The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-11-23
OVER
CANAL SHIPS
Continued From Page one.
time Of war. would be made imme-

ment had advertised for bids for
carrying the United States mails be-
tween Pacific coast ports and Pana-
ma, New Orleans and Panama, and
New York and Panama. 1t was pref
ty we'll understood that Mr.. Baker
and HIS associates were the only bid
ders, although the bids have not yet
been opened. The specifications call.
ed for distinct type Of ships cap
able OF making a much higher rate OF
speed than any now operating in the
coastwide service on the Atlantic OF
Pacific. For example, the running
time between San Francisco and Pana-
ma was 10 be ten days, against TWEEN
ty-one days by the Pacific mail. a
subsidiary Of the southern Pacific
railroad.
In advertising for these bids, Post
master General Hitchcock hoped to be
able to make contract designed to
furnish first class service on the
Pacific coast more especially. The
present service is said to be altogether
too slow, more or less irregular and
generally unsatisfactory. The Pacific
mail has everything its own way and
Is said to conduct itself accordingly
For this reason the government Is
keenly interested in the situation in
which Mr.. Baker now finds himself
The Baltimorean is decidedly a live
wire. He has had wide experience In
the ocean steamship business and is
not in any sense a novice at the
business.
However, when he approached
bankers and other men Of finance and
solicited their aid in his company Mr..
Baker met with scant success. He
has not charged that the transconti-
mental railroad interests have placed
direct obstacles in his path. but has
shown clearly that indirect obsta Giles
OF the most effective character have
been placed there on account of the
fact that big financiers in general
are more or less directly connected
with the railroad interests.
1t is due to Mr.. Baker TO saw that
he has not yet given up hope of Sc
curing sufficient money to build the
necessary ships, He Is naturally an
optimist Some bankers have ex-
pressed the fear that he might not
succeed In getting mail subsidies
from the government, which would
be an effective check on the opera
tons OF his company. Before the end
of this month he may know officially
from the postoffice department Off
Gals whether they are willing to en-
ter into contract with him for n
period Of ten years on the strength
Of his bid to furnish the desired fa-
cilities. This may and may not
make a difference with a sufficient
number Of financiers to insure the
raising OF the requisite funds.
In response to q question by Sem
ator Cummins, Mr.. Baker said that his
Information was that the Pacific Mail
proposes TO build number OF ships
and keep the Panama business in its
own control. This. he added, would
Furnish sufficient incentive for the
placing Of obstacles In the way of the
Atlantic g. Pacific co. Mr.. Baker de-
clined TO make specific charges against
any individual or railroad company,
or to give the name Of anybody who
had sought to discourage him in his
Efforts. He said he preferred not to
so into details at this time
There is some reason for believing
that present officials OF the postoffice
department are not at all enthusiastic
over the possibility OF making a mail
contract with the Pacific Mail Co. At
present the mails are forwarded from
time to time on vessels belonging to
that company. but not under contract.
Mr.. Baker is not alone In this mat
ter. A few years ago Charles M Coen,
who Is the inventor OF what is known
as the Coen type Of boats, designed
primarily for use on shallow rivers
and canals, but capable OF ocean travel,
made an agreement with a syndicate
Of New Workers under the terms of
which he was to have been paid S.
100000 outright and given 20 per cent
of the company which was to manu-
facture and sell or operate his boats.
Distinguished men were interested.
However. every time the proposition
got to a point where 1t was about to
be finally settled the railroad inter-
ests began to squeeze. The result was
that the entire matter was dropped.
Recently Mr.. Coen has become active
again, now that the interstate COM
merce act affords him some protection
by requiring the railroads to deal de-
Gently with water carriers.
The Coen type OF boats has been in
use for several years on the Ohio
canals They are of unique construc-
ton, having screw propellers amid
ships just above the keel. A wheel
box several feet in height rises over
the propeller. into which the water Is
drawn by vacuum. tnus furnishing
the necessary pressure. While this
may sound like a dream, our prac-
tical army engineers are so impressed
with the Coen boats that they have
ordered two large steel barges for ex-
periments on the Mississippi and other
inland navigable rivers. 1t is claimed
for these boats that they can oper-
ate on any depth OF water from six
or seven inches up.
Before the passage OF the amend
ment to the interstate commerce act,
Mr.. Coen would not have had a chance
to develop his boats, for the reason
that the railroads could have gone
ahead as Of old and furnished facili-
ties at ridiculously low rates--far be-
low cost--in order TO kin Off water
If they should attempt
that now the Interstate commerce COM
mission has the authority to compel
them to maintain the lower rates. and
no railroad would be likely to place
itself In position where 1t could be
compelled to operate at distinct loss.
With boats Of the Coen type it is
claimed the Missouri river could be
~~r-'~afec for hundreds OF miles even
under present conditions. while vessels
s-.a~ crossing the ocean could
30 up the Mississippi river as far as
Memphis, and, possibly st. Louis.
When ships OF this type are operated