The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-11-07

40 % u02 23,6Io
Dec H. Si S'ivoo
f" II,l lNuWOrtll z,oVol litllu
I" IL lClhonnel IIght.,..........1 S495 ,756
Ia IA as Vietoria Nyenzss S625 800
Feb. -. Whittngton*......., SSO y, vi
!" 8 lFelix Mendelsohn~.".. II ,6l3l JS, VI
IT,. Sarah Scott................." ,250l Q,ogO00
F" 20. Roswell SprAgue# S,Sll2 J9'0S9 '0S9
MchS =. lllione gUS9 SV'vSS V'eSS
" TO-. Caribou I,lV9l l6z,0oS
" A.. Victoria Cross....,""r.,,.i 5,oZol si,9iz
Vessels marked thus (*) are known to have
lightcred moro than the amount above cred
tied.
Now as to the safety of the Colum-
bia river. Exact data is wanting OF
the whole number of vessels that
have crossed the bar, but from GER
tain periods during which the data is
complete, we are enabled to approxi-
mate very closely, and set the num-
ber down at an average Of Eve hum
dred a year for the last twenty-one
years, or since 1852. The following
Is complete list of all losses or
wrecks that have occurred on the bar
since 1852, which year may be con.
sidered the beginning of wisdom as
regards the channels, currents, Nc,
on or about the bar.
Barks Mendoza, and Merrithew,
lost January 18th, 1858, came in
without pilots, wind failed after get
ting in, and they drifted ashore.
Bark Oriole, lost September 18th,
1858.
Brig Detroit, lost Dec. %, 1856,
on outer spit. Going out at night,
Bark Desdemona, lost Dec. Slst,
1856. Came in without o pilot, ran
on sands six miles inside.
Schooner Woodpecker lost May 10,
1861 flour miles inside.
Bark Industry, lost March l6,
1865, coming in without pilot.
Bark W. B. Scranton, lost May
9th, 1867. H
Only eight vessels in twenty-one
years. Eight out of 10000. One
out of ,312, or one-thirteenth of one
per cent. of the shipping coming into
the river.
OF this number, four were coming
in without pilots. II further appears
that nearly every loss during the time
under review, was the result, not Of
a rough bar, but of the wind failing
after the vessel had crossed thus, leav'
ING her TO drift on the sands. 1t also
seems that each loss of vessels com
ing in occurred when they were sail
ing against the tide. instead of witt
| it.
There being no tug to go to thei
relief, Of course there could be NJ
rescue. It is safe to say that, hat
there been tug at hand, every vesse
thus far lost on the bar might hay
been saved. Since the placing OF tn
tug Astoria upon the bar, or pilo
grounds in 1869, there has been n
loss, and with proper care on tn
part of the tug and pilots, there nee
be none for many years to come. :
These facts warrant us in making tn
bold assertion, that there is no barr
| ed harbor known to comm2rce, wheI
the percentage Of loss is SO smaal
J and few, if any, open harbors thi
can show so fair a record Ihe cul
rents and prevailing winds are sucl
I and the land marks so we'll deilnet
that at o time when it is unsafe
cross the bar, vessels outside ca
! readily keep Off, and wait q suitab
9 time to enter. And there is goo
holding grounds but q few hundr(
Z rods inside for vessels bound out
o anchor. and select from the sp
T their own time to pass out. LIE
o trouble is experienced from fogs
u the Columbia, than either to u
q north or south, as they are not II
n ouent, and are much less dense, o,
u ing, no doubt, to the prsence OF @ril
u currents, resulting from peculi
IS physical conformations. The cha
r mel is distinctly buoyed out, al
a lighted by a frst-class lighthouse
10 Cape disappointment, whore IS
r tablished a life saving station
M Government, with q few of the nee
" cd facilities for rendering aid in co
of accident on the bar. Goyernme
" has also made an appropriation for
Or lighthouse Of Point Adams, q
! preparations are going forward
d, commencing the work at once.
n The commerce Of Oregon has he
tofore been taxed by underwriters
IN above the proper and reasonable ra
b But. as the rate OF insurance is rop
II, up from d knowledge OF the act
= pro rata Of loss incident to o gi'
TO harbor, when such data is to he hi
IN or guessed at from general impr
us sioHs. in the absence Of reliable
10 formation, there seems no good 7
n son why, il the above facts are J
es before tho various marine und
q writer's of the land, the discrimi
IN ton against the Columbia river
'r- should not bo removed, and our
en- surance had at fair rate, much !
NJ than is now imposed .
OIL question is now never raised ab
ny Sandy Hook bar, at tho entrance
ca New York harbor, being too shall
W. and rough for The extensive
IN profitable employment Of oil clat
va Of vessels, yet there Is five feet IN
'eS water on tho Columbia river bar
Oh high tide, than there is on Sal
Hook at corresponding stage
~ water.