Pinto to To The, October 14, 1872

Mr. Pinto to Mr. Ibañez.

The governor of the colony of Magellan, with date of the 24th of September last, from Sandy Point, writes me the following:

“In compliance with the wish of your excellency for information relating to the desire expressed by the honorable minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary of the United States of North America upon the possibility of establishing a line of steam tow-boats in the Straits of Magellan, I have the honor of submitting to your excellency my opinion upon the subject.

“Nothing can be more laudable than the idea put forth by the honorable North American minister, since, without doubt, a business of steam tow-boats would give great facilities to the sailing-vessels that cross Cape Horn; it would economize time interest on capital invested in the vessels and merchandise that they transport, and more than all, personal misfortunes, which more than once we have had to lament; but this is not without difficulties; it is nevertheless possible; but will it be practicable to establish it? Under a humanitarian point of view it is excusable to enter into great expenses, since whatever might be the cost, the prevention of the loss of life would more than compensate for it, for, unfortunately, such accidents are very common with vessels that double the stormy Cape Horn. But, considering the economical question, my humble opinion considers it disadvantageous. I do not know but my calculation may be false; in any case the high penetration of your excellency will give it the merit which it deserves.

“Without any knowledge of the amount which the tug-boats would be obliged to charge, and whose number to commence with ought not to be less than four, I will not enter into details to your excellency on this point. The first difficulty which offers itself is the want of ports of waiting in the two mouths of the channel—that in Cape Virgin and Cape Pillar. Though the sea is boisterous in these latitudes, it is not inconvenient for the people of the sea to confront it if there is a free road and an open port always exists that can be reached from the tempest; but the lack of these, as I have said before, will oblige the vessels that desire to be towed to maintain themselves in the high seas at no less than thirty miles distant from the shore. This supposition is not entirely ventured, since, being of the profession, I can assure your excellency of it. The maintenance of the vessels, as I have indicated to your excellency, is not exempt from danger in these ports, especially on the Cape Pillar side; and so much so is this the case that the regular steamers are many times obliged to remain one or two days without being able to approach the mouth of the straits, and many vessels whose captains have desired to pass through have been obliged by the stormy weather to continue their voyage around Cape Horn. Supposing, nevertheless, that vessels can maintain themselves in these places, it would be necessary that the tow-boats should be looking for them thirty miles outside, which would not only lengthen the distance, but also present other inconveniences—as that of towing in the high sea, and especially if there is stormy weather a tow-boat ought to have great power in order to counteract the force of the sea and wind; and this your excellency will be able to understand, since you know that many steam-vessels have been obliged to recede, while looking for a port of refuge, from not having power to conquer the force of the tempestuous waves and strong winds when going out by the west mouth. Nevertheless, other and better judges may not consider these difficulties, and I have only enumerated them with the idea of possibly being more exact.

“I will call your attention to another question, which is that of the time it will take and the expense it will require to perform the towing.

“The straits being three hundred miles long, and supposing the vessels were taken and left only twenty miles away from the coast, it would result that there would be three hundred and forty miles of travel for which to pay the tow-boats. Taking it for half time, the velocity which the tow-boats can make, perhaps five miles per hour, it will require, without counting the time that they will pass anchored on account of weather and dark nights, which in winter are very long, sixty-eight hours of constant towing. What ought to be the cost of towing per ton? Taking the half that vessels pay in the harbor of Constitution to the tow-boat of the state, it would be five dollars per ton for each mile. Suppose a ship of 500 tons register, the common size of the vessels that sail on the Pacific, it would result that each mile will cost $25, and $500 for the three hundred and forty miles, which I have shown your excellency they ought to earn.

“Supposing these figures exaggerated, and considering them only the half, which will reduce the sum to $250, the question presented is, will it be practicable for the vessel to pay for the towing? Certainly if the cargo is valuable, but undoubtedly not if the cargo is not very valuable.

“With the traffic of the steamers, which increases each day, as is well known to your excellency, it is not ventursome to predict that many years will not pass before the steamers will transport the valuable merchandise; leaving the number of sailing-vessels reduced, which will remain solely for transporting articles of little relative value, such as iron, coal, &c.; and will vessels carrying such merchandise be able to pay the sums indicated? It is not possible for me to answer this question, since I am ignorant of facts necessary to this end, but, considered in a general way, I hesitate not to decide in the negative.

“By this exposition your excellency will know that I have referred alone to vessels that ought to be towed, and, fearful of committing errors of judgment in the calculation able to be made upon the probable number of ships that would pass the straits, the cost of the tow-boats, their maintenance, and other things connected with an undertaking of this nature, I leave to others who, with dates more valuable, can lay before your excellency the reasons they entertain.

“It is possible and I desire greatly they may contribute to make the obstacles disappear which I have exposed, and which alone the desire of being exact has influenced me to manifest, obeying thereby the dictates of my conscience, since it imports nothing in this subject to be carried away by the imagination, forming flattering dreams whose realization, if not insuperable, presents, nevertheless, great difficulties; and I believe it is worth more to know the truth, although it deprives us of a pleasant delusion.

“Among the advantages which ought to present themselves for the foundation of such an undertaking not the least that offers itself is the establishment of a coal-yard at Punta Arenas, (Sandy Point,) which will facilitate greatly the movements of the tow-boats, and where they will come in immediate contact with the traffic of the steamers, recourse to which undoubtedly would need the vessels employed in that traffic.

“If the exposition which precedes is not as extensive and precise as it would have been desirable, I expect your excellency will please excuse it in view of the lack of statistics and official informtion which so delicate a business requires.”

For the information and other purposes of your excellency the above has been transcribed.

God guard your excellency.