Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-10
COLLIER FLEET PUZZLE.
NO COAL AND MORE SAIL CHAR
TERING

TERING.
The captain OF 4 collier schooner an
chored of Lamberts Point remarked
yesterday that he was number fifty
eight on the list of waiting vessels,
and he didn't know how many more
were below him. and en- route, to join
the fleet. Some captains state that
there is nearer one hundred than fifty
there. and the wonder what 1t all
means is daily growing. The report
from the coal piers is that there is
plenty OF coal mined but the railroad
cannot get cars fast enough to ship it
to the piers.
In the meantime, chartered steam
ers are arriving almost daily and talk
ing full cargoes of coal for Kingston,
ST. Lucia, Manila. Trinidad or South
American ports. 1000 10 1000 tons at a
clip, and in addition bunker steamers
IN unusual numbers are arriving, coal
ing and sailing. making scene of ac-
tivity and hustle that. compared with
the silent fleet which stretches from the
mouth of the Western Branch to below
Crancy Island, with its forest of masts
grimly waiting for spreading canvas
and speeding winds, look as much out
of place as Il cemetery in the midst of
"a city's din of traffic. Only now and
then one of the sailing fleet g,ts over
to the pier, co0ls quickly and gets
away. but gets back and again takes
4 place in line before those a few num-
bars below her OH the list experience
4 hope of release, and the list is
steadily growing. Word comes from
Boston. New York and elsewhere of
new vessels chartered by Cashier. Cur
ran e l3ullitt. chartered on demurrage
~ 1nt ,.hi
truly this means &c. per ton for full
cargo for each twentyfour hours over
a specified time, generally six days, or
seven. This in the case OF vessels like
the schooner John i. Prescott, and
others of her class. amounts to n pref
ty figure. and in event of a wait of a
month to six weeks, makes the demur-
rage greater than The cargo's value,
and still the vessels come, charters are
reported, there is no increase in coal
rain receipts and Il semi-coal famine is
reported to be affecting nearly, il not
-tIsittc every port-en the Atlantic
coast. With little or no sign of relief
IN sight.
The puzzle grows What is the Sc
cret. IL any, back OF this? Is there n
grand coup about to be sprung? Is
there q scheme working? 1t would
seem not, as coal at the pier has de-
clincd % cents per ton lately. Appar-
emily no other coal port is better off.
Newsport News is short. not only ut her
pier, but At the mines. Baltimore is
also shy OF black diamonds. and coal
lis needed everywhere. Railroads arc
said to he suffering from shortage, and
manufactures are nearly out.
The captains chat at Jordan's and
swap yarns ,hcre. joke Mt Alarshairs,
ol,. CT,
wall patterns at Clark's. Some Of them
arc visiting their families Mt home for
a month or two. Some have sent their
vessels to dry docks, shipyards, ma
chine shop docks, and others are liv-
ing aboard in cosy comfort with their
families and have nearly decided TO
apply for a charter and incorporate a
floating town rs in Chinese rivers. The
whole business is Il charming puzzle
to work on, but one to which there APP
pears 10 solution as yet.
Word was received yesterday that
since last Friday the orders at North
ern ports have been 10 charter no more
vessels save ut owners risk of delay.
This breaks the demurrage clause and
puts all future charters outside this
saving clause until the present condi-
ton of affairs is terminated. There
are now very nearly 100 vessels waiting
cargo. and with the arrival OF the John
e. Prescott. Captain Lowery, again,
which happened yesterday, two of the
largest iivc-masted schoOners i'm the
world lie side by side. with aggregated
cargo capacity OF 5000 tons These are
the Prescott and Nathaniel T. Palmer.
The Prescott viii to-day he moved TO
Portsmouth flats for the remainder of
Der Stdy m port.