The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-01-18

otoc ne otatot Anu Whatever ! nc
Amount Goes To The Grocer,
Ciothlor, Doctor, Farmer And The
Mechanics OF All Branches, As Well
As To Public Enterprises.
Nine out OF ten steamship agents
and characterers who bring their YES
sells TO our ports certify over theii
signatures that the Virginia Pilots
rates bear favorable those OF riva
ports. and that they want no lesisla
ton on the subject What better tes
timony 10 desired than that OF those
who are SO directly interasted-evsn to
the extent OF paying the money!
The unusually liberal compensation
OF the pilots during the war period
came about through quick turn
over "a large number OF yessels), and
not by virtue OF high rate agains;
few. AS matter OF fact. there
has not been the least increase in
pilotage rates since 1905, although the
war period OF high prices for every
thing else has left Its mark in sll other
channels
During the war period compensa.
ton was greater than before. Ills true
not on account OF any Increase III
rates. however: but, because OF tbs
great number OF ships handled in Il
given time; and. II We are to discuss
ari compare this at all. why not com
pare 1t with member OF the legRi
profession who because during SOM,
particular period has been the recipi
ent OF many fees or the farmer be
cause of one or two prosperous years
out of dozen or more poor ones7
Where is there to be found in this
country any other set OF men-trade
calling or profession-w whose actua
rates OF pay for given service in 4
given time-havc not sreatly Increased
since 1905 especially during the war
period!
The pilots have not Increased ono
penny on the same service since 1905
The only way in which their compen
sation has been increased was by In
creased service on their part-hand-
ling more ships in given time-a
much greater volume OF service at the
Same old rate.
Suppose every merchant. manuiac-
turer. professional man. mechanic ana
day laborer. had followed out this
plan all through the World Wal
period Had such beer .hs case this
country would not today be 'acInE the
manifold knotty threatening problems
which bob UP at every hands turn.
Many ports of the United States
bei'.g but five to nine miles from sea
have higher rates OF pilotage than
Virginia. Pilotage for the port of
Baltimore is worry much higher than
with the Virginia Pilots, The maxi.
mum rate there begins on thirteen
fcot draft. while the maximum charge
at the Virginia ports is not reached
until the yassel draws twenty feet.
Baltimore has only two rates. while
Virginia has SIX. Besides, the Balti
more pilots operate with only one
boat. whereas. CT necessity, the Vir.
ginla pilots maintain four, with one
hundred men on their pay roll. at e
cost OF operation perhaps three times
Ar great.
During four years OF war this rs
ISOLATION cared for the shipping OF
Hampton Roads. though the demands
upon that body were extraordinary
Testimonials of high Government OF
1clhls TO this fact are avaliable) while
the association has enough pilots in
tho making to care for over one hun
dred per cent. increase In commerce,
there are at present twenty-five in
training which Is more than New
York and New Jeraey combined have
Pride or Tho State.
The equipment OF the Virginia
Pilots Association 10 one OF which
the State may well be Justly proud.
as It equals that OF New York and
New Jersey combined.
The Virginia law on pdlotage In the
same In principle as In every seaport
OF tho United etatss. That is, the
pilots at all ports operat. under State
laws, which In the main provide that
there shall be o Board OF Pilot Com.
missioners, penalties for dereliction OF
duty. nxinE rates, apprenticeship. etc. :;
the pilots In eveay tastSnce OWNING
their equipment and running the bust
ness themselves. consistent with III,
law. snd free from dsmosogic indn
! ence.
State Pays Ms Part OF Pliotaac?
P!lotase Ia paid only ty shlps en-
gagged in foreign tr16e-by foreign
nass, and bottofpz--under control OF
the United stsaaa Bhipping Board