Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-01-25
FREE PILOTAGE
Review Of the Advantages of an
Open River to the Sea.
1t Means a Cents Per Thousand Feet on
Lumber, al Cents Per Bushel
on Wheat.

| AuS uueICuuuJSi lumOeTmeu, Iarm-
ers 'and producers OF Oregon know
that the cheapest way out to the
markets of the world Is through the
Columbia. An open river TO the sea,
from the grain fields TO the wheat
markets of Europe, means an immense
saving annually,to their profit. The
people of Washington have secured
through the waters of Puget Sound u
free and untrammelled highway TO
the Broad Pacific. They haye Sc
cured to themselves free OF pilot
charge and embargo a better rate for
their products that is insuring a
larger margln Of profit to themsel YES
that they could many other way.
A pilot Is one who directs the course
OF ship in any place where navaga-
tiOn Is dangerous. This fact ia self
evident. Hence the question of river
pilptage or optional pilutage on the
Columbia river bar are two ques-
tiOns separate ands distinct and
should not be confounded. Pilotage
over the Columbia river bar means the
careful and constant employ ment of
men Who are fitted for the vocation
by knowledge Of a special type, men
Of hardihOod aDd courage of high
class, Ito whom nautical skill as well
as knowledge OF tide and current,
wind wave and storm is ever familiar.
But once vessel is inside the bar and
quietly at anchor Ia Astoria harbCr
another condition exists aud the de.
mand for compulsory pllotage ceases.
No shipmaster or pilot can claim
that the navigation Of tile Columbia
river is any longer dangerous. II 1t Is
no longer dangerous then compulsory
pilOtage Is not necessary, When
pilotage Is free, the ship master has
the option to take or accept the ser
Vices OF pilot or not, When IL is
compulsory he must take pilot and
the ship and its owners are bound for
the charge whether lie accepts the
SCI NlNNo VI hlS BllOb VI hbbs
The condition OF the Columbia
river today is altogether different
than that which existed a few years
ago. The number OF steamboats,,
tugs, and steam crafts generally has
vastly increased. A pilot carrying 4
United States license Is on each of the
steam vessels, Their tugs and steam
boats DIVIDE employment and are
capable OF rendering the best service
at a vastly reduced rate az compared
with the rates charged under the
compulsory system Of river pilotage
under the laws Of Oregon as they exist
today. Under free or optional pilot
age the master Of the deep sea vessel
Is brought in contact directly
with the Columbia river tug or steam
boat, can make his own and favorable
terms for pilotage and towqRe TO
Portland or TO any point TO the head
OF navigation on the Columbia and
Willamette rivers. Thus the cost Of
pilotage and tonnage Is reduced. The
river is opened TO competition aud
the service rendered is better not
wlthstanding the reduction in prices.
AS IL goes without saying a pilot VINO
Is constantly aud daily plying his vo-
cation on the waters OF the Columbia
understands every obstruction or
obstacle that may possibly be IN his
pathway, and he can guide safely TO
any port aoy'deep water vessel placed
in his charge.
III. b. 3S introduced by Mr.. Hill OF
Portland, is measure that meets
with hearty concurrence OF the
farmer, the merchant, the lumber
man, the miner and producer OF Ore
gon generally, as IL leaves the ocean
or Columbia river bar pilotage In the
condition that Is now in. IL removes
the &c per ton register charge. The
inward pilotage remSlns as now COM
pulsory with above exception, The
outward bound pllotage Is made
optiona. Ia part only shipnaster
can select his own pilot, or II he pre-
fers he can navigate his own vessel by
the assistance OF a tug, but he must
pay IN that case One-half pilotage
charge; this is compulsory and'his ship
and owner are bouad for the payment
OF the charges.
We are told that commerce requ Tres
the best service obtainable aud the
best service requires the best men and
the best men require the assurance OF
reasonable income with reasonable
assurance OF its continuance, Open
the river 10 competition and only the
best nayigators and the most expert
pilots will be able 20 lind rOOm TO re-
main In service on the river as there
is no leveler equal 10 competition and
90 promoter half so keen aud active
20 take advantage OF wind and tide
20 secure a rapid aud safe transit TO
the sea. And this opening OF the
river pilot service means TO the lum-
bermen 46c per thousand feet saYed 10
him aud his mill company, 10 The
farmer 2to 2ic per bushel on every
bushel Of wheat shipped to the world
markets