The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17
$4,000, 900 WORTH OF COAL IN DANGER.
Leeches Eating Out tho CaulkinR of tho
River BarEes Mt PittsburR.


PITTsDURs Pa. Sept. 13.-River leeches are
sndanRering 81 0O0. 900 worth Of coal M W lying
in the Plttsburg hnrbor. the stretch OF water
that extends from the city down to Davis Island
dam. six miles below the junction Of the Mo-
nonEahela and Allegheny rivers. Coal men
have been annoyed for many years by tho
prevalence in the New Orleans harbor Of the
tsredo. an insect whose boring propsnsities are
the chief cause OF the prosperity OF the coal
barge builders along the upper Monongahela-
Bargss must often be broken up on account Of
the ravagos Of the teredo. which has plenty Of
opportunity to hon eycomb the woodwork OF the
vessels during their frequent long STAYS at
New Orleans while waiting for a remunerative
coal market Lately. however. a now and
oven worse danger has confronted coal barges
at this end OF tho river route. The teredo
honeycom BIS the barges slowly. and inspection
OF the bottoms 10 so frequent that no coal has
ever been lost through the work OF the tersdo.
The lseches. however. bore directly through
the oakum-caulked seams. and constant
pumping is necessary to prevent the barges
from sinking.
Scientists have been consulted and they offer
various explanations. Some assert that tho
leech has found In oakun a nourishing and ap-
petizinE food: others think tho low water In
the hurbor has become contaminated by sew
age. and that the leeches bore into tho
oakum In their efforts to escape. Still
others contend that the contaminated
water is responsible for the enormous
increase in the mum Der OF lesches. and that the
creatures led by some instinct. find their way
between the planking to enjoy the still greater
corruption OF the biRe water in tho 6arges.
Another group q scientific mInds is satisfied
rowing a satisfactory avenue OF escapa from
some Enemy which the theori'ts are now striv-
The ownsrs OF tho coal are taking but little
interest in these speculations; They are. how
EYER ta losing sleep worrying about the damage
already been compelled TO undergo. Every
barge and coal boat. the latter being a nat
holding twice as mue a. the 6ar Dut' ana S
tended to DO broken up and sold for lum Der at
New Orleans. la fitted out with ono or two
Client to keep tho who'e fleet OF bsrxes and
boats adoat only an occasional snell at the
pumps being required. but since the leeches
regular crews Of pumpers iouad that an occa-
sienal spel at the handles was insufficient to
keen the boats on top OF the water and that
being back breaking exercise, and all labor
that bumpers had ever been obliged to DO
protest more hands have been put at
f H. pumps PUMPS, relieving each others IN shifts,
lars. and constantly fear that the bArges
may sink. as it ia impossible. OF course to do
and lying in the river. The only saIvationfor
the $2000.O00 worth Of coal is a rise in the
river which will enable the owners to float
their product to the lower markets. Meantime.
the acient fists are seeking the natural enemyo Of
the leech, i Is intended. IL he be found. to
petition, the War Department. which controls
culture and distr butte him in the river in tho
manner observed by the Fish Commission.