The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-19
IAN OUTSIDER AIRS
HIS VIEWS
DOES NOT "BuTT IN" BUT TELLS
THE 0REG0NIAN AND AsT0RIAN
SOME WHOLESOME TRUTHS
ABOUT THE BAR.
aAstoria, January IS, 1908.

N N4
Editor Astorian.--
"There Ii no particular reason why !
should butt In on the controversy be-
tween The 0regonian and you In the
matters Of towage and pilotage on the
Columbia river bar and kindred sub
jectsi only. having plenty Of spare time
on my hands, and as II is alleged tnat
Satan inds work for Idle hands and
further, II being also apparent that
neither cf you seem 10 know much about
the propositions. and therefore, might
be grateful for some enlightenment, !
venture a few words.
"'I'hc Astorian. | take IL. has no In
terest IN the sale Of the o. r. a. N.
companys tow boats TO the Port OF
Portland or anyone else. only as q mat.
Ter of news. when the deal shall be con.
summatcd, and therefore there IA no
room for controversy nor argument on
your part. The oregonian, in It's efforts
TO build up and create public sentiment
IN the city of Portland To a point where
the taxpayers there will be willing to be
taxed for the purchase and operation Of
bar tow boats, pilotagc, or any old thing
that might be required to help out the
few foreign exporters, at the metropolis
tsincc the o. r. & y. Is utterly tired
Of putting up for them), had to put up
Ii man Of straw to knock down again
by its ponderous assertions that the
bur pilots were not In favor Of Portland
and were careless and incompetent and
the Astoria pilot rig whatever that
may bel doing all they possible could
10 ruin the commerce OF the Columbia
river etc, etc Il am informed by a
newspaper man that such course is
considered quite legitimate by the fra
ternty. and in fact, 10 the hanliest
course newspaper can follow TO gain
It's endsa bold lie reiterated again and
again Is as good. II not better than the
actual truth and saves great deal Of
time and bother one might be ptt to in
securing the facts in the case.)
sNow the facts in the case are these
The bar pilots are body OF careful.
competent seamen and second to none
in their knowledge Of the conditions of
the Columbia river bar; they maintain
a good schooner which cruises off the
bar and puts pilots aboard Of vessels as
they Arrive in the offing. and endeavors
TO hang on. close In as safety viii
allow until the tow boat makes its ap-
pearance to tow the vessel inside. II
the tow boat does not get outside, say
for IL hours afterward, the vessel with
the pilot aboard is probably off Cape
Flattery by that time and has to work
back and hang around outside for the
tow boat; in all, say couple Of weeks
lost to ship and pilot ana much to the
disgust Of the ship master and to the
pilot as wen. This happens every win.
ter, and ii has happened that neither
ship nor pilot has come back. Ship.
crew and pilot sacrificed to the greed
of the shipowner in having too little
ballast aboard, and, in measure, to the
lack of promptness on the part of the
bar tow boats.
"The 0, r. 4 N, Company has two
tow boats in commission at the entrance
to the Columbia river, neither, Of which
is strong enough to tow ship over the
bar at any and all times and under all
conditions. Say there are two vessels
wishing tow in; the tide is running
out strong and 1t is late in the after
noon; the two tow boats would make
fast to one vessel and get her Upside,
and ii it was not too late at that time,
might cast off and return for the other
vessel; but the other vessel, where is
shef lost in the haze or fog and trying
to edge off lee shore and make herself
safe for the night; the pilot is aboard
all night and Is bound TO look out for
the safety Of the ship and does so What
is needed are tow boats than can do the
work in any sort Of weather and on any
tide, and enough of them. in competi.