Complex sentence: After the rival boats were sidelined Johnson & Company had no competition as a result of the struggle with the Opposition lines, rates had fallen and service improved due to the addition more boats and the use of barges.
Split into simpler sentences: After the rival boats were sidelined Johnson & Company had no competition as a result of the struggle with the Opposition lines. The competition had caused rates to fall and service improved due to the addition more boats and the use of barges.