The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-22
NATURALIZATION
STEAMBOAT NEs REsPosD TO
STATEMENTS or CAPT. ELLIS.
Manager. of the George f. starr Dis
claim Any fBsenffon of fn3srfnx
the Bay Csfy-<~fsh~r Boat be-
ionxx co the Asso~tasfon - No
Threats made - Batsfeshfp He
cefs~a n Comssistre of Cftis~ns-
miner Brsee Will Charter -
schooner for the Aresic-Danxer-
ons Soaking.

The managers OF the steamer George r.
Starr have stirred up some controversy IN
Putting the boat on the Seattle. Whstcom
ard Blaine route. The situation would
seem somewhat complex 10 an outsider.
When me George T. Starr takes her In
itlal trip OF the run next Tuesday hight
there will be three steamboats, on this
route. The other tao are the State OF
Washington and the Bay city The two
last named have long enjoyed All the bgzi-
ness OF the run. which. 10 accept state
naenfs OF their managers. has not amount
Cd 10 much. With the advent OF q third
beat there viii BE- less profit than ever.
Capt. Ellis. OF the Bay City. believes. az
Was published ia the observation-disclosures
yesterday morning, that the Starr Is being
ran IN direct opposition 10 himself. On
Thursday he stated 20 n reporter that a
threat had been made that unless ne Joined
the Puget Sound Steamboat Association.
recently formed here his business would
he cut down. Ellis refused 10 Join the as
ISOLATION. declaring. however, that he
would hold to the rates fixed BY the asso-
citation. TINS he has done. When Capt
Ellis heard % the George r.. STAIRS new
routing he At once felt that this WAS the
means taken 70 carry out the threat.
To ascertain the truth or faIiscy Of this.
". s. Smith, secretary OF the Northwest
srn Steamship Company which controls
the Starr was seen yesterday.
Yes. ! noticed the statement OF Capt.
Ellis in this mornings Post-fnteiligencer.
he said, and cannot understand why he
should think the Starr belongs To the
steamboat association. She does not The
nosaiie, Starr and Idaho are owned and
operated by the company. We do not be-
long 10 any combination or association. IL
N aiso a mistake TO predict that the Starr
will cut rates on the Seattle, Whafcom and
Blaine run. While fiie Starr Is cut fer
business. and will set IL. It Is nevertheless
the intention OF her management 10 main
tain rates. OF course u must occur 20 you
that the waters OF Puget sound are ms free
70 the Starr as to other vessels. She has
a right 20 20 on her proposed run. and the
exercising OF that right does not signify
a rate war"
Another protest against the statement
of Capt. Ellis came from A. q. Yerkes
president OF the steamboat association.
mo such threat as Capt Ellis speaks Of
could have come from any one connected
with the association save myself. and I
certainly made no such threat. On the
contrary, when Capt. Ellis refused 10 en-
ter the association. but said he would
maintain the rates fixed. I remember stat
ing his position in a meeting OF the asso-
citation. and added that as Capt. Ellis
was a mar Of his word believed he would
90 rs ne AEfstG. rs Tar as KNOW ne mas
done SO. He was a member Of the old
association. formed some time ago be-
tween the Great Northern. the Puget
found a Alaska Steamship Company. the
Pacific Navigation Company and several
boats. and since that went out OF exist
ence has been opposed to joining any new
association. II any threat OF cutting down
his business was made. IL must have come
from some outsider. Tho present asso-
citation In not seeking To force steamboat
owners 10 Join. nor Is II seeking 10 make
outside boats feel its strength. AZ for the
George T.. Starr going on the run at the
Instance of the association. to break the
Bay CITY. that is not true. as the Starr Is
not I'm the combination"
Through this controversy Agent A. T.
Charlton, of the steamer State OF Wash
ington. IL reading the observation-disclosures
and saying little. II can readily under
saand.' he said yesterday with chuckle
why Capt. Ellis should complain that
business on the Seattle. Whatccm and
blaine run is light enough al best. The
State hasn't been making any money. and
l suppose the Bay City has not. either.
As for the opposition OF the Starr, hard
Is see how II can hurt the State of Wash
ington. al We run on alternate days"