The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-17
TOWBOAT CONTROVERSY
WHAT j. w. BLACK HAS TO SAY
ABOUT BLOCKADING SOUTH PASS.

called upon Capt. j. W. B ack. who made the
charge AGAINST the Towb rat Association rela-
tive to the blocking up of the jetties. Capt.
Black was busily engaged attending to matters
concerning his boats-the Anchor line-at the
time of the visit. but gave some information
that has not heretofore been made public.
Reporter Black. you have doubtless
seen the card published by the presidents Of
the different towboat lines In response to your
card. What want to know is. IL the statements
made by them In their card are true2
Capt B-No. sir: what said before is strictly
true But then about this blockading of the
jetties. they are making mountain out OF n
mole hill of it. AS I said it was.talked about in
times. In what you might call o jesting way.
Rep.-gut the subject was talked about as one
worthy OF consideration?
Capt. B.-Yes. sir; yes, sir; at more than one
meeting 1t was spoken Of Here, look at this
diary Showing a diary. jot down everything
Look here you see t1i- lreHdingl: Had a talk
| with Mr. Coyle In his office about grounding q
vessel in the ,jetlies. Mr.. Coyle thought we
ought to send down our poorest bouts there"
as it went on. The Tornado. which was subse-
quently burned. was the vessel
SELECTED TO BE GROUNDED
because OF her extreme length She drew
| about % feet loaded, but her length was con-
sidered in selecting her
Rsp.-Have you ,eyer heard, captain. that for
many years vessels have been groun led on the
bar at Southwest Pass simply for the purpose
OF letting the towboats make theic s1oe per hour
Capt: B@Wsil. that was before I engaged IN
# it., frequently. have heard Gs rge
Tom MeL4Ilan has laughed heartily at one
case. alb nut which he repeatedly III .ed 1t was
| II vessel the captain of which refused to be
favSring wind sailed up. When the ship was
loaded. 1t wes necessary for him to take, % boat
| to be lowed to sea- Capt. Mcclellan used to say
kept there until the hire Of the boats to pull
him off, and the wages OF the cr"w running on
more than it would have cost the captain to
have been towed uD and down. This was done
to punish him
FOR NOT TAKING TOW.
Everybody connected with the towboat bust
ness knows that this was done often during the
Rep.-To come back to another question
SPOKEN Of by Mr. ceyle was it true toat you
Capt..B. llaugainel- q bit oil According
70 the agreement eoteT i into by TIE difere
and if boats were laid up they were to be-
charged s4o,per day for each boat, which was to
DO deduct. d from such share. There was one
lIne.that owed the association for laying up
49, 800, which was never paid. / have some
money collected which the association called
L
| q statement OF the business OF the association.
showing what was received and what each boat
had earned. and how many days they laid up.
They have not as yet given II, and they dare
not, for they know what it will show. 1t was
not about the telegraph that LETT the associa-
ton, but their bad faith.
Rep Then the association paid shares to the
boats that were laid UP. deducting the $40 per
day?
under the seventh section. believe it is. OF the
agreement.
Rep.-Then In making up your rates of tow
the laid up boats as well as those that do the
Capt. B.-Yes. we calculated on that There
are 30 many boats here that all cannot be out at
the same time. for there is not work enough
II ae eu.Wv did the association charge for
toying, gay 2 loOo-ton ship up and down:
Capt. B.-We charged IS cents per ton for tow
log up. with deduction OF 10 cents per ton II
paid In ten days; and down from 10 to Is cents
Rep.-What do you think would be fair price
and remunerative one?
Capt. About 65 ceuts. II / had all could
do. SO cents per ton would pay. l could make
HEAPS OF MONEY AT IT.
Rep.-Then the association. by controlling
the towing, keeps up the price above what
Gait. B.NBy associating together they of
course. raise the rates.
- Rep.tWhat do you think is the tonnage that
Capt. B.-Oh IL has increased Of late. 1
think 1t amounts now to fully 700 600 tons of sail,
and steam lines are treble now what they have
city in the Union In tonnage.
Rep.--ro go back little. how does the tele-
graeh become such powerful factor in the
towing business?
Cap. B.-You will readily understand 1t. If
vessel comes here for orders and anch or6 off.
and the captain telegraphs up 70 his consignee.
the dispatches are delayed in their delivery
here until the association has had time to work
to secure the tnwage OF the vessel. and then the
Ia ,nfi
and are
NOT REPORTED
for two days. Such thing would not be toler-
he o Moon took re sor qf time whsn
viii st at anchor. nothing but the mere fact that
she was on fire was telegraphed up, and the
ance offices or his cons gnees for considera-
bic time. In fact. the full control OF the tee-
graphs to the bar gives the association an i'm
" Res1Bus isn't these telegraph lines the pri
vate prop rtg Of the towboat compauies2
a1fs F b sys v hi a1 asn nsy are
any body elses for the tariff rates and SO they,
under the law, are common carriers. and can
patch is presented which might initiate against
their interests, they will not send it. L we had
would put everybody
ON THE SAME FOOTING.
Speaking of this reminds nae of that matter
with Capt. Eads. I told Mr.. Coyle that Capt.
lads was using our line at the way stations for
the purpose Of working his opposition boats.
Eada was refused the use OF the lines the West
ern Union might start a line which would kill
it was concluded to let him have the use of the
lines free.
Rep.-Can you tell me. captain. how it is that
ton b ats from keeping In the trafe?
Capt. Bit Is very simple. When new boat
comes out and starts in the trade, the assucia-
ont tun n nd fo
follow wherever she goes. When vessel
heaves in sight. il the new boat gets there first
the other boats will run up and undeTbid the
the opposition boat must lose money. 1t de-
ponds entirely how long a purse the opposi-
ton has, for they will take lows from him at
losing rates until he is
FORCED TO BACK OUT
or Join the association.
Kep-Then 1t is a close corporation. Or some
thing like it?
Cast ~ Hlxn