The Portland daily press., 1878-02-06
0The Natural Seaport. !,

MR.. EDToR:-The fact that the English
steamer ''Nepgan," Capt. Scott, came into this
port without pilot in the fearful storm of Fri
day last, which has strewn the coast with
wrecks from Maine to Florida, entities Port
land without controversy to the appellation,
natural seaport" The steamer arrived off
Hallway Rock at o'clock a. ~, when pi-
lot was expected, but none appearing-as the
sea was running high obliging the pilot to come
in-Capt. Scott, as you remark, 'was very
plucky," and brought his ship into the harbor,
and at 10 80 a. m. was ready to discharge cargo
at the Grand Trunk wharves.
Where is the port of note, on this coast, from
PASSPORT to Galveston, in which any ship mas
ter, under such circumstances, would have dar-
ed to make the attempt to en- ter 10 that terrible
storm, no matter how lucky he was, or how
much nautical skill or experience he possessed?
If he had made the attempt to enter any of
these harbors, his vessel would almost inevita-
bly, have gone ashore. The security Of Port
land harbor when vessels are at anchor, its safe
and easy navigation when entered in heavy
storms of rain or snow with heavy winds, are
well knowa to our shipmasters, and there ia not
one among them, of any experience. who has
not been placed in like condition with Captain
Scott, or who would hesitate for one moment,
if no pilot was to be had, to bring vessels into
port. But Capt. Scott was a stranger, and the
entering the port in a storm was more difficult
and of greater risk to his ship, for reasons ap-
parent to all, than to one of our own shipmas'
tiers we'll acquainted with the port. Hundreds
of vessels are often seen entering the lower
harbor and riding at their anchors in heavy
storm in perfect security.
One hour for vessels under, sail, with fail
wind, and twenty minutes for steamer, from
| the Grand Trunk wharves, will take them Out
on the "5road Atlantic" away from all dan
| ger.
One conclusive evidence of the easy and safe
access to Portland harbor for vessels and steam.
| ers, under all circumstances, as the few wrecks
that are made by vessels either entering or de
| parting from our port. The fact that there are
| far less wrecks than at any port of its note on
| the coast is not often considered. Portland
harbor has been called in ridicule "the natural
seaport but is it not justly entitled to that
name? The day hastens on when the grea
/ commercial world will concede it as such, and
also that the wharves and warehouses Of the
| Grand Trunk and private wharves and ware
| houses are without parallel in this country
for facilities to receive and discharge cargoes
| Every wharf, almost, has its railway connec
| tion. With the great roads of the country, ant
hundreds of vessels, might be taking cargoes al
the same time.
1 would respectfully suggest that the Port
land Price Current should note the circum
stances of the arrival of the steamer "Nep
gan," the easy and safe access to Portland har
Dor, facilities for discharging and receiving car
goes, quick dispatch for vessels at the Crane
Trunk wharves, and that our merchants SHOULD
mail this excellent mercantile sheet, which
worthy of their patronage, to their western and
all their European correspondents.
Advertise Portland everywhere. 1t will pay
the merchants of Portland four-fold.
Portland, Feb. 5, 1878.