Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-24

+ 80 ~ -
There is a curious state of war existing
in the James River Improvement Com
mittee, and it develops that the much
discussed city tug Thomas C. Cunning.
ham, Sr., with which the committee and
the two branches of the City Council
have recently played shuttlecocl and
battledore, is the bone of contention
around which the conflict RACES. #
The status of the tug at the present
time is one of the most anomalous things
on record She is tied up, fguratively
speaking, in red tape at leas- half a
dozen different ways by resolutions of
committee and ordinances in Council, not
withstanding which she broke from these
strong moorings yesterday morning and
went to the assistance and helped to
pull off the steamer Winyah, of the Clyde
Line, which went on a sandbar IN the.
harbor, owing to her steering gear be-
coming disarranged.
This action Of the tug and of her cap-
tain is declared by some of the commit
teemen and city officials to be an act Of
open rebellion and contempt of consti-
tIted law and authority, she being posi-
lively prohibited by solemn resolution of
the committe to which she owes al 4
legiance from rendering any assistance
to anybody or anything not connected
with the city's business. And thereby,
hangs the tale Of this story.
Mr. Fergusson's Resolution.
It seems that in Decun1ber last, prompt
ed by the belief or claim that the tug
was being unduly used for junketing pur
poses, Mr.. Edgar H. Furgusson, mem
Of no To S}Iyay Ir,,rr ant
Committee, offered and had adopted the
resolution referred to, which served prac-
tically to remove the tug from under the
control of the chairman Of the committee
and the City Engineer.
Then. the chairman Of the committee
and other members took the view that
under such conditions the tug was use
less to the city, and the fight to.lay her
ur, was begun, but was defeated in the
coHmtttss. Then an ordinance authorizing
the committee to charter the tug to pri-
va te parties was offered Lin Common
Council The faction that wanted to put
the tug out of commission opposed this
move. but was again defeated, the Com
mon Council adopting the ordinance.
+ When this ordinance came up in the
Board Of Aldermen last night for con-:
currence, however, it struck q "snag.: as.
that body adopted substitute, offered
by Mr.. James r. Gordon. discharging
the crew ard putting the boat in the GUS
tody of a cere-taker.
Now her status is that, the city hav-
ing nthing for her to do until the new
sdredge. is made ready by October next,
the resolution of the committee forbids
her to do anything for any one else. the
ordinance adopted by the Common Coun-
ell launches her half way in the water.
and the substitute adopted by the Board
of Aldermen ties her up to the dock.
Harbor Masters Need.
Failing to find any light on this remark
able situat tion from other sources. a re-
porter for the Dispatch last night called
on Harbor- Master John a. Curtis, hav-
ing arrived a the =deduction-after an un-=
accustomed and exhausting process of
reasoning-that the harbor master=4Swas s
a person that might know something
about harbor matters. He found that usu-
ally placid gentleman somewhat warm
on the subject Of the tug, to express it.
mildly.
He was at variance with the chair
man of the committee in his views as to
the wisdom of putting the tug out of
commission, and was still more at vari-
ance with the views of the majority OF
the committee in prohibiting the use OF
the tug in the harbor for anything but
the clty's business.
u
the reporter struck with sudden idea,
that you never advise with the com
nittee on these matters q
..NNell.'' he replied, the truth is that
the committee knows It all. It is true that
I am harbor master, paid by the city to
look after her interests in this respect,
and presumed to know something about;
them, and it seems but natural that this
committee should have me to consult
than, ~onafinaS5Ei accordance with
the custom Of the other. committees. in
having the officials in their departments
meet with them. But they have never
done me the courtesy to invite me TO
q. meeting. and Of course have never at
tended any Of the meetings.
In relation to the tug matter, the har-- :
Dor master made this statement:
'.Since the committee on improvement
of James river was formed by City Coun-i
ell, whether working IN whole or IN part
by the city Of the United States gov
ernment the tug rstugs belonging to the
city. have been rendering service to the
commerce OF the port of Richmond, and
in many Instances have saved vessels
from destruction. namely, the schooner
Dora. Allison. costing SIG 600, principally
owned IN Richmond, ioaded with a cargo
Of railroad iron, in a freshet in the night
time, Slowed across the =Danville wharf
and was saved from utter destruction.
by the city's tug Henry Christian, Cap
tain Frank Cunningham ss
.aThe valuable steamer. City of Rich-.
mond, was saved by Captain Thomas
Cunningham. sr., Of the city's tug Craig
hill. And many steamers and sail yes
sells have been pulled off the bottom and,
assistance rendered by the city $ tug
without renumerati on. fs
sss;Nece.sity.Sf for the Boat.