The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-16
A LETTER FROM THE TOWBOAT AS
ISOLATION.

To the Editor of the Democrat:
letter to Capt Eads, by J. w. Black relating
to an alleged design of blocking the lefty cham
mel as charged against the said J. W. Black In
the previously published letters of Oapts. Geo.
Mcclellan and Riddle. demands brief state
ment from me and my associate managers.
According to the long established custom Of
the associated towboats Of rotation In manage
ment it was my turn to manage for the assoei-
alton during the months of February and
March. Mr.. j. W. Black being co-equal man
seer expressed his desire to exchange with me-
so as to act for me during these months, IL
would consent to supply his place in the man
agement during the summer months. when he
expected to be absent from the city. The e1-
change was mutually satisfactory. and Mr.
Black entered upon the management for those
months In such management his powers were
absolute and free from all control and instruc-
ton of the other managers. He merely ex-
changed month with me. and whilst acting as
manager for the months named was as 1nde-
pendent OF me as | should have been OF MIN
during the months which had exchanged with
him. / had no right or power to instruct him
in the performance of his duties. nor did ever
instruct him. The managers. under the system
of the association, could not discharge their
duties through agents. Whenever acting as
manager they acted on their own personal re-
sponsibility and were not subject to instruc-
tions or orders from other managers. Inc
statement. therefore. that he acted under my
directions as a manager, If 1t were true. would
be a confession of his abandonment OF MS
rights aud duties as a cO-equal manager In the
association. His obligation TO bis co. managers
forbade his acting as mere agent, subject to
the directions of any one.
His other statement of the transactions at
| II
relative TO the Jetty Company is equally un-
true. There never were but two meetings OF the
board at which the Jetty Company was brought
under consideration and discussion At these
meetings the only matter discussed was the
expediency Of purchasing the Jetty Towboat
Grafton, for which 1t was reported Capt. Eads
had no further use. Pending negotiations
with Col. Andrews for the purchase OF this tow
boat Mr. Black. by ordering the Jetty Com
pany's operator out of the telegraph office OF
the association, so incensed Col. Andrews that
he refused to sell the Grafton on any terms.
In March second meeting Of the Board OF
Managers was held, at which Mr.. Black pro-.
tested against the use OF the telegraph by Capt.
Eads and the Jetty Company. and threatened II
they were not excluded to withdraw his boats
from the association. averring that Eads Go.
we're acting In opposition to the interests OF the
towboat companies.
All the other managers opposed Mr.. Blacks
proposal and disregarded his threat.
| At neither Of these meetings. nor at any other
time. did the Board OF Managers ever direct or
instruct Mr.. Black. or any one else. to block the
lefty channel; nor was such proposition ever
made or discussed.
At the last meeting Of the board on the sixth
Of April. convened by request Of Mr.. Black. he
gave notice OF the withdrawal OF his boats.
stating as his reason therefor that the use OF
the telegraph had been accorded by the other
managers to Capt. Eads and the Jetty Company.
which he thought was wrong and he would not
stand it.
may here state that serious complaints were
made by the other managers against Mr.. Black
for mismanagement in the month of February,
and demand made that he should be dis
placed, lest his mode Of conducting the bust
ness of the association should involve 1t IN
trouble.
T had then confidence. not shared by my Co
! managers, in Mr.. Blacks fidelity to the inter-
ests OF the association and did not acquiesce In
their proposal to displace him. Early In March
, the majority of the managers again came to me
, with complaints of his mismanagement. and
| urged his displacement. was still possessed
with the delusion that his purposes were hon
est, and had faith in his integrity. Subsequent
ton that / was grossly deceived In the man
Besides other ac,s, which do not bear on the
l present controversy. his letter published on
! Sunday last furnished ample testimony that my
associates had formed a far juster estimate Of
t 'A'' w. D''N ''''N- W. G. CoYLE.
President Good Intent ToWboat Company.
We the undersigned, managers Of the severa
towboat companies comprising the association
= of which Mr.. Coyle Is president, certify to the
= truth of the foregoi g statements.
Z. EDW. A. YORKE.
|. r. Line Towboats,
e JOSEPH LEACH.
: Manager Eclipse Line.
d THOs. MCCLELLAN.
ap1s 1t Ocean Towb >at Company.
d ASSOCIATION ARMY OF TENNESSEE
l. meeting OF this association will be held a
." Mechanics Instil ute on TUESDAY EVENING
April l6 at o'clock D. m when the certificate
'e of membership will be ready for delivery.