The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-05

age June rainfall ranges from TWO 10
three inches in the coast counties and
from one to two inches in the interior
counties. There was marked de-
ficiency in sunshine during the past
week.
The excellent work that has been done
up to the persent time by the corps Of en-
glneers aboard the steamers Mendell and
Lincoln at the mouth Of the river and in
channels in the vicinity has caused con-
siderable comment along the waterfront
The soundings have been completed
along most Of the waterways with great
rapidity and accuracy. 1t Is believed
that the effort now being made to have
the operations of these two steamers
continued in the channels opposite the
city along to Tongue Point will be sue
cessful and in that event the next chart
published by the department will be
complete and up to date in every par
ticular
News has been received to the effect
that the American bark Arkwrlght
bound from Newcastle, N. S. w. to San
Francisco, put into Noumea recently in
practically sinking condition. She could
not have kept afloat many more days
The bark probably encountered storm
Off the Australian coast which opened her
hull. The Arkwright is wooden vessel
and was formerly owned by Pope and
Talbot, of this city. She Is now own
ed by H. S. Walker, of Seattle. News
was also received that the British ship
Brocadale. which recently left Liverpool
for San francisco, was caught in a storm
and had hard time getting out of 1t
safely. She labored heavily and was
badly strained by the tremendous seas
which broke over her for several hours.
Recently the steamer Columbia was
sent to the Union Iron Works in San
Francisco for extensive repairs consist
ing chiefly of the removal Of the plates
Of the bottom where the scour of the
bars in the Columbia river had depreciat-
ed the same. 1t was then estimated that
twenty-eight days would be required to
complete the job. The keel for three
fourths of its length, both cardboard
strakes nearly the whole length, and the
second and third strakes of bottom plat
ing for about half the length have been
entirely renewed in a thoroughly first
class manner and the ship is nearly ready
to come off the dock nearly ten days
ahead Of the time expected. Before COM
mencing this work the entire weight OF
the ship had to be relieved from the keel
blocks, no preparatory work could be
done before docking the ship, and all
the work of removal Of the old keels
and plates and fitting, placing and rlvet-
ing the new has been accomplished in
about two and one-half weeks, and E
done in first-class manner.
The remarkable performance of the
British ship Southesk the other day
" hen she made the trip down the river
from Portland in tow of the Ocklahama |
In 913 hours from anchorage to anchor,
cge, while 1t certainly is the record for |
stern wheeler tows, has been beaten on |
one occasion. 1t was when the ocean |
tug Tacoma towed the ship Canada out |
to sea in 1881. Captain AL. Belts was |
the pilot. The Canada had been owned |
by the firm Of George Howes & Co., and /
With the failure of that firm was sold
In Portland to Hanson & Ackerson, the
Tacoma lumbermen, by the United States |
Her new owners were also
owners Of the ocean-going tug Tacoma,
and desiring to bring the tug around to |
The Sound, the tug was sent to Portianu |
10 make the tow. Flanders dock in |
Portland was left at o'clock in tn
at 2. p. m. this city was passed, /
and at 3:15 p. m. the Canada was out to
sea headed northward and the bar pilot
discharged. This is without doubt the
fastest tow ever made on the river, all
that initiates against 1t being the fact
Of powerful ovean-going tug being
pitted against a stern-wheel steamer in |
l matter of record breaking.