, 1892-10-28
NOTHING IN 1T.
Shipowners do not See the Merits
of Fresh Water.

only Minor Advantages which are
Necessarily overcome at the Dry
Dock--The Great seattle Ditch is
Plainly a Speculation.
1t has been claimed ever since the incep-
ton Of the Seattle canal scheme that the
large ship-owners would be eager to pay
extra for the privilege of loading and un-
loading their vessels in a fresh-water har-
Dor. In order to find out what estimate
the large shipowners Of the world placed
upon the advantages of a fresh-water har-
Dor, the Tacoma Ledger sent letters of in
quiry to a number of the largest ship-own-
ing houses of this and foreign countries.
The answers received thereto were pub
lished in full in the Ledger of yesterday.
They all tend to show that fresh-water
harbor has no special monetary value to
ship owners, as can be seen by the subioined
extracts. The letter Of inquiry sent was
wOrded as follows
The TACOMA LEDGER
TACOMA, Sept. 19, 1892.
DEAR SIR: Will you be good enough to
write me whether or not fresh water har-
bors are considered more desirable, for any
reason, for ea-going ships than salt water
harbors are, and what the advantages are,
if any.
What inconvenience, or what tax per ton
would ship owner or master submit to or
pay in order to have his vessel benefited by
fresh-water harbOr advantages while load
ing or unloading2
AS early and as full reply as you are in
clined to make will be highly appreciated
as the matter of salt and freshwater har-
l korc fa kniprr p1rQh HfqpnQgpd here at
present. Respectfully and truly yours.
WHAT THEY SAY:
David Bruce & Co., of Dundee, owners of
twelve ships averaging 1400 tons replied
that they never thought of taking fresh
water harbOrs into consideration when
chartering ship. The chief advantage of
fresh-water harbors was that the fresh
water helped kill barnacles and sea weed
Crawford and ROWat, OF fGlasgOW, owners
of the steel and iron ships of 1900 tons each,
say they would not be inclined to pay ex-
ira for fresh-water accommodations
James Beazley and Son, Of Liverpool,
own eleven large steel and iron vessels,
but say that no shipowner would dream OF
/ paying the smallest faction of a cent extra
dues for fresh-water instead of saltwater
harbors.
Twenty-Five ships Of over 1000 tons are
owned by George Smith IL Sons, of Glas-
Cow. These gentlemen write that they do
not feel able to place q monetary value on
the advantages afforded by fresh-water
harbors, although they appreciate the ad-
vantage of fresh water over salt water.
Peter Denniston & Co., of Glasgow, own
ers of the Island line of sailing ships, say
that beyond their value for cleaning pur-
poses, fresh. water harbOrs do not possess
distinct advantages one way or the other.
/ Thomas Law 81 Co., Of Glasgow, own %
ships of 1400 tons. They say although
! fresh water harbors are an advantage ~
would be difficult to place monetary
value on their benefits.
Oracle, Beadey q Co., Liverpool, are own
ers of 10 steel and iron ships Of 1900 tons:
"Wequestiou if any master or owner would
allow anything for the privilege Of loading
\ his vessel in a fresh-Water harbOr."
A. & j. II. Carmichael q Co., owners Of
fifteen ships of 1900 tons, Greenock: $50
many elements enter into the calculation
that we can only say that fresh and salt
/ water cannot be separated from these and
valued apart. . The Columbia river
is the best water we know Of for cleaning
/ foul bottom"
Arthur Sewall & Co., of Bath Maine,
own nineteen ships, most of them being of
wood. Their ships visit Puget Sound every
year. They say; "We are unable to state
/ what tax per ton, if any, shipowner would
submit to for the advantages of fresh
water harbor while loading or unloading"
! Charles Barrie, of Dundee, owns ten
ships Of 1900 tons: "Shipowners prefer
| fresh-water harbors, but, as a rule, think
they are already taxed for the advantages
they gain.'
I. +. Chapman g. Co, of New York, own
eight ships, all wood, averaging about 1000
tons register: GAS far as our ships are
/ concerned it does not make much ditter-
ence whether they load in fresh or salt
water, excepting in cold weather"