Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-12
To correspondence.
Ihe baltimore Tug.bOat Mob and
the Washington Tug.bOAt Bigler.


The Baltimore press report the existence of
tug-boat war at that port, In which the Baltf-
more boats are arrayed against the tug-Doat
James Btgler, owned In this city. The facts
appear to be that there is an organization In
Baltimore known as the Tug boat owners ASSo-
citation, the main object OF whose existence
seems to be to fix the minimum rate for towing,
and to which all tug-boats owned In Baltimore
belong, and from which all other boats are ex-
cluded. The tug James Bigler, large boat,
owned in this city, and purchased expressly for
the heavy trade OF the Chesapeake bay and the
capeS, went TO Baltimore In December last,
made application for admission to the asSocia-
tioD, and to be furnished with schedule of
rates: both Of which were refused. The Bigler
thereupon commenced towing without reference
to association rates, and without serious incon-
venience unul the 21st of February, when on pro-
ceedlng to tow the Russian bark Onni she was
surrounded by a feet of association tugs and
completely blockaded, and remained so for sew
eral hours, until released by the Intervention of
wharfowners. Again, On the 26th OF February,
a delegation having previously waited on the
captain OF the Bigler and requested him to
leave the city with his boat, to which request
he declined to accede, by direction Of the asso-
citation the B1gler was again surrounded, the
association hiring the wharveS between which
the BIGGER was mOored, and so ef1ectually
blockaded her as to prevent her moving. The
captains OF the association tugs also, first by
persuasion, and then BY violence (Which but
for providential Intervention would have re-
suited In murder) sought to prevent the mate
OF the Bigler from reaching his boat The federal
power was then invoked, and eight asso-
citation captains, including their president.
were arrested and held In 5000 bail each.
These facts were elected at the examination
before the U. s. commissioners, together with
another fact, that 1t was the Intention and
purpose Of these lawleSs men to force the Bigler
to leave Baltimore. The Bigler Is enrolled In
Georgetown, d. c., in the district of which
Baltimore Is part, her license permits her to
work upon the Chesapeake bay and its trib.
utarieS: the Baltimore boats have the same
license. The alleged cause of the difficulty,
that the Bigler worked for lower rates than
those fixed by the association, Is q mere pre-
tence; the real trouble Is that the Btgler is not
owned In Baltimore as required by the rules of
the association. Should Baltimore apply this
rule Of exciusiveness to all branches OF her
trade and commerce, instead of making rand
strides as commercial city, she would soon
degenerate into fourth rate place, or even
should Washington withdraw her trade the
loss would be severely felt. 1t should be re-
membered also, that Baltimore has no greater
local claim on her commerce than has any other
place: fully nineteenth of her ocean traffic Is
done In bottoms flying foreign flags. Even
her bag trade Is done In vessels owned outside
OF the city. In no sense, Is it ship-owning
city; her commercial Importance being due to
Its railroad facilities and connections.
Baltimore presents to US, In this respect, q
fair field for enterprise and competition, and
such should be welcomed and encouraged, in
stead OF retarded by violence. repetition OF
the Bigler difficulty will assuredly bring upon
her the reproach Of the commercial world,
and enable her to regain her former title OF
the Mob city.