Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-31
RIVER ITEMS.

snxious With watching we're relieved on Sat
urdsy morning with the glad sisht o.
open psvigation once more; and ear,
that have snxiously listened for the gladsoms
sound Of . stssoboat whistle we're chssrsd
Herewith. Early in tbs morning the Fred
Lossns. Capt. Macon. vas sighted Of the pois'
and sbs came up 10 our lsvss in hsndsom<
styIs. where she vss greeted BY numerous cit
issns vho congratulated her upon being The
6sst toat Of the season to break the somnam.
bu;ic spell which has for some time over cast
the dsnizeos Of this city.
The lest boat Of the season of 1851 was tie
Bill Henderson. and was here cn the 10th ol
December. From that time 70 Saturday, no
river bosts we're here's lapse Of ninety. sevex
| days. during which no boat except the Ferry
Boat has been 1t our lsvse. That 10 Q pretty
long stretch II ws mistake not the river
| closed ON the 9Th Of December, At which
time the Ferry Boat went into Winter quar-.
ters for The last time % the river hes sctual.
" been closed At this point to ell sorts Of nav
igatioo. for eighty.eight days. This 10 one Of
the longest terms OF closed navigation on
record. During that time vs have had more
snow and more sleighing than during any
Winter 10 Iowa within our memory. We BE-
lieve that there were about nine or ten weeks
Of good sleighing during the tine That
would almost fill up the measure Of down
Esster's idea Of life on rnnnsss.
The Fred Lorspz came through from Pitts.
burg, having been out on the trip about four.
teen days. She had on heavy load Of mer.
chandiss-principally iron and nails and two
barges laden each with % toIs Of bituminous
coal from Pittsburg. bound for the Gaiena gae
works. A considsrable portion of the freight
vas eonsigosd to parties above this point, bu,
in consequence Of the ice notfbeing out far
above. Capt. Mason conculded to put his cargo
In store here and return to the Ohio for an.
other.
Some ioquiring mind may s.k what means
II that the Galens Gas Works procure its cup
ply Of coal st Pittsburgh, and brings it eli the
way from there, when 1t can be obtained 20
much nearer home at less rates1 1t costs 8 3 4
cents per bushel delivered in bsrges at Pitts.
burgb. AID some 25 cents per bushsl delivered
st Galsna. Capt. Mason informs rs that the
Company thinks Pittsburgh coal the cheapest
At that figure. 1t MAJ be. He showed " .
certificate which sets forth that one pound Of
Pittsburgh coal makes 475 feet Of gas. and, Of
course. . bushsl Of It. weighing so pounds,
would make thi,t-eight thousand feet! which
costs 10 the coal only Is cents. and 10 worth In
gss. at $3.50 per l 900 feet, the handsoms SUN
Of one hundred and sessnty.one dollaysl Some.
thing Of an increase on coal We should ray.
This may not have much to do with river mat
ters, but We ailude to it because the coal was
part Of the first cargo upon the opening Of
navigation.
The Fred. met the W. L. Ewing about six
miles down. and took of her freight that was
designed for this point. II she had only wait.
cd lev hours. she could have got through.
Capt. Macon intends to run 10 The upper Mis-
sissppi trade this season. We recommend his
boat.
The Ferry.boat Rock Island came out yes.
terday morning and made her way up to our
lsvee. The ice was not out sufficiently oo the
other side to get near the shore. The crew
vas engaged the most of the day in clearing
away the shore ice 90 - 10 get the wharf boat
into place. The ice will probably be out on
the other side to day, 60 - to allow the boat
to commence its regular season trips. We ad-
wise people who don't 60 seross on the bridge
to patroaizs the ferry line by ell meansl The
Rock leland has got an entirely uew deck floor
and new coat of paint inside and out. and is
looking - bright ~ new dollar.
We learn that the ice 10 now out % far M
as Lyons The river 10 full Of running Ice.
which does much damage to the buckets Of the
steamboats' wheels. Other boats will be along