The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-06

This from the oregonian. yesterday
morning, Is meat for Astoria readers,
when they have also read the context:
"wiih a recommendation from the Co
Iumbia river bar pilots not TO load TO
exceed "a feet and the positive informa-
tion that he may safely utilize the 70
feet three inches draft Of his vessel.
Captain John Penberthy, master oil the
steamer Imaum, finds himself In a reri-
ois qisndary. The lmaum, which i
| in Portland for the iirst time. i loading
grain for the Orient, and IL expected
70 sail October IL. Since this Is his first
Witt 10 Portland Captain Penberthy ma
turaily has informed himself Of the river
and bar conditions. Meeting bar pilot
few days ago, Captain penberthy
-o,ght information about the bar. and
10 his astonishment was advised 10 load
only "a feet. A. his ye-ef- draft Is only
Is feet , inches and his former adyices
had satisfied him that he could safely
load 10 capacity. he sought TO determine
the accuracy of his information by writ
ing 10 the pilots Of Astoria. A reply
10 hi- questions was received yesterday,
and he wa. advised that he might load
to 25 feet and with "a smooth bar and
large tide" get out, but II was recon-.
mcnded that he load not to exceed "A
feet.
This letter and advice was the gen.
sral topic Of discussion splpRe siRpipg
men yesterday, and brought out gen.
cml condemnation from those familiar
with the matter. The general feeling
was voiced In the expression Of a promi.
ncnt shipper who ssid:
"'Thc action Of the bar pilots IL 80
absurd that, were II not for its serious
future effect. il .wNId- ee sAnseless 10
-peak of Il. am thoroughly familiar
with the matter and II Is simply this;
The lmaum has draft OF 25 feet 3
inches when fully loaded. Every three
Inches OF her draft means 100 tons Of
cargo. II she eau only load to "a feet,
| II means loss Of over 5000 in freight,
"A bar pilot told Captain Penberthy
that he could not take out his ship with
l2s feet, draft, and this seems 10 have
been confirmed by bis mates. cannot
say whether the pilots are willfully mis-.
stating facts and are prejudiced or not,
but on the face OF Il there Il something
wrong. Major Langiitt, before leaving
here. said his information showed a
depth ON the bar Of 20 feet at low water;
the pilots say there Is "a. Giving the
benefit Of the doubt, on October IL or IL
the date the lmaum will 20 out, there
will be- tide of at least eight feet. This
ut high tide will give at least - feet
of water. and accortling TO government
Figures %. Surely with that 25.foot
vessel should have no trouble In getting
lover the bar. OF course she could not
do Il on breaking bar, but with two OF
three days To go on she should find II
smooth enough 10 go out.
Conditions at the bar are no differ
ent this year from last, in fact they
, are better, and last year saw vessels oI
deeper,lmft safely over the bar. ] hesi
J tate TO say II, but II seems TO me thai
the trouble lies In superannuateS
bunch Of pilots They are old and seen
to be possessed Of fear. What we neeS
is a lot Of new and younger blood in TIN
Columbia bar pilot service. The lmaun
could safely go out drawing 80 feet o
water 4Wt
The loading Of the Imanm will b
completed by the 10th and Captain Pen
bcrthy will in all probability load t
Icapacity.
The Astorian, desiring to put befor
its readers ITO whom anything relating
to the Columbia river bar Is 'as th
breath of their nostrils"j all sides Of th
issue raised, has made diligent inquir.
lamong the members OF the Columbia riv
~ BAR Pilots association, which has Il
headquarters in this city, and has had
nnnlbcr Of the pilots interviewed in thi
relation, They oil tell the same stor,
and what they say seyerally Il abl,
statcd by Pilot George w. Wood, VIII
was seen last night and Who taIke
well aud freely and with IN emphasi
mot quite as apparent in these quota
tionS a. II was Ia the interview. Anon
Il +.