The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-15


1t has been reported fOi some I'm
in the city that a movement was h<ing
made, backed by the Southport cnam-
Der of commerce to get the present leg
islature to repeal the law now in ef:ec
removing compulsory pilotage from
this port, and to have a law placed on
of pilotage at the bar. 1t has beeu
stated that the bill for compulsory
pilotage has already been drawn and
the presence of Mr.. NJ. c. Gutnie Of
Southport, reported from RaleiEh last
night, leads to the belief that he is at
the capital for the purpose OF having
the measure introduced in the legisla-
ture.
The chamber of commerce Of South.
port in their zeal for the bill which
they are supporting, has recently sent
out a circular to the different
cial organizations of the Leading cite S
and towns in the state, and 10 other
local bodies of influence, asking that
these organizations use their p,~er 10
induce the different representatives in
the legislature to work for Tie bill.
These circulars were not inu..iied
for the sight of Wilmington business
men, whose interests are at stake. but
by chance n of the circulars got into
the hands Of a leading citizen here,
who was indignant at the gross and
glaring mis-statement Of facts" as he
expressed it. declaring that hardly q
single assertion in the entire circular
is based On any facts whatsoever.
THE circular. which was signed by
Messrs. E. II. Cranmer and H. W. Hood
ON the part of the committee of the
Southport chamber of commerce, reads
as follows:
Southport Chamber Of Commerce,
Southport, N. c., 2-11-190!
THE General assembly of North Car.
olina. at its session of 1906. repealed
all laws relating to Pilotage on the
Cape Fear river and bar. and for :hc
past two years there have been no avs
compelling the attendance of pilots at
our bar. with the result that the COM
merce of the port has not had those
safeguards that should be extended to
the ships of the world entering our
port for cotton, lumber, naval stores,
and other commodities.
THE greatly increased number of
wrecks, and other disasters, exceeding
by from SO to Is per cent. in the pas.
two years, all similar casualties Tor
more than so years previously, is il
disputable argument that the leglsia-
ture made a grave mistake in abolish
ing a legal system Of pilotage on the
bar and river of the chief seaport If
North Carolina. There has been NC,
suits in the U. S. Courts during Tie
past two years, resulting from mari
time causes. that we believe to be ii
traceable to the lack Of laws
enforcing the attendance OF competent
pilots at Il bar, than for a numbar of
years prior to 1905. The Of
port has been damaged, we believe.
to such extent that the present legs
lature should take decided action L.
the much needed laws. Ship
as preferring not to trade at a port that
was without sufficient laws to insure
safe and convenient entrance and de-
The chamber of commerce of SO:.th-
port has taken up this matter which
We are fully convinced is of grave ~
)Oretance to the commercial welfare of
he entire state, and a bill will be pre-
'ented to the general assembly for en-
into law restoring to the cCrl-
nerce of the world a legal system of
that will guarantee the at
enhance, at all times. at our bar. Of
Competent pilots, whose constant
v~atchfulness. at the entrance of the
'ort, will protect the shipping of ire
world entering our port, from hazard
us risks, thus reducing to the me.est :
minimum, the contingency of disasters, i;
restoring to the port it's rightiul :.
lace among the seaports Of the world. :
This port is the chief seaport of the :
tate, and the only port on the Atlantic =
past where commerce is not properly :
rejected by sufficient pilotage laws. {
The undersigned committee has been :.
opointed by the chamber of commerce !,
: Southport to present this matter :
o and to request and urge that :
ou do all in your power to induce
,ur representatives in the legislature :
work for the passage of the bill that
LII, in a few days. be introduced in a
.e legislature. Thanking you In ad- a
nee for the interest We trust you