New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-30
The Pilots, the Towbeats and the Passes

The Pilots, the Towbeats and the Passes.
Since the hope of obtaining permanent
and reliable outlet by means of the Gulf
canal, is deferred, some attention to the
management and administration of the
means at command may not be out of place.
Lieutenant Davis, United States engineer
who is in personal superintendent Of the
work of dredging at Pass-a'fOutre, reports
on the twenty-third instant, depth of
water in the channel Of sixteen and half
feet at extreme low tide and nineteen feet
at high tide. These soundings represent
sheer water, measurement being taken from
the upper surface of the deep, soft mud
As evidencing the fair condition of the
channel, the following arrivals and depart
ures may be cited:
On the twenty frst the Scotia, drawing
eighteen feet, Ben Ames, pilot, passed out
in tow, and the steamship Yazoo, drawing
sixteen feet passed in without pilot. On
the twenty-second the steamship New Or
leans, drawing sixteen feet ten inches,
Francis, pilot passed out without trouble
at extreme low tide. On the twenty third
the steamship St. Louis, drawing seventeen
and one half feet, and State Of Louisiana,
Francis and Redmond, pilots, went out
without trouble.
These facts show that with proper care
and good pilots there is but little danger
of sticking on the bar. The channel is
hundred feet wide at its mario west point,
and is very straight.
Southwest Pass continues to afford en-
trance for vessels of draft not over fifteen
feet. The steamships plying between this
port and New York draw about fifteen feet
and usually enter by Southwest Pass,
especially when arriving in the night, be-
cause its buoys are arranged for lighting.
Major Howell hopes to complete arrange
ments for lighting the buoys at Pass-a
lOutre as soon as regulations for the use of
that pass shall have been submitted to the
Secretary of War and his approval sec ured.
1t will thus be seen that the United States
engineers. Major C. w. Howell and Lieu =
tenant Davis, have done their duty we'll and
thoroughly. 1t is matter for considera-
| ton. therefore. whether, with the facilities
| thus afforded by the engineers, proper care
on the part of pilots, ship masters and tow
| boats, can not prevent recurrence OF last
| seasons disasters.
We are informed that during the past
| few months many of the bar pilots, ship
masters and others interested in the welfare
of the commerce of New Orleans have
manifested by their action the necess ity for
some controlling influence at the mouth OF
the Mississippi river which shall be entirely
| independent of local and personal interests.
Just regulations, rigidly entor ced, may
! prevent the annual blockades that have
| proved so detrimental to our comm cree in
past wears. Such interest will be found to
be that which has influenced Congress to
appropriate during the past ten years
nearly $l.OOO,OOO for the improvem ent OF
the mouth of the Mississippi river, viz: The
interest of the States of the Missis sippi
valley. This interest is paramount to all
others, and it appears the part of wisdom
for all purely local interests to conform to
its dictation.
During the past few months some of the
pilots have taken more than usual pans to
famiiiarize themselves with the condition
of the channel at Pascal Outre, and with
the currents, which, at times, set obliquely
across the channel.
Many of the groundings, especially Of
steamships that have been recorded within
the past five years, were due to an inper
feet knowledge of the channel and currents
Pilots are recommended to sound the
channel carefully at least once week IL
order to keep well Informed as to its con
diton. Some of the regular steamship
lines now require their pilot s to souno
shortly before crossing their vessel s, which
is wise precaution, that has no doubt OBJ
waited much delay and annoyance this
summer. 1t makes more work for the pi
lot. but, by those who take a proper pride
in their profession, this should be regarded
not as hardship, bat as duty to bt
willingly performed without waiting tol
special instructions.
1t often happens that steamships, missing
their regular pilots, employ the first tina
offers. There are some pilots, no doub
excellent sailors, and well acqua inted will
the channel, who are inexperienced il
handling steamers. Then, again, it is rarely
found that two steamers handle alike
Some answer the helm quickly, Others
slowly; the engines of some are handled
with greater facility than those OF others
In running narrow channel, it is highly
important that the pilot should be familiar
with the peculiar characteristics Of thu
steamer he has in charge, in order to know
when to give a timely turn of the wheel, o.
signal to the engineer. No one is SO likel!
to be thoroughly familiar with the pecu
liarities of the vessel as the master III
should. therefore, handle his own vessel
leaving to the pilot the duty of pointin!
out the channel, and indicating the prope
speed. Those masters of steamships wh'
follow this plan are most successful II
crossing the bar.
The regulations above indicated should
in some manner, be rendered obligatory OF
masters and pilots; for blockade is almos
invariably due either to the incapacity o
the pilot or to the impotence of the master
The excuse Of tog or darkness ought not Il
shield either master or pilot, for if it is to-
dark or too foggy they have no right to at
tempt crossing. And the ignorance o
carelessness of the pilot who would essay
to take out vessel of deeper draft thai
the channel, at an insufficient stage OF tn
tide, without towboats, is positively Grim
inal and should be punished by the resclnd
ing OF his commission. fine and imprisOn