The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-28
TOO BIG FOR COAL PORTS.
the Seyen.Nasted Schooner Lawson Has
trouble In Getting CarEOes.

The Baltimore newspapers say that the
big seven-masted schooner. Thomas w.
lawson. has sailed from Baltimore for
Newport News in third attempt to get .
full cargo Of coal.
The vessel was built for the coal trade.
with the expectation that she would visit
tho ports Of Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Hampton Roads for her cargoes. Her
first trip was TO Philadelphia where she was
compelled TO leave port with 500 tons less
than her capacity. Even then she grounded
twice In the Delaware River on account Of
the insufficient depth Of the channel.
Then the captain decided to try Balti-
mbre, There is thirty feet OF water in the
Baltimore channels but the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad is now shipping all its coal
from Curtis Bay where the channel is only
twenty feet deep.
The lawson, therefore, was compelled
to sail when she still had storage room
for 900 tons. She touched bottom going
out and three tugs were necessary to pull
her out OF the mud.
The ship is now going to Newport News
and Capt. Crowley expresses the opinion
that this port is the only place where he can
get a full cargo Of 1900 tons aboard and
keep water enough under the ship to float
her. Her loaded draught il twenty eight
feet.
This il an interesting illustration OF tho
fact that the great ports must now provide
deep water, not only for steamships but also
for the enormous sailing vessels which ara
being turned out at our home and foreign
shipyards. The days Of the famous clipper.
with it's sharply turned bow, its daintilv
moulded beam and clean run aft have passed
away; but the clipper is being succeeded
by enormous vessels Of far greater fret CHIT
age capacity and with a spread Of sail that
enables them nearly to vie in speed with
many q tramp steamer.
A new idea has been prominent in shipping
circles within the past two years. 1t Is nj
longer believed that the steamship is goina
to drive the sailing vessel from the sea.
II u argued that there is an enormous
amount Of heavy and bulky freight which
sailing vessels can always carry at rates
with which steam power cannot compete.
The present tendency Is to build calling
vessels with carrying capacity fully equal
to that OF the average large steamship
and to employ steam power on board 10
drive the winches, capstans. pumps and
steering gear.
By employing steam on board to do work
formerly done by the crew the expenses
Of q trip are considerably reduced. The
great ship Preussen, for example, now
plying In the trade between Germany and
the west coast Of South America has q
length Of $40 feet and a net carrying ca.
pacity Of 5000 tons, but only forty-six hands
are required to run her. BY enlargina
sailing vessels and introducing such econo-
mics a. have been mentioned the cost Of
freishtage, II Is believed. may be made az
low or lower than ever before.
The owners Of these vessels say there il a
plenty OF staple heavy commodities de.
handing cheap freight and that no business
interest need suffer even II they are mucn
longer on the way than II carried by steam
power and that more and more merchants
are favoring sailing ships for these classes
OF freight on account Of the greater cheap.
ness OF transportation.