The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-15
THE DOMINION COAL.
Henry M. Whitney in Portland Ex-
aiming Wharf Property.

Dor Large Output of the Coal Field
of Pictou and Cumberland.
Mr.. Henry M. Whitney of Boston, presi
dent of the Dominion Coal company,
and Mr.. J S. McLennap, of the same city,
arrived in Portland by the late Pullman
Tuesday night, and left again yesterday
noon on their return.
It will be remem bered that the PRESS
published tine news the other. day to the
effect that the Dominion Coal company
were negotiating with the Grand Trunk
for tran sportation of coal from their
Nova Scotia mines to Portland, where
they proposed to establish coal pockets
provided the duty was taken OH coal.
The morning the item was published IN
the PRESS, the news from Washington
contained the information that 1T was
proposed to put duty OF ~ per cent ON
coal. which would seem to bring to an
end-provided the duty was imposed
the scheme for making Portland great
coal distributing point. But there were
two points yet to be considered. In the
first place Congress has not yet
passed bill putting duty on coal, and
even if it does, the 40 per cent is a re-
duction of almost one half the duty on
bituminous coal, which is now rs per
cent.
Messrs. Whitney and McLennan, yester-
day morning took carriage, and in the
face of the disagreeable storm looked care
fully over Portland IS water front with
which they were particularly pleased.
They called upon Harbor Commissioner
Farley in order to get from him the
harbor lines, depth of water at the
docks at both high and low water.
wharf regulations, and such other mat
tiers as would be of Importance to COM
pany proposing to engage considerable
feet of GOLFERS in the coal trade, Mr..
Farley gave such information as was in
his power, and suggested to the gentle
men that they call on Col. Peter Hams.
United States Engineers, commanding
the harbor detences. They did SO. Col.
Hams was not at the Office, but the gen
tlemen were cordially received and all
information desired afforded. 1t was
shown them that there was sufficient
water for all practical purposes at the
upper end of the harbor, provided the
company should prefer to locate there,
instead of at Fish Point where very
heavy undercurrent prevails. 1t was
also shown that there was excellent
depth of water at Browns wharf, and in
that locality, and, it is possible, that
some negotiations may be entered into
with the owners of wharf property in
that vicinity. The negotiation with the
Grand Trunk, as we understand them,
provide for the transportation of the
coal, but leave the company at liberty
to secure their land for the erection of
the pockets, where they please.
If these pockets are established in. this
city, the amount of money distributed
for the unloading of cargoes, ship
chandlery stores for the vessels, pro-
visions, building material, &c., will be
large and will be circulated here.
Should it be determined to use
wha1ves in the upper part of the harbor,
it might be necessary for the govern
ment to do some dredging if the larger
ocean steamers where TO be accommo-
dated.
From Franklin wharf to Union wharf
is distance where large vessels would
touch at low water, although at full or
half tide they could proceed all right.
Above Union wharf the depth is greater,
as at that point the channel is narrower,
and the ebb tide keeps 1T secured out. It
is Colonel Hains's idea that it would be
best to begin at the limit of the present
government dredging, near Franklin
wharf, whence the Boston steamers sail,
and dredge channel. three hundred feet
wide to depth of twenty-five feet at
low water, extending it to the deeper
water above Union wharf.
MIR. Henry NJ. Whitney, besides being
the president of the Dominion Coal COM
pany, is also director in the Boston
and Maine and Maine Central railroad.
Part of his business here yesterday was
to attend the monthly meeting of the
Maine Central directorate. 1t is not be-
ton would be likely to exist, that the
plan has anything to do with the Maine
Central or Boston and Maine. 1t has
been supposed that the Grand Trunk
would do most of the business, SO Tar AS
shipments to Canada are concerned, and
this is probably so.
The company which Mr.. Whitney repre-
sents control nearly all the coal mines OF
Nova Scotia, where, i'll the counties OF
Cumberland and Pictou, there is mined
annually million and half tons Of
coal, or even more. This coal is of the
soft or bituminous variety. The govern
ment of the province enjoys royalty
upon the output.
Some years ago this coal used to be
brought to Portland, vessels going from
here to Pictou to bring it,
Mr.. Whitney is a brother of William G.
Whitney. who was Secretary of the Navy
in Mr. Cieyeland's first Cabinet.
Portland High School.
The High school class have obtained