Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-11-21
AN IMPORTANT ooNrnRnNos.
The Port tvnrdens aud Vessel Own
ara emma IN AN Anrenman.iI.

The Port 1vArdens and Vessel Own
eTs Come 90 an Agreement
i'hs Board OF Port Watdens and the
steamboat owners have at last ocme to an
agreement regarding the speed at which
steam vessels shall run in the 0briStiana.
The law says that they shall not run ut q
speed exceeding four miles per hour
under penalty OF fine, but il was proved
last night that 1t IL impossible 10 comply
with tine law.
The meeting comprised the port war
dens, A. G. MoOausland for the steamer
Haber, Captain Bloomsbury for the City
OF Chester, Captain Blake and Lieutenant
ant Butt Of the United State revenue cut
ter Hamilton, Captain Eric Gabrielson Of
the United States revenue marine, Barhor
Master Seth Fl. Feaster and the captains,
owners and pilots of most OF the steam
osaft that ply on the ChristiRna. The
meeting took place in Holfecker & Hof-
feckers Law Office. Low o. Bird, Esq,
represented the port wardsns and Hsrbor
Master Fsaster; j. II. Hofeckar, Jr.,
Esq, was counsel for the Wilmington
Steamboat Co., and the HabAr was repre-
scented by L. o. Nandegrit, Esq. The
Jackson d Sharp %. are the chief com
piGiAants and sufferers from this fast
running of steamboats,. A large amount
of testimony was heard and some inter
estins facts were adduced.
The testimony Of Captains Blake and
Gabrielson, Lieutenant Butt and others
who had made experiments TO ascertain
the minimum speed at which large steam
vessels could run, showed that 1t is i'm
possible for the vessels to run in the
Christiane at speed OF only four miles
per hour. The minimum speed-of the
City Of Chester was shown to be 6, miles
per hour. 1t was proved that the slight
est opening Of the valve of the Chester q
engine, supplying enough steam to move
the machinery, would drive Der faster
tnsn the law allowed. It was further
proved that if a vessel had to stem both
wind and tide she would have
10 20 at greater speed than the law al
lowed in order to keep her under control.
Again, Captain Bloomsburg stated that
tine current of the Brandywine yesterday,
on account OF the freshet, came out ut
the rate OF about eight miles per hour
and II he mad not run past the mouth OF
the Brandswine at good speed, he
would have been washed aground on the
sonth side Of the ChYistiana.
Several Of the hoatmen present cor
rohorated the interesting statement that
the displacement Of water BY good.
sized vessel at the mouth of the Chris-
tiana could be felt as far as the Harlan L
Hollingsworth Ocmpany's whsrYes. har-
Dor Master Feaster admitted that he did
| not think that the law could be complied
with literally, brt be wanted it enforced
In spirit, at least
The conference was entirely harmoni-
ous and eminently satisfactory as the
| general Interchange OF views enlightened
all and made compromise comparatively
easy. It was decided to abandon tue
suits instituted against the steamboats
with the understanding that all steam.
bosta shall run az their minimum rate OIL
speed from the p, W. & B. railroad cut
OF bridge and that captains shall regard
thd reasonable warnings Of property
owners along the wharyes when there il
danger Of damage being done.
The meeting was unanimous in tn,
opinion that the ordinance ON the sub jec
now in force should be repealed, auG
another one substituted, or should b,
amended 40 that it would be possible snt
practicable 10 comply with it. Al il nov
stands it is dead letter. II the owner
Of the steamboats, against whom salt hsi
been brought bad been convicted az,
fined, they would have had every othe
steamboat which plies in the Christian
arraigned on the came charge, with tn
result that public opinion would hRv
demanded change at once.
The opinion was expressed that
would be wiser and more equitable {
change the law now before any unjus
arrest should bs made under its proviE
ions and restrictions. The agreement on
tered into Last night is supposed. to b
lasting on both sides, at least rs long a
Hsrtor Master Feaster ia ia office, HI
successor, however, would not 10 boun
by tbls agreement and he conid at an
time, make il lie idedly unpleasant 10
any captain who had aroused his ire.