them were a number OF
persons from Washington.
The party from Washington, be-
sides the officers of the Washington
and Norfolk Steamboat Company, and
newspaper men, included Commits
sioner Rudolph and Mrs. Rudolph
Commissioner Oyster and Miss Helene
Oyster, Commissioner j. Franklin
Bell, Rear Admiral Benson of the
United States Shipping Board and
Mrs. Benson, Gen. George Uhler
supervising inspector general OF
steam vessels and Mrs. Uhler, A. L.
Harris, municipal architect of the
District and Miss Harris and Roland
Brennan. The officers of the company
on hand besides General Mana
ger Callahan, were: Levi Woodbury.
president, and Mrs. Woodbury.: c. f,
Norment, vice president, and Mrs
Norment; OdeIl S. Smith, secretary
treasurer; Mr.. and Mrs. w. E. Pear
son, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles j. Bell
Mrs. Milton E. Allies and Milton
Allies. jr.: Charles o. Woodbury.
and Miss Gertrude Woodbury., Wood
bury Wheeler, Miss Mary Callahan
and Mr.. and Mrs. w. H. Callahan.
Many improvements will be found
in the new steamer There are ad-
ditional rooms with private bath
rooms, staterooms with private toilets
and showers, running hot water as
we'll as cold water in all stateroom
lavatories mechanical ventilation OF
dining saloon and all inside state
rooms, and luxurious furniture and
decorations of public saloons. She
will have a carrying capacity of ap-
proximately 600 passengers.
The District of Columb bia is a single
screw, steel passenger and freight
steamer, having a f1aring shell
similar to the Northland and South
land. Her principal dimensions are
as follows: Length over all, 305 feet
6 inches; extreme beam, So feet;
nodded depth, Is feet; depth to floor
of pilot house, AZ feet