The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-08
FROM WATER FRONT
SAILORS FARE WELL IN "sHIP-
PING" FROM SAVANNAH.
OF LAW RISKY.
JACK CANNOT BE HELD FOR MONEY
ADVANCED HIM.


Sailors Homes to Bring About
Reform-shipbuildin In August.
Old Bay Line to Have New
steamer-Matters of Interest to
Shippers and Mariners.
Savannah has the credit of fortifying
sailors that visit the port with more
protection than probably any other
port in the country. The fact that the
law is generally rigidly enforced makes
it risky business for men who supply
sailors to interfere with individual lib
erty.
In some parts of the country funds
advanced to sailors gives the runners
sort of claim on the bodies of the
poor lads, and if they change their
minds about shipping" on the vessel
they are slated for, they are prompt
ly taken into custody an detained until
the vessel for which they signed de-
parts. Here this cannot be legally
done, as the only redress the runner
has is a civil action against an insoi-
vent person.
mo, sir, this business is a game Of
chance to large extent" said a run
ner yesterday. These sailors are
without jobs and we take them in,
board them for weeks sometimes, treat
them to drinks, advance money, buy
clothing and humor them in many
ways. The sailor may go on the YES
sci assigned him and he may not If
he does we win, and If he refuses,
which he has the right to do, the run
ner loses. And you bet these fellows
are shrewd, too. They know exactly
the amount we receive for them, and
they draw and draw until it is about
all taken up. When furnishings are
bought the sailor goes along to see the
amount paid. and otherwise keep tab
on the man who Is trying to get him
work.
There is great difference between
Southern ports and some others in this
respect. At some a sailor walks up to
a runner for an advance, and when
1t is laid on the counter for him. the
captain Of the vessel is apt to inter
vene, take the money and imprison
the sailor. II necessary. to enforce sub
mission to this sort of treatment"
The efforts of the port societies and
sailors homes over the country have
been to educate the sailor against prac-
tees which subject him to the class
that speculates and profits upon his
labor.
The shipbuilding returns from the
Bureau of Navigation at Washington
for the month of August show total
of 142 vessels, of 1920 gross tons, as
having been built in the United States
during that time. OF these 81 were
built on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts,
IL on the Pacific. 80 on the Great
Lakes and IL on Western rivers. OF
these all were wood except 9. as fol-
lows: Sc wooden sail, of 1924 gross
tons, and IS wooden steam, of 1,431
gross tons, built along the Atlantic and
Gulf shores; wooden sail, of 1927
gross tons and wooden steam, of 1,15S
gross tons on the Pacific: 26 wooden
| steam on the Great Lakes, and %
wooden steam on Western rivers. This
makes a total of 1873 wooden vessels
of both types, aggregating 1910 or a
| little over one-half of the total tonnage,
| both steam and sail. built during the
month. OF steel vessels there was one
of 235 gross tons, propelled by sails,
| built on the Atlantic coast, and steel
steamers, of 4,S39 gross tons, built in
the same section of the country. The
| Great Lakes was the only other point
| that contributed steel vessels and g.
of e.426 gross tons, came from its
yards. - g.. Ia,
Charleston, S. c., is beginning to put
on the airs of a deep-water harbor.
says the Marine Journal. We read of
the arrival there and docking recently
| of the steamship Texas, from Ham
| burg, with 5000 tons of potash, the
largest cargo of that product ever re-
| ceived at that port. The Texas did
| not wait for high tide, though draw
| ing nearly twenty-three feet of water.
She promptly steamed to her berth
without even the aid of tug, and be-
| gan the work of discharging her big
cargo. Last season several steamships
| loaded with from $4,000 to Ia, 900 bales
of cotton passed out of Charleston har-
Dor with ease. This means a great
deal for the commerce of Charleston,
and shows the value of government
| work upon our harbors. Twenty-three
feet of water in the harbor means mil
lions of dollars a year for the South
Carolina port.
The Baltimore Steam Packet Com
pany (Old Bay Line) of Baltimore will
shortly give a contract for a new pas
senger propeller similar to the Ala
bama, etc. for the Chesapeake Bay
route between Baltimore and Norfolk.
It will probably be built by the Will
liam r. Trigg Company. Richmond,
| Va.