, 1883-09-06
The China Trade.

EDIToRs ARGUS:
In your issue of Thursday, Aug
9Th, SO, [ notice an article comment
ing upon the new trade opening
up with China. and concluding with
the remark. Let it be encouraged"
Last December when [ came to the
Sound for coal, Collector Bash rem
dered me some valuable assistance in
keeping my Cinnamon on board, Of
which [ had about six hundred for
Hong Kong: and when I cleared
from your port the Collector remark
ed that he would gladly see me bring
freight to the Sound as well as to
Portland, and that he would render
me all the assistance ne could con
sistent with his duty
On my arrival at Hong Kong [ en-
gagged about four hundred tons car
cargo for Tacoma. On my arrival at
Port Townsend from Portland on
this voyage, 1 laid my ship alongside
the dock intending to take a few tons
of coal to run me up to the coal
bunkers, and being Informed by sew
eral persons who had boarded the
ship in the bay, that the custom
house was open and that my business
would be done for me, although it
was about 8 O'clock P. NJ. l went
to the custum house accompanied
by Mr. ROthschild While engaged
with Mr.. Harmed, the deputy collect
or, an inspector rushed in and ex
claimed, You are not to enter that
ship Mr. Harmed" and turning to me
continued, You had not damn bit
of business to come on shore until
the health officer has visited the
ship" and ratified on at a goodly rate
damning me not less than five times
before | spoke to him. just aS this
Jealous inspector finished his black
guardly language, polite note ar
rived from the health officer stating
that as the Madras WAS from Port
land it would not be necessary for
him to visit the ship. [ leave it to
your imagination how annoyed [ felt
with inspector Swayzee. l returned
on board and at once penned note
to Collector Bash, informing him of
the insult l had been subjected to
from one of his subordinates, and on
the following day L spoke to the Col
lector about the matter, and he prom
ised me he would inquire into the af-
fair, and if necessary have an apol-
ogy given me.
On my return from Seattle again
brought the matter before the Col
lector who, after parrying my request
for an apology, told me that if the
inspector had not insulted me he the
Collector would have fined me for
coming ashore previous to the Gus
toms visit, which last remark aston
ished me not little. 1t would ap-
pear to me that the result is either to
be insulted or fined for doing what
any shipmaster would unconciously
do, after coming from a cast port
That is, walk straight on shore to the
custom house to lave his ship enter
ed. Personally, I prefer the fine
Another item will call your atten-
ton to: that is; after paying four
dollars per day for inspectors SER
vices ON board to protect the reven-
lie, L am charged hotel expense
amounting to ten dollars per inspect
or, although provide good beds in
the cabin and fed them at my own
table. Collector Bash informs me
that the reason they roomed ashore
was by his permission, as they
feared the small pox. Contrast
this with the note from the health
officer on my arrival. However, I am
of the opinion that the hotel expen-
ses are not legal charge, and I am
forwarding the bills paid to the Sec
retary of the Treasury at Washing
ton for information on that point, as
well as my complaint about the in
suit.
L fear have trespassed too largely
upon your space, but in SO doing I
have endeavored to let you see how
the Madras has been encouraged.
Yours truly,
WILLIAM A. BRADLEY.