Steamships Carolina and Virginia

Below is an advertisement giving the schedules for the steamships Virginia and Carolina, owned by the Albemarle Steam Navigation Co.  The Virginia left Franklin, VA on Monday and Friday and went to Tunis in Hertford Co, N.C.  stopping at other ports along the way. On Thursday and Saturdays, it left Tunis and returned to Franklin.

The Carolina left Murfreesboro on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays and went to Tunis and Edenton, Chowan Co., NC, also stopping along the way. It left Edenton on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday returning to Murfreesboro.

The following information came from a 1912 article:

"The steamers Carolina and Virginia, recently built at the works of the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company for the Albemarle Steam Navigation Company, are intended for light draft river service. …"

The Carolina could carry 120 tons with a draft of 6 feet while the Virginia could carry 100 tons . The Carolina had staterooms for 18 and saloon space for 85 people. The smaller Virginia could accommodate 16 in staterooms and 75 people in the saloon. Each vessel carried a crew of 26. The faster Carolina could travel at 10.5 mph while the Virginia reached a speed of 9.6 mph.

LIGHT-DRAFT RIVER STEAMER VIRGINIA

"The deck auxiliaries include a steam windlass, winch, gypsy and steering engine. A fresh water tank with a capacity of 6oo gallons is provided. The safety appliances include one l6-foot double-ended lifeboat and one i6-foot square stern boat. "

"The saloons present a very attractive appearance. The joiner work and the hardware are plain and substantial. The decks in passengers' quarters are covered with the best linoleum, and the staterooms are carpeted.

"Each vessel is fitted with electric lights, searchlight and generator, the generators being of sufficient capacity to light up the ship and in addition the lights which the company has installed on all their piers and in their warehouses. …

"The Carolina runs between Edenton, N. C. and Murfreesboro, N. C, and the Virginia runs between Franklin, Va., and Tunis. N. C, the latter route being on the Blackwater River, which is an extremely narrow stream with sharp bends, making it necessary to reduce the length of the Virginia in order that she could navigate this tortuous channel.

"These vessels carry a general cargo of freight throughout the year, and at certain seasons handle large quantities of peanuts, cotton, fertilizers, etc. The holds of both vessels are arranged in such a manner as to be available for the stowage of through freight.

"As these steamers are operated both day and night, the ingenious arrangement of lighting the piers and warehouses from the generators of the steamers greatly facilitates the handling of freight during the night work."

The article, along with the picture of the Virginia, appeared in International marine engineering, Volume 17 1912. This is a Google Book. The ad is from Images of America: Hertford County by Frank Stephenson: 2003.