The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-07
THE SOUND TUGBOATs
DO Not Mean to Raise Rates-The Pur-
chase of the Magic.

Port Townsend, Dec. 6.-SpeciaL-The
Post-Intellgencer OF yesterday contains
news of the purchase Of the tug Magic by
the Puget Sound Tugboat Company. and
in connection with il is story about the
rate war that has been on recently be-
tween the company's tugs and the oppo-
sit!on tugs Magic and Discovery. The ar
ticle referred to states that the company's
tugs have been instructed to cut under
the rates of the opposition whenever
necessary, and gives figures which pur-
port to be prices for which towage has
been undertaken in certain cases. These
figures are ridiculously low, and Capt.
john B. Libby manager of the Puget
Sound Tugboat Company. says that as
matter Of fact the figures quoted are IN
every instance wrong.
Il desire very much TO have correc-
ton made by the Post-Inteligencer in or
der that our company may be set right,
sad Capt. Libby last evening to the cor
respondent Here are our books, and
you are welcome TO inspect them III IS
really private matter, but here, for IN
stance, is the duplicate draft received from
the captain of the Ethel Nane, which tAe
Post-Inteligencer says we towed for sl-o.
This draft shows that we received the sum
of $275 for that job.
Take the case Of the little brig Court
ney Ford. She was lowed in from the
point by the little Alert, and in towing
her out we took her only as far as Dun
geness for which you can see by our
books we received $40 instead of 49, as
stated by the Post-Intelligencer.
I'm the case of the bark Oscar Herra,
our books here show that we received $275
for the work. instead of $225. as stated
and. a matter of fact. we towed her
only from Point Wilson on the way in,
and this is the full rate for that work.
LAS / said. this is private matter, but
| am willing 10 make IL pubic in order 10
disprove statements that tend TO do us an
injury. We bought the Mage for Sn,00
cash. and we did it because we needed
another tug. a few months ago | went
70 San Francisco to buy two tugs, but did
not find Just what we wanted. Our COM
pany IS building new vessels, and TINS is
one reason why we need more tugs 10
handle the work. We made an offer to
the owners of the Discovery, but they did
not see tit TO accept II, and inasmuch as
they are trying to get all the business
they can away from US, they must take
the consequences of our opposition. The
talk about the company raising rates OF
towage after the opposition Is of IS alb
surd The very object of the combine was
to lower rates. and any one who knows
anything about towing knows that we'
can handle the work much cheaper than
any independent boats can. Why, when
the combination was made and all oppo-
stion swept away. the first thing we did
was 10 lower the towage rates about 70
per cent. and we have always kept them
there There has been very little rate
cutting by us. and on nothing except
schooners and small barkent.nes. We are
not now trying to buy the Discovery, and
do not intend to do so. She IS bother.ng
as very little. and her agents may soon
find that they have their hands full try
ing to hold on to their brokerage business.
The Puget Sound Tugboat Company is one
Of the biggest institutions in the state,
and is made mp Of home capital, and we
are not in a position 10 be greatly injured
by such oppOs ton as the Discovery can
offer The stockholders of our company
are the largest shippers Of lumber In the
state and - per cent Of the charters for
the Sound are made by them. They are
large shipowners as well. and all tbs
makes u very much 10 their advantage 70
keep towage rates down. We can make
money for our stockholders by making
this the cheapest port In the world. and
that Is what the Puget Sound Tugboat
Company Is doing Any Sh.pmaster WI
tel vou that he gets more miles OF towing
here for his money than at any other port
N the world. No corporation IN the state
has the interests Of Western Washington
more az heart than has ours, and Il viii
always ne safe 20 leave Puget sound tow
age 20 us. because We are interested in
shipping just as much a In towing