The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-07
FIGHTING FOR DAVIDSON.
Shipping Men of the Coast Getting Up
Huge Memorial of Pro-
test,

4 memorial addressed to President
Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle by practi-
eally the entire shipping interests of the
Pacific Coast, stoutly protesting against
Professor Davidson's removal, attesting
his rare ability and value to all the mari
time interests of the coast and urging his
reinstatement, is now being circulated.
This memorial IS confined to the practi-
cal shipping interests of the coast, is
based on practical considerations and is
independent of the storm OF disapproval
which has come from every quarter where
Professor Davidson, his lifetime of service
to the Government and his DISTINGUISHED
work in the fields. of science, are known.
In this city the memorial is now in the
hands of Aaron NJ. Burns, the under
writer and it has already been signed by
sixty or more of the leading shipowners
and shipping agents. Among the names are
those Of every large steamship company
and every firm having large interests
which are risked at sea.
Copies of the memorial have been sent
to every important port on the coast, and
when it reaches Washington it will repre-
sent the unanimous sentiments and de-
mands of the men for whom the coast
survey is established on the entire Pacific
Coast. The memorial reads as follows:
To the President Of the United States and the
Secretary Of the Treasury: We, ship-owners, ship
masters and marine underwriters on the Pa
cihC Coast, have learned with amazement and
great regret that Professor George Davidson,
assistant United States Coast and Geodetic
Survey, has been removed from the position in
the Government service which he has filed
with usefulness TO US, credit to himself and
honor to the country for half a century; and
We all, without regard to party affiliations, de-
pCTs this illadvised act of his superior officer.
As men interested in shipping property and
Is seafaring men We have recognized for many
have accrued TO navigation, commerce and
marine insurance from Professor Davidson's
wonderful knowledge of the harbors, currents,
bars, lights, landfalls and hidden dangers of
this coast, ell so deliberately and accurately
described and illustrated in his ''Coast Pilot
OF Alaska" and his "Coast Pilot of California,
Oregon and Washington" works presented to
the Government and by it printed for the pub
lie benefit. In any other country such labor as
this alone would have insured him honor and
q competency for life. We know that since the
publication OF these splendid works he has
constantly kept himself informed of the many
changes in buoys, lights and bars and of the
discoveries of new dangers; that he has, as
faithful public servant should, always held
INSTRUMENTATION at our disposal, and that we
can always call upon him with profit.
Ne believe that there is no man on this coast
who has such an extensive, thorough and con-
temporaneous knowledge of this subject, so
important to our interests, as Professor David
son, and we therefore earnestly ask that he be
reinstated in the service, in order that he may
protect those Interests in the future as he has
in the past.