The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-13

Wilmington, n. c., Jan. 5. 1906.
Mr.. r. A. Parsley, Chairman,
City.
Dear Sir:
1t gives me pleasure to state my
views, as requested by you. as to the
injury to the business of Wilmington
the present law of importing and ex-
porting interests.
OWners of vessels, with an eye to
the onerous expense Of pilotage in this
port, naturally demand higher rates
of charter, when consigning here.
than to other sea ports. where this
charge is not enforced. The Pilot
trust not only under the present law
demand and obtain extravagant prices
for plotting vessels up the Cape Fear
river. but also being owners of the
tug boats, charge high rates for tow
Of vessels from sea to the VIII
mington wharves. This last service.
it is true, is not compulsory for YES
sells TO incur, but the channel Of the
river Is too narrow for vessels of
much size to undertake to sail nm.
Hence such are compelled to use tow
boats? Many OF the masters of yes
sells trading at this port are as famil-
lar with the channels as are the pi-
lots, and even those who are not can
certainly steer their Vessels in the
wake of the steam tug to which such
vessels may be attached by hawser.
So 1t appears to me evident, that
when under tow a pilot on board the
vessel towed, is q very useless piece
OF furniture, and very expensive.
The pilots under this compulsory
law are very Independent of their pa
irons, and sometimes, at least. AFRO
CANT toward them.
l will venture to pro1ong my letter
by giving you an incident in illustra-
ton:
Some years ago, a schooner was
wrecked near the mouth of our river.
A tug boat was employed to bring
the said vessel up to Wilmington and
the wreck was turned over to me, as
the agent of the Marine Underwriters.
Shortly after the pilot presented a
bill for pilotage, I refused to pay it,
on the ground that the wrecked hulk
was Worthuess, as a vessel. She was
w~ater-lOgged. and IA only kept from
sinking by being strongly dashed to
n of the wharves opposite the city.
The pilot insisted on his right, under
the compulsory pilot law. to collect
the bill, and I still refusing to pay it.
told him that I denied that the law
was applicable to such a wreck. He
brought suit to enforce what he
claimed to be his rights under the law.
Judge Seymour, however, agreed with
my contention that a vessel SO dam
aged by storms as to be worthless as
a sea-going vessel, thereby ceased to
be a vessel, in the contemplation of
the compulsory pilot law. and decided,
in my favor. I will add that the said
vessel was sold at auction, for her
rigging chains and anchor, and only
brought at such sale about enough to
have paid the pilotage bill, had the
court decided that she was liable for
it. The pilot in this case had never
rendered any service. nor was he
ever on board the wreck, but he prov
ed that he offered his service to the
master of the vessel, and the master
refused to take him on board be-
cause of the condition of the wreck.
He, the pilot. contended that his
offer of service, though declined by
the captain, entitled him to full pay
as pilot.
trust the Legislature will repeal
this unreasonable and injurious Law
which is so abhorrent to our Mer-
chants.
Very respectively,
JOHN WILDER ATKINSON,
Lloyds Agent.