The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-11-04
Plain Statement Of Their Attitude
in Present Controversy.
MARINE LOVE STORY TOLD
New San Francisco Portland Stesmer
Line-Ships Going, Coming and Due
Captain Skibbe Inquiry Aragonia
Down and 0ut-Marine Notes.

/ There is growing resentment in thi'
city over the continued and wauton #
forts OF the Portland press, to discrrdi
the members of the Columbia River RAJ
Pilots Association, of Astoria. Not 4
day passes but some structure is hit
upon them.. the principal charge heint
that they will not find and -eport
as much water on the bar a. th,
shippers of Portland thing. and profess
To know, should be there.
There are nine pilots in the associa
tion. Not one of them but il quail
fled to take in and out, over this bar
any ship whose draft will permit he,
crossing il with any degree OF safety
They know this bar as the Portland
editor, know their own columns but the
difference between the pilots and the
Portland editors il that the former
know only the Columbia river bar a. a
business. while the Portland writers as.
sume Ia know both. That the Port.
lander~ are experts on the amount Of
water available ON many bars around
that mans town land meager amount
at that goes without saying. ~ they
have chronicled many wreck wrought
by crossing them too often and with
too little water; but the further they
90 in the controversy about the big
sand bar that lies athwart the gate
to the Columbia, the palmer their abso.
lutte ignorance of ii is. No one
wishes there was greater and more
permanent depth Of water there than
these same pilots. Every foot Of ships
draft and every ton Of ships register
they can pilot either way across that
barrier is good gold coin in their pock.
cts as well as in the pockets Of ship.
pers all over the state. Why should
they decry the possibility OF earning
$500 a foot and four cents a ton. IL
they can make more as easily a. they
can make less
The association is under heavy ex.
pense. II maintains an Office here.
employs a secretary, and outfits and
keeps up one of the best pilot boats
on the entire coast tof their
own, not the state's) at heavy
cost, and pays ten per cent. Of
their gross earnings every year for tug.
service. If greater footage and great.
er tonnage can be safely carried over the
bar, why should it not 10 done in
abatement of these big items Of con.
slant cost
Are these nine men towards : Are
they afraid to attempt the crossing of
ships Of greater weight and draft |,
Their years of service, in all seasons,
in all weather, under manifold CON-
ditions of tide and bar; their almost
perfect immunity from loss and dis.
aster; their practical knowledge Of
seamanship and constant employment
of it to the advantage Of their patrons;
their certain knowledge Of their i'm.
mense responsibilities as TO human life
and vast values of property, negative
the idea Of cowardice. The pilot il in
the same class as the railway engineer,
and the trained fire.fight.r, when il
comes to personal courage. No timid
man would dare the known perils of the
profession; such daring would be
proof-positiye Of extraordinary inter.
pedity such as would soon equip him for
any known phase Of the service.
Well! Being business men, trained
pilots, fine seamen, expert and fear.
less, why should they be- charged with
mimify business Of which thew
are masters, if it were possible and
prudent to magnify II : The truth IL.
these pilots are in possession Of this
only actual and practicable knowledge
of the bar, and knowing ii az they do,
conduct the business with prudence
and fore thought that rebounds to the
direct advantage Of shippers and ship.
owners, and in as direct derogation Of
their own interest and profits, a sys-
TEN that should command instant re.
spect. rather than ridicule, reproach or
doubt.
Loves Young Dream.