The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-01-04
Daily argus.


ES
Wednesday Evening, January 4 1871. ;.
Northern Lime Packet Company
The St. Louis Republican in ito issue o
January lst 1871, gives an extended enc
complete review Of the great trade and com
MERGE of that CITY, from which We take tn
following, containing matters OF local inter
'es. to many of our citizens who have beer
conversant with the history of this popula,
packet company.
In the winter of 1857 and 1858 number
of the captains of steam boats, then running
to St. Paul agreed to form line and make
regular trips, leaving on stated days of the
week. On the opening of navigation the
following steamers composed tri-weekly
line, viz: Steamer Canada, Captain James
Ward ; steamer W. l.. Ewing, Captain
W. Green; steamer Denmark, Captain r. c
Gray; steamer Metropolitan, Captain Thos.
B. Rhodes; steamer Minnesota Belle, Cap
tain Thos. B. Hill, and steamer Pembiua,
Captain Thos. FL Griffith; they agreeing to
pay an equal proportion of all expenses in
Cured outside of that of their own boats.
Messrs. Warden and Shaler were appointed
agents.
The regularity and systematic manage
ment Of these boats gave satisfaction and
were quite successful and the line assuming
the name of the Northern Line, found it re-
Falls City from the Missouri Rive Packet
company, the Memphis Packet Company
owing the other one half. In she year 1907
further additions we're made to the line bv
adding the steamer Chipe~a, Captain w. d.
Crappeta; steamer De~ Drop, Captain n. W.
Parker; steamer Lucie May, Captain J. B.
Rhodes; steamer Aunt Lefty, Captain G. G.
Morrison; steamer Northerner, Captain P.
A. Afford, and steamer Lscleoe, forming
daily line, which continued until the close
of the season.
In the following winter of 1s59-6O the
owners ofthe steamboats, held a meeting and
resolved to form joint stock company, and
accordingly. went into operation under the
general laws for forming corporations Of the
state of Illinois d. Hunkins, Thomas Gordsn
and j. ". Parker of Galena, H., Jno. B.
Rhodes of Savanna, ILL.,, R. G. Gray of
Pittsburgh, Penn, and James Ward and
Thos Fl. Griffith of st. Louis Mo, being the
incorporators and by tie articles of sssocia.
ton directors. Capt. James Ward was
elected president, and Thos 81 Griffith score
tary and treasurer.
Their boats then were the Sucker State,
Hawk Eye State, Canada, Pembina, Metro
politan, Northerner, W. l.. Ewing, Denmark,
Henry Clay, Minnesota Belle, and Fred. Lor.
enz.
Since which time the company has been
in successful operation, bringing down large
amounts of produce and carrying up large
amounts of merchandise and manufactured
goods also carrying gress many passen-
gers, especially 10 the summer season, with
seekers after health and pleasure-vishing
the beautiful scsnsr of the upper Mississip-
pi river and breathing the invigorsting at
mosphere of that hig ii and healthfu latitude
The company have built, since their incor-
poration, the steamers Hawk Eye State,
Sucker State, Davenport, Henderson, Savan-
No, Muscstine, Burlington, Minnesota, Du
buque, Minneapolis, Dan Hine, Red Wing,
and Lake Superior, and great many
bsrges, and have also bought several steam
boats for passengers and towing purposes.
A considerable amount of grain business is
done on barges aud q large amount of it is
now carried in bulk. Nearly all that goes
by rail and the lakes ia carried in that way
Two years ago the company admitted
boats OF the Northwestern Union packet
company into their line, and during the
season of 1869 and 1870 the Northern Line
has had these boats running under the direc-
ton of the officers of the Northern Line
packet company.
The boats running the past season were
all 6rs.>clsss and fine accommodations for
passengers, etc. They were the Lake
Superior, Red Wing, Minneapolis, Dubuque,
western, A. Mitchell, Phil. Sheridan, aud
Belle of Lacrosse. Other boats were used
at various times in aid of the above or to
hi temporary vscancy for repairs, &c.
The Northern Line is Il years running
snd have lost but three boats, the Denmark
sunk at Atlas island by striking log. the
Northerner while laying up at the St Louis
levee was burnt, the fire being com nunica-
ted from another boat, the Burlington at
Nabsshs was sunk BY striking crib pu. in
by the ferry man to work the ferry boat in
winter and not removed.
The business to and from St. Louis trans
acted by this line of steamers forms very
important part of the river commerce, and
assists the prosperity of the city to a consid
cradle extent.
When the present improvements that
are completed, and the canal at the lower
rapids are finished, St. Louis will have an
uninterrupted communication with St. Paul
ct all seasons of the year. except in case of
ice, without breaking bulk, and not subject
TO the delays and grea: expense of tighten
ing at the rapids. The communication will
then he more certain and made in much Iesa
time.
The presen. officers are Thos. B. Rhodes,
President; Thos. Fl. Griffith, Secretary
Thos. J. Buford Superintendent, and I. NJ.
Mason, general freight agent.
Their mammoth wharfbos, is located at
the foot Of Washington avenue, and is
found to be of great advantage to shippers,
in protecting frsight from rough handling on
the levee.
ToTl OF EACH KINDS OF PACKAGES CARRIED
DURING THE SEASON OF 1870.
Sacks wheat ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 87,T11
o4ts.,..... II ,o54
" corn ......... 404:5
IL fi1