The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-01
Commerce OF Puget Sound and OF
the Columbia,


The Oregonian makes the recent loss
OF the collier Miami in British Columbia
waters the text OF a diatribe about the
dangers OF the northern ports as con-
trasted with the Columbia river, clos
ing as follows:
'Treacherous rocks, tide rips and storms
Will always make II expensive for under
writer's who carry policies on vessels trad
ing to ports on the Gulf of Georgia or
Strait OF Fuca. and the history of ship
ping In that section will probably continue
to be long record OF disaster. This 10
an unpleasant subject seldom dwelt on by
Puget sound papers. but. considering the
uncompimenfary remarks that these pa
pers have been In the habit OF making re-
garding insignificant delays to shipping on
the Columbia. 1t Is not inappropriate at
the present time
This petty and malignant spirit has
been unfortunately aracteristic of the
oregonian since IT lapsed into senility.
The ludicrous side OF the attempted dis
paragement Is what will most strike sea-
faring men or ship owners, who do not
require newspaper guidance In choosing
ports from which to trade. II Is worthy
OF notice simply as text on which TO
bring out some figures as to the reia-
tive growth OF commerce at Pacific ooas,
ports. In doing this It ia not necessary
TO disparage the so-cailed port Of Port
land. nor to draw attention to the ter
rors OF the Columbia river bar, nor 10
the perils which beset the unfortunate
mariner who has been compelled TO
make the toilsome voyage up to the sea-
port on creek. The government. with
wise regard for the safety OF ship
ping has done this In a manner which
renders newspaper comment superfiu-
GUS.
The "Iist of Beacons, Buoys Etc"
corrected up 10 January 1, 1900, and re-
Gently sent out by the lighthouse in
spector from Portland. contains a list
OF so lights and 70 buoys,. marking the
channel from the ocean TO Portland.
besides beacons and shore marks al
most without number, All OF these are
designed to make the tasks OF the pilots.
already required 10 be familiar with the
channel, a tribe less difficult No sane
ship captain would be so recklessly fool
hardy as TO venture his ship into those
waters without pilot This list is
prefaeed with the gruesome warning:
mo reliable sailing directions Tor cross
ing the bar can be given. because the
har ia subject to periodic changes, and
the bnoys are moved 20 suit the chan
mel Strangers should not attempt 70
cross the bar without pilot" Other
like encouragement Tor the venture
some mariner is scattered along like
this: Generally heavy sea between
this buoy and the bell buoy" sea
breaks for 900 feet 10 the southwark
and westward" "Soundings on the pub
iiShed charts OF this river from Astoria
TO Portland being unreliable. on ae-
count OF freauen, changes in the chan
mel. etc" AZ the mouth OF the William
cite. the note is; THE channel changes
after every treshet. and buoys and lights
are moved 10 suit the changes" The
same note appears in several other
places.
by way Of contras, Il may be OBJ
served that from the Pacific ocean 10
Seattle there are In the strait Of Fnca
and Admiralty lnle, just fourteen lights
and fifteen buoys, ana that It Is rare
case when any Incoming ship ever gets
close enough TO sight one Of those hUoys
The channel Is from six TO sixteen miles
wide. and there IL no time IN which a
vessel coming into Seattle harbor need
ever approach within three miles Of any
rock. shoal or obstruction to the pass
age of the deepest ship which was ever
launched So easy and safe Is the en-
trance that while probably twenty times
the number Of ships pass through II that
ever brave the terrors Of the Columbia
bar. there are no plots, because there