The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-14
rEELrNG THE PRESSURE.

The competition of Puget soune is
moving those whose interests are .ii-
yolved in the commerce Of the Goinia-
bia river to new efforts FOR the
suppression Of abuses of many years
standing IL IL hoped by reduction Of
pilot fees, reduction OF towage charges
and the breaking up of lighteragc and
other rings TO bring down the
charges upon ships entering the Column
bia river to something approaching
equality with the charges on the
Sound in other words, to cut Oh about
IS per cent. of the expenses OF ships
under present arrangements.
How difficult this viii be, che Port
land Board OF Trade IL just now tind-
ing out by little experience with the
Oregon legislature. A bin providing
for so per cent. reduction IN the
single item of pilot rates at the bar. Is
being resisted with utmost energy
and address on the part Of the pilots
and their friends. supported power
fully by the prejudice OF the interior
counties OF Oregon against Portland.
The result OF this first effort Is doubt
fui. and the obstacles which IL has
encountered indicate thai IL viii he
extre nelly a,ihcult II not impossible to
work complete reform.
The abuses of commerce on the
Columbia river find their opportunity
In natural and permanent disadyant-
eges and it is doubtful if any reform
however thorough. can be more than
temporary. The causes which hrst
gave the abuses Il foothold viii remain
aad must always be %, least a menace
to shipping. Where there are bars
with long and diiiicpa inland naviga-
ton, there must be psioiaTe fees, tow
age fees, lighterage fees and stores
OF petty charges, each liable ito
abuse. No sooner Is one referred
than another appears. And leaving
abuses out OF the question. those
charges which are legitimate and
necessary on the Columbia river must
always make for every ship which
enters there heavy bin OF expense. 10
which must be added extra charter
rates in compensation for The delays
and risks of the bar, for special insur~
ance. etc.
1t will never be possible, all other
things being equal. 10 make the charges
of shipment as cheap on the Columbia
as on Puget Sound. The entire absence
Of distractions h navigation. the open
and easy access Of the Sound frpm
the open sea, the width and
depth al the Sound all these
favoring circumstances put the game
here In the hands Of the ship captain,
II he chooses he rsay, without hazard.
do without the helpof pilot or ting. and
this being the case. there can never be
extortion In piiotage or toware. Light
erage is, of course. unknown here.
Under these conditions there can he
no reasonable doubt that Puget Sound
will, through her advantages of nature.
gain the greater part of the shipping
business of the Northwest, She
dees. in fact, load more than
twice the number OF ships new
loaded I'm the Colambia. Until
recently her shipments have been con-
fined to materials of local production.
chiefly timber and coal. but she Is
making an important beginning ia
the shipment OF grain, business
which has heretofore heea done ex-
clusivvis hy the Columbia siYer
Already Eastern Washington wheat
Is brought by rail through Portland
and across the Columbia river for
shipment from the Sound. and We de
not doubt THAI With the competition
OF the Seattle & Southern road, whest
grown in the Willamette valley viii
take ship here.