British Whig (Kingston, ON), 10 Aug 1904

p.1

A LIBEL SUIT.

Grand Rapids, Mich., Aug. 10th - A libel for $14,500 has been filed against the Canadian passenger and freight steamer United Empire, in the United States district port, by the Calbick Transportation company, Chicago. The libel claimants declare that their schooner Herald sustained damages amounting to the figure named, in a collision with the United Empire on October 10th last, in the St. Mary's River, during a fog. It is claimed that the proper fog signals were sounded by the Herald, but that the Canadian boat failed to keep her course, with the result that the two finally came together.

VESSEL UNDER ARREST.

Toronto, Aug. 10th - The steambarge H.B. Tuttle, Cleveland, is under arrest at Gore Bay, under a warrant of the maritime court to answer to a claim of $1,500 damages which the Ontario government has against the vessel, which, passing through the narrows between Lake Wolsley and Island Lake on Manitoulin Island and Lake Huron, last fall, struck a swing bridge and did great damage thereto. The government alleges that this accident was due to carelesslness, but before it could take action the Tuttle had got into American waters. The vessel did not return until this week, when she was at once placed under arrest.

p.2

THE TRADE SLOW

In The Harbor of Kingston This Year.

That the border front is not as active as it might be is quite manifest to the follower of marine interests about our city. Indeed, for some time past, the number of freighters has become less day by day, and some vessels have had to tie up as a result of the falling off of business. These statements have been made more particularly with regard to the grain transportation and transfer facilities about Kingston.

Capt. Fraser, marine superintendent of the Montreal Transportation company, when spoken to regarding the matter, said it was quite true that some of their boats had to tie up.

"For what reason?" was asked.

"Simply because there is no business for them. No grain being forwarded, there is no need for our boats."

"Do you expect to have more boats tie up?"

"Yes, the chances are that several more will remain in port on arrival."

Questioned as to the cause of the shortage in grain supply, the captain remarked that the subject was more in the line of the grain merchants. However, he stated that it was last year's wheat which was being shipped through in the spring, and that a shortage in the yield of last fall was very noticeable. Till lately it was uncertain how the yield of grain would turn out this season, and in the meanwhile it has become necessary to tie up the boats.

H.W. Richardson was also interviewed with regard to the matter.

"It's true there is a shortage of grain coming east this year."

"What's the cause of this, and what are the prospects of an increase in the near future?" was the first question.

Mr. Richardson - "I'd give $2,000 right now to be able to answer that question satisfactorily."

He explained that this season's output depended largely upon last season's yield, and that had been rather blighted. The necessitated dependence on this spring's growth and natural conditions had been much against the western crops. At present, much uncertainty existed in regard to the actual state of affairs. "You can say, however," he concluded, "that wheat will be higher this year than last."

"What about the new government elevator being erected at Port Colborne? Will it hurt the grain trade at Kingston?"

Mr. Richardson thought perhaps it might, a little, but that was very uncertain as yet. He explained very emphatically that what was needed was not an elevator at Port Colborne but the deepening of the Welland canal. "Why," he went on, "Kingston would become a second Buffalo. You wouldn't be able to keep the trade from the port unless you closed the gates," he exclaimed. The speaker further stated that he had done all in his power to have this plan carried out, and had interviewed the authorities at Ottawa several times on the matter. They had admitted that the only feasible plan came from Kingston. The citizens did not seem to see how things stood and made no move. It was a subject upon which the press could not say too much.

MARINE INTELLIGENCE.

The schooner Collier is at Davis' dry dock for repairs.

The schooner Acacia is at the pier, Portsmouth, from Oswego.

The tug Thomson has left port with three coal and two grain barges for Montreal.

Craig's wharf: steamers Persia down this morning; Ocean up tonight; Where Now down and up.

The steamers North King and America were late in reaching the city this morning on account of the high wind.

The tug Emerson and three barges are in from Oswego. The Emerson then left for Port Colborne with dredge I.X.L.

Swift's wharf: steamers Hamilton up this morning; Toronto down and up; North King, down and up; Rideau King up to Ottawa this morning; Spartan, down this afternoon.

Richardsons' wharf: barge Dorchester cleared with wheat for Montreal; schooner Queen of the Lakes is loading feldspar for Sodus; barge Hiawatha cleared with wheat for Montreal.

The steamer Wolvin, on her way down the lakes from Duluth, has established two more records. She loaded 10,245 tons of iron ore in ninety minutes, including shifts. As the latter required forty minutes, the actual time taken was fifty minutes. This is the largest load ever taken out of Duluth and also the best time ever made. She took on an average of 100 tons a minute.

Want A By-Law - letter to Editor - the White Dress Brigade to ask city council to pass law that wind will only blow from west; steamers must carry their smoke to sea with them; and steamers are to use smokeless wood - to prevent laundry bills.

Yachting Notes - Official Measurer Michael Cummings, of the Oswego Yacht Club, has found the racing length of Barry Scott's Neola to be 37.31 feet, which will, of course, prevent her from taking the first prize in the thirty-foot class at the Kingston regatta. The first prize money, $35, will, therefore, go to the Thresa. The Neola would have to sail with the forty-footers. She is now hauled out on the marine railway of the yacht club for repairs. [Oswego Palladium]

p.5 Incidents of the Day - If the Wolfe Islanders contracted for a steamer making twelve miles an hour was the unsuspecting rural again given an imitation gold brick?

p.6 Flames Destroyed Valetta - the steamyacht Valetta, burned and sank near Morgan's dock on south shore of Wolfe Island; 17 years old, valued at $1,500.

Drowned Off Tug - Southampton, Ont., Aug. 10th - While returning from Kincardine last night, James Fenton, aged about thirty years, a prominent resident of Southampton, fell from the tug R.H. Dobson, when the boat was off Port Elgin, about two miles out, and was drowned.