The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-22
THEY THINK 1T UNJUST
The Attitude Of Northern Ports Toward
Atlantic Freeh0ard Regulations.
TRIO OF VEHEMENT PETITIONS
Discrimination in Favor OF Southern
Ports Claimed = Regulations Um-
necessary SOL ls Snia-Urged Thut
Counter Petitions Re Flied by Nor.
folk and Other Southern Ports.

The New York Journal of Commerce
talks interestingly though one-sidedly,
regarding the North Atlantic freeboard
regulations. In part the article has the
following:
1T is believed by The committee who
have had charge OF presenting to the
British Board of Trade, the injustice of
the enforcement Of the North Atlantic
winter frecboard regulations, that they
have placed the matter before the board
In such forcible form that the board
Will act favorably in the matter
The undersigned Insurance compa-
nies, underwriters, agents, etc, largely
engaged in the covering of marine risks
on vessels and cargocs borne on the
North Atlantic ocean, would respectful
iy direct the attention of your honora-
able body TO Il discrimination doubtless
unintcndeG), which has for some time
been subject Of complaint among Gus
toners OF the undersigned, trading
| through American Atlantic ports north
OF Baltimore, VIZ, til" enforcement by
your marine department in the case Of
vessels loading between October and
March, TO or from ports whose sea en-
trance is north OF ~ degrees, 30 min
utcS., of an additional frceboard, known
as the Winter North Atlantic Frecboard
The result of : his discriminating regula-
| tion is severely to handicap the com
merce of ports north of Baltimore dur
| ing the winter months. without appar-
entity any compensating good accruing
| thereby to the interests so taxed
AS 1t is avered in eNtenuation of
| the application of this rule 10 the ports
north of Baltimore. that the exceptional
ly severe and prolonged storms to
which the North Atlantic ocean is sub
ject between October and March made
il necessary to take the prccaution of
an additional freeboard for the safety of
the vessels crossing it. the undersigned
would respectfully point out thai; so
far as underwriting interests are con-
cerncd, they do not consider that the
peris in the North Atlantic in winter,
encountered by vessels trading between
Europe and the ports whose entrance to
the sea is north OF 81 degrees, 20 minutes
north latitude, are at all greater than
those to which vessels nj the same time
trading with Baltimore, Newport News
and Norfolk are subject, for all traverse
practically the same ocean track and
are exposed to identically the same
weather and often at the same point of
time. Ii seems reasonable and Just
therefore that whateve regulat tion as TO
freeboard in the North Atlantic ocean
Is applied to Philadelphia, New York
Baltimore, Norfolk and Newport News
| The undersigned accept marine risks to
or from either of said ports at the same
rate of insurance. other conditions be-
ing epuaI.'
RAILROADS PETITION.
Representatives of fourteen railroads
have sent in the following:
The undersigned railroad corpora
| tons of the United States and Canada
| largely engaged in the transportation of
| merchandise to and from The ports of
| Philadelphia, New York, Boston and
| Portland. would respectfully call the ats
tcntinn of your honorable body to a dis
| elimination mo doubt inadvertently oc-
casioncd) against the commerce OF the
said ports between October and March,
| inclusive, by reason of the enforcement
| of the winter North Atlantic freeboard
| regulation of your marine department.
| This regulation lncqultably compeis yes
| sells trading with the above named ports
| to load. during the season specified. to
! a lighter draft than those trading with
| Baltimore. Newport News and Norfolk,
! although all these steamers traverse
/ practically the same ocean track and
| are simultaneously exposed to IDENTICAL
! iy the same ocean perils.
"lt is respectfully submitted by this
memorial that the said discrimination
| should not be allowed longer to exist
! but that the same freeboard regulatio
t should be made In apply TO the whole
! American North Atlantic coast; and
| further. that this action should he taken
! before October lst. 1897. otherwise, un-
| der the existing rules, the discriminating
| winter freebOard regulation would again
so into effect at that time
| There is also a similar petition signed
| by eight banking men,
| IT is urged by many that Norfolk. Bal
| timorc and Savannah should take steps
| Immediately toward filing counter petit
! tiOns.