Evening star., 1946-01-23
.Norfo|k-Washington
Steamer Line Plans 10
Resume Operation
By WILLIAM A. MILLEN

operation Of the steamer District Of
Columbia after the present war
emergency operation by the Govern
ment ends, Clarence F. Norment, jr.,
the company's president, said today.
Although the War Shipping Ad-
ministration has word that the YES
sells Northland and Southland, which
operated regularly in prewar days
between here and Norfolk, Va, are
to be returned to the United States
from the British Isles in the spring,
future plans for them are uncertain.
At present, the property of the
Norfolk g. Washington Steamboat
Co. is being operated under lease by
the War Shipping Administration,
through the firm of iDichmann,
Wright & Pugh, Inc, of Norfolk.
The trade name of the Washington
and Hampton Roads Line is being
used, but this is not a separate cor
poration. The present status will be
maintained until the war emergency
is over, officials said.
Also Operate Meteor.
The steamer Meteor, which was In
| the New York-Providence run for q
number of years. is now operating
between here and Norfolk, under the
new management. as is the District
Of Columbia, providing daily service.
There is heavy Government traffic
between the two cities, including ex-
tenSive Navy business.
/ Last June %, the VISA requisi-
toned the steamer District of Co.
lumbia and the terminal facilities OF
the Norfolk & Washington line.
THE company's present plans are
to resume operations with the Dis
trict of Columbia, whenever the
War Shipping Administration re-
linquishes CONTROL" said Mr.. Nor
ment.
Company officials declined to COM
ment on whether they will offer q
bid for the Northland and South.
land when those vessels are re-
turned. The VISA says that Gus.
tomary procedure is to give former
owners a chance to bid Tht
steamboat company was paid $685.
275 for the two vessels after the
Government took them over out
right in July, 1912.
ODT Ordered Change.
For months the company operated
only the District of Columbia be-
tween here and Norfolk. But last
June. Lawrence c. Turner, head OF
the Waterways Transport Depart
ment of the Office of Defense Trans
portation, announced that the
Meteor was being added to the run
at the urging of the Navy De-
partment.
The company was unable to operate
the Meteor and the Office of Defense
Transportation announced that due
to 'the inability of the management
to provide the service" the second
vessel was added and the property
taken over on use basis only.
The steamboat company is nom
operating, although it still owns the
District of Columbia and the ter
minal facilities here, in Alexandra
and in Norfolk. Dichmann. Wright
& Pugh, Inc, took over practically
all of its employees.
Of1cials said today there was
no interruption either in service OF
payroll. Not joining the new oper.
ators were Mr.. Norment; the vice
president, G. w. Fosberg; the secre.
tary-treasurer, Odell S. Smith, anc
the experimenting engineer, DAME
Sawyer.
Silent Of Meteor Bid.
The VISA owns the Meteor, which
was the only vessel available at the
time to put into the Washington.
Norfolk service. This vessel is slight.
ly longer and considerably widel
than the District of Columbia anc
has approximately the same carry
: ing capacity, officials said.
Il The Meteor was overhauled anc
refurnished at Baltimore shipyard
after 1t was given two-weeks
i trial run in the Norfolk Washington
! service in June, 1914. The District Of
i Columbia was constructed in 1925
4 officials of the steamboat com.
lpany declined to comment on tht
! possibility of purchasing the Meteor
/ The VISA said bids will be taker
on the Northland and Southland
both around IS years old, if the for
mer owner does not want them.
II En- route to Europe, the Southland
] fired IA rounds from her 12-poundel
j, at U-boat periscope, which disap
lpeared. She and the Northland
|, whose name was changed to Leyden
!, aided in training British Com
mandos and Royal Marines and botf
were in action on D-day.
IDriver Given SiY Mnnthe