Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-28
WAR ON CoAsTWIsE TRADE.
Mr. George l.. Currie Discusses rate
of iIougshorc Vessels.

A gentleman who saw Richmond during
the late war said yesterday: This doesn
look like war. We haven't heard the
beat Of a drum nor seen a soldier on the
street. one would never guess the cause
of the suppressed excitement unless he
stopped TO talk with friend. Iheh ne
would be asked. What's the war news
and that would be the end OF 1t. why,
sir, thirty-sx years ago the tramp or
armed men was heard in every street
and the people were wild with enthusl-
asm."
The gentleman was right and wrong
too. There is little war life on the streets
and the populace are not crying Down
with Spain" and Long live America!
But there is, however, plenty of life at
the armories, and the business houses
on Cary and Dock streets are very cogni-
zant that war is existing.
THE VESSELS AFFECTED.
Mr.. George l.. Currie, Of Currie & Co,
ship brokers, was seen yesterday and
asked by a Dispatch scribe what would
be the effect of the war and the pacific
blockade on his vessels. The Currie Com
pany are the managers Of the Mamie
Saunders. George w. Anderson, Mary
Curtis Dora Allison, and Fanny Brown
all fine three-masted vessels. and others.
Mr. Currie said they were already af-
fected, and he could not tell what would
be the result. 1t was very probable that
he would have presently 10 lay them all
up The Mary Curtis has just reached
the home dock, and nothing will be done
with her for a week yet. The Anderson
is in Norfolk loaded with lumber, waiting
for chance to slip out for New York.
Fannie Brown is at Portland. Me, and
will finish loading to-day. She will re-
main there for Il few days for "some
thing TO turn up" The other two are In
New York. Mr.. Currie thinks the peace
full blockade" will affect the coastwise
trade a great deal. The vessels cannot
come into or leave Hampton Roads cx-
cept during the day, and the same state
Of affairs exists in New York. Another
feature of the blockade which also az
fects the passage of vessels very mate
rally IS that as soon as a ship gets TO
Hampton Roads or Sandy Hook a gov
eminent tug steams up TO her and takes
her in tow. Mr.. Currie says the brokers
have been unable to find out whether
the government furnishes this tug-boat
or the ship-owners will have to pay for
II. II the latter do, this expense ana
also the "war-risk" money will make
carrying freight so dear that unless the
trade increases greatly IL will not pay,
and vessels will be laid up.
FEARS SPANISH CAPTURE ALSO.
The reporter asked Mr.. Currie II Re
feared capture by Spanish. His reply was
not assuring. He thought very likely
the Spanish commerce destroyers would
get on this side before the unpleasant
ness ended and treat the unwary vessels
very badly. He went on 20 say that he
had seen it stated in the papers that the
government intended to put out all the
lights and remove the buoys along the
coast, and If this were true coast trade
would be killed. The experienced broker
who has seen the effect upon shipping
Of one war. was very grave about the
matter, and admitted very candidly that
he and doubtless all other shlp-brokers
were near the point OF Laying up" their
boats until the war was over. He would