The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-28
Travel Between Northern Ports and San
Francisco,

lay, and positive discomfort that has re-
suited from the inefficient and insuffi-
eient service rendered during the pres
ent winter by the steamers plying be-
tween San Francisco and northern ports,
has become so widespread as to be the
theme of universal comment. 1t is
common remark that a journey
from San Francisco 10 fraught with
more danger, discomfort and delay un-
der the present management than is
trip from that point to Europe, and we
hope the matter may be agitated until
much-needed reform in this regard
is effected. With this view we submit
the following letter from San Francisco,
which appeared in recent issue of the
OregoniGn, confident that an outraged
travelling public will appreciate its just
severity:
Doubtless your readers have learned
through telegrapbic or other reports,
that a committee of investigation, ap-
pointed by the Legislature of California
to inquire into and report on the condi-
ton and seaworthiness of passenger
steamships running from this port, is
now in session here. The committee
has taken mass of testimony, and the
investigation is still going on. OF
course, the object is not specially to as
certain the condition of the steamers
plying north, including those of the
Oregon line; but it happens that, Incl
dentally, as the testimony is delivered
to the committee, a great deal is said
about the Oregon steamers. The testi-
mony is of such a nature as cannot be
reassuring to the Oregon public.
Hitherto, as you know, there has been
no little hesitation and timidity about
these ships; people who have been
compelled to travel on them to and from
Oregon have not felt comfortable, and
this sense or fear of danger has for a
long time made the voyage anything
but an agreeable one. By the publica-
tion of the testimony called out in this
Investigation, the feeling is sure to be
intensified. 1t is useless to try to dis
guise the fact that profound distrust of
many coastwise steamers, including
some or all of the Oregon line, has been
created here. 1t is just as well to look
the fact in the face. Oregon is isolated.
Having no railway connections, this
steamship line is of the first Importance
to her business, her growth, and her
prosperity. If people are afraid of the
steamers-and unquestionably they are
Oregon suffers in consequence. Cali
fornia, interested in retaining the popu-
lation that seeks the Pacific Coast for
settlement, has an irresistible appeal to
present to the emigrant to prevent him
from going to Oregon. Many people,
| innann nonct haUn a natural rplnRta nR
to go to sea. 1t requires in those who
have been brought up inland, and who
have-as most such have-an instinct oi
the formidable nature of ocean travel, 8
great deal of fortitude to undertake g
trip by sea to Oregon after the long jour,
ney hither by rail. If we add to thi:
natural hesitation on their part a feel.
ing of insecurity, arising from we'll
founded belief that the steamers are un'
q sound and unsafe, and likely as not al
any time to go to the bottom, we have
a state of facts extremely unfavorable t
travel to Oregon.
2 This state of facts is very manifes
, here. There is a general feeling tina
, the vessels of the Oregon line, as we'll a!
l many others, are rotten carcasses o
! boats, which the very rats would in
3 stinctively quit; and since the newspa
pers here are publishing sworn state
ments by old shipmasters, caulkers, anC
others who claim to be familiar witt
D the coast steamers, to the effect tina
3 they deem many of these vessels ex
. tremely frail and unsound-so much 81
that they would not themselves, unde
any circumstances, venture to sea il
D them-it is by no means wonderful tha
? the effect is to deter people from taking
Il y-iuly
especially y since the terrible disaster t.
l the "Pacific'' is so recent in the publi
= mind.
Y will not trouble you with detailed
recital of the testimony and opinion
delivered before the committee. Yol
: will be able to collate this as it is pub
q lished from day to day in the San Fran
:. cisco papers. 1t may be, indeed, tina
, the opinions given as to some of tn
vessels are ill-founded and erroneous
but the effect is the same as if, instea
, of being the language of exaggeration
it did not disclose half the truth.
The Pacific Mail Company is nov
selling tickets to Portland, via Puge
D Sound, for $50. Their steamer on tina
:. route, the panama" is consideret
! sound. Certainly she is far superior il
= comfort, speed, and appointments t,
E any vessel on the Oregon route. 1t il
e stated that many passengers destinet
o for Oregon went on her upon her las
e trip, in preference to taking the steame
y direct for Portland. The Panama."
? learn, was crowded, while the "Ori
flamtner had only thirty or forty pas
q sengers. Yet believe the latter to be
!. safe vessel. In the public mind, how
> ever, she is in she prescribed list. 1t il
e certain that she is filthy and uncomfort
g able, and has no speed. If she wer
Z cleaned, renovated, and provided witt
better power, she would answer for tn
: trade.
s 1t may as we'll be plainly said, for /
e is true, that the steamers of the Oregon
4 line, apart from any question of sea
worthiness or safety, are a disgrace t.
e the State and a reproach to those VIII
own or control them. Passenger steam
ers they ought not to be called; the.
might answer tolerably for the transpor
tation of cattle, but are too dirty an
uncomfortable for human beings t
travel upon. Many years ago, whe
'' they were new and clean, and before tn
demands of traffic had become so con
siderable, they were well enough. Blu
they are now out of date, are too slOI
u and too small, are filthy beyond descrip
ton, and better fitted for the cooli
e trade than the reasonable and legiti
4 | yuonfS nf tho fraUalinn Dnbli