Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-14
MISUNDERSTOOD
THE RIVER.

4 "E L NE
George Brown will be stewart on either
the Nellie or c. K. Peck.
There is great activity among steamboat
men at our levee. Large gangs Of men are
at work on the boats undergoing repairs,
and everything portends an unusually early
opening of navigation.
The three steamboats, which wintered OH
the Nebraska side of the river, were brought
to this side to-day, and will Immediately
receive such repairs as are required to put
them in proper shape for the coming boat
ing season.
The government steamer Sherman was
inspected yesterday by Col. Lee and it has
been decided to thoroughly remodel her.
Her cabin will be cut down, the ladie. cabin
removed and the guards reduced. She will
be made an up river boat so far a. is pos
sible.
ST. Louis Journal, 8th:-Late news from
the Red Cloud, per Mr.. Will S. Hays of
the Courier-Journal The Aforesaid stsa-
mer Red Cloud was let into the water, We'd
nesday, from the Carondelet ways: has been
heightened so feet, and is now one of the
best and p%rettiest steamers that will ply on
upper Missouri river. 1t is expected that
she will leave here for Fl. Benton about the
Sd Of April.....We are assured by the gen
tlemen connected with the Kansas CITY
Barge company that it will, beyond a doubt,
put a line of barges on the Missouri river
this spring, but the capacity will not be any,
thing like: adequate to carry all the grain
Of the Missouri valley country to the Mics
issippi. kansas City will do nobly to do
this much in her present state Of develop
ment and wealth, but St. Louis can, and
ought to do much more. There is no doubt
that there will be a strong contest between
her and Chicago for trade at Missouri river
points this spring and summer, and probably
for an indefinite time. Chicago threatens to
carry the business at as low q cost as St.
Louis will do it, and this Chicago can do If
the only transportation employed by both is
that afforded BY railroads. Ifhowever, St.
Louis should adopt our suggestion, and put
a sufficient barge equipment on the Missouri
river, in addition to that which kansas CITY
will put on, to do the business it will afford
a transportation with which Chicago rail-
roads can not compete, and will bring the
fight at Missouri river points to a speedy
close. This will secure to St. Louis not
only the grain trade of this section, but the
supply trade alto, for the barges will afford
as cheap return transportation as they do
the other way, and Chicago
can not compete with hat either. Has
St. Louis the pluck and enterprise to avail
herself of this advantage? 1t has been
promised for some time that St. Louis men
would this spring put some barges into the
river and try it, but it has been alleged tina,
the parties have themselves no faith in its
practicability, and have interests antagonistic
to brave navigation of the Missouri. If,his
be true, this attempt will tend more to de-
monstrate the impractlcability of barge
navigation than to developit into usefulness.
If this be the truth, St. Louis should look
after it and see that so vital a blow at her
best and highest Interests be not struck by
one Of her own people. On the contrary,
she should enter into it in dead earnest and
not allow herself to be discouraged at any
mishap tina. may befall the first attempt.
Such is the course Kansas City proposes to
pursue, and although she expects great ben
efts from it, she is not half so much inter-
ssted and has not half 80 much at stake in it
az St. Iouis.