The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-02
PUGET SOUND BOATS.
Alleged Mistake i'm Construction
of the Flyer.
COMPETITION FOR BUSINESS.
supreme Court Decides the Coleman
Right-of- Way Case In Favor of
the Northern Pacific Railway.

TACOMA, Dec I-IspeciaL l-"Had the new
steamer Flyer been 261f instead of 2i14 foot
oeam she would have been able, with her excel
lent power, TO make two miles more per hour
than she can now, with the ballast that 10 nces-
sary to hold her up" gentleman who has
been in the steamboat business twenty-five
years made this statement to correspondent of
the fosT-lNTELLIGEScEC today while discussing
Puget sound steamboats,. Continuing, he said:
The ballast which the FLYER is compelled to
carry noIas her down one and one-half 10 TWO
feet in the water below her water line. With a
good bow ana stern she could make much faster
time with four or five feet more added TO her
beam Her length demands wider boat. she
cannot De stopped suddenly without careening.
still she Is very good boat, and not as faulty
IN construction as soma OF the other sound
boats.
The Victorian. for instance, Is not well stayed.
her construction cost superintendent Troupe
ms position, and the faulty construction OF the
City or Seattle may cost superintendent Jackson
his position. Both of these boats cost, say q
quarter of u million dollars each. That is q big
lump OF money 10 put in boat. The Seattle
shakes too much, her engines not being bal
anced. The Gatzert 10 a very good boat of her
kind, but she is OF rather poor kind. All four
boats referred to are of faulty construction
These defects could have been obviated if an
expert in steamboat architecture had been en-
ployed. The experts on such matters can tell
just bow much water q boat is going to draw,
and tell all about the displacement of water
caused by the movement of the boat through
the water before the model is constructed. For
the money expended, $4,000, the Kingston is
Another thing, on the Sound, where there
are so many logs TO encounter, a
socket blade screw should be used,
so that when a blade is Clipped off your boat
can be repaired at low tide without going on the
dock. II cost 81 900 TO repair a blade in the
Victorian's wheel. besides the loss OF time, as
she has to go on dock. The Premier has a
socket blade screw.
Speaking of the probability of cut in rates,
the gentleman stated that freight is carried at
about whatever is offered for transportation,
but that there was no cut in passenger rates. 1t
Is feared this alleged cutting in freight rates
will stir up contention, which may bring on a
general all-round cut
ExManager A. n. Moffatt, of the disbanded
steamboat pool, was asked this evening If he
would take charge of the Pacific Navigation
Company. He evaded the question. Regarding
subsidies and pools, he said:
1t is, Or would be- good idea
to substitute some of the Sound boats.
For instance, one OF the Pacific Navigation Com
pany's boats, the State of Washington, has been
chartered aud runs in opposition TO the Union
Pacihc's boat Sehome from Seattle to Bel
nngham bay. That boat, of course, draws from
the schemes business largely. Under the pool
the Union Pacific only paid about 81 per day for
each boat and thereby secured protection from
opposition of this kind. All told, the Union
racine paid only about 500 month for all OF
It's boats. What business there is on the sound
Is not husbanded as it should be and for the best
advantage OF those interested.
c. j. Smith, manager of the Oregon Improve
nient company, was in the city this afternoon
from Seattle. The business of Mr.. Smiths COM
pany at this port is to be attended to by the
Union Pacific Company.
1t is claimed the Multnomah defeated the
Flyer on the Monday night run from Tacoma to
Seattle; time, 1:25 The Flyer 1t is said, started
with So pounds steam pressure, but could not
keep up the pressure, demonstrating, steamboat
men say, that her engine is too heavy for the
boilers, the steam being exhausted in an
emergency faster than it can be made. Captain
Strive says the Flyer was using poor quality
of coal and did not attempt to race Tonight he
challenged the Multnomah for race to Seattle,
but the Multnomah was detained loading
freight. The Multnomah has never been con-
sidered speedy.