The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-18
LOW COAL FREIGHTS.
Carwo Taken From Nsnsino 20 San
Franchise for sI.1o Per Ton
American Vessels VIII Ne Forced
ous Of the Trade, or VIII Have to
Least 90 Peg Cent

eps~fai rfsra.ch 20 the PoSs-Tnteiiigencer
PORT TOWNSEND. April T.--Ownsrs
Of so-cs5led s.wfr6 TANNERS" otherwise
what are more correctly termed sailing
vessels received severe shock this week
when n vas announced that the Nor-
wagizs tramp steamer Florida nai taifen
q cargo OF g. 90 tons Of coal from Nanaiu1o
20 San Francisco for the remarkably low
rate Of g-ie per ton Sailing vessels and
steamers regularly engaged "a tbs trade
have bean getting from sf.53 10 81 per toi,
and ever Ut those rates tire owners de-
eIare6 that they were actually losing
money.
European owned vessels, particularly
those under The Norwegian flag. is very
low for the reason that the wages paid
are what Americans wouif term unrearon-
ably low. and consequently the Norwegian
owners are able 20 accept rusn lower
freights than vessels regularly engages IN
Pacific coast commerce. AZ an Dlusfra-
flon. IL is but proper 20 add that there are
many vessels flying the %or~ sxfan or
Swedish flag the crews Of which invari-
ably come from ore town or community
and ship for - three-%ears' voyage ~ q
per month. and on the Pacific coast the
wages are go The Same difference EXISTS
IN the salaries OF the officers. Many or
the Norwegian captains receive less tnan
ESQ per annun, while officers Ia the same
station under the stars and stripes are
paid monthly salary 81 $50 or $500 Ow-
ing to frugaiity and economy the cost Of
living on board In almost az great in pro
portion and so IL IS in all the other de-
partmsnts.
Tie advent Of few steamers like TIE
Florida in the British Columbia and Cali
fornia coal trade would have a most de-
raoraiizing eject on domestic vessels.
which would be forced tn leave their own
shores and seek business III other parts OF
the world. The Florida carries twice as
much coal as an ordinary sailing collier,
and car make two and one-haf trips while
the sailer IL scarcely making one round
voyage.
This branch Of commerce as II Is being
operated by Norwegianz Is comparatively
new Tt has only besn In the last three
or four yearss that that nation has turned
It's attention TO steamship sailing. RE-
Gently Norweglans have been in the En-
gllsh markets purchasing every old sec
cnd-class steamer that was available, and
there were plenty ~ them for sale. The
Fairpiay, an English shipping paper OF
great prominence recently noted the ae-
tlyity Of Norwegians In buying this class
OF veasels. and added that eventually En-
ellsh owned vessels would be great suf-
ferers unless a discriminating tax was Inn
posed in the mother country and colonial
possessions.
The question has been a matter Of seri-
Gus consideration for year or two among
ship owners of this coast. who were large
iy interested In the British Columbia and
Australian coal trade. A disastrous out
come Is considered 20 he inevssble as soon
as the Norw gian feet OF steamers COM
renca 10 swarm over the wida ocean Of
the Pacific. American vessels must re-
tire from the field or else reduce the
operating expenses fully 30 per cent