The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-23
THE DAILY STAR
RIVER AND RAILROADS.
The Year Drawing to a Close
an Eyentful One.

Of the annual report Of Colonel Sidney ID.
MAXWELL Superintendent OF the Chamber
ofCommerce:
The year Of 1s7s-79, to the river interests
of Cincinnati, has been a somewhat memo
rable one. The three preceding years had
been distinguished by peculiarly favora-
bic conditions Especially was this the
case with ls77-7s, which, notwithstanding
the breaking out of yellow fever late in
the year, in the Southern cities along the
Mississippi River. was still one Of the most
satisfactory seasons in many years. The
past year has had q CONJUNCTION of unfavora-
Bile circumstances Both the elements and
disease appeared to be conspiring against
this department of our business
The quarantine, which was established
before the close of the preceding year,
amounted to an embargo on our lower
river trade until the first of November,
1873. Then, from December oath, 1873.
until January 15th, 1879, boats we're ice
bound, the Ohio River opposite Cincin-
natl having been so frozen during most of
the period as to offer a safe hi .hway for Pc
destrians. At variance with nearly all pre-
cedent, there was neither May nor
June rise so that in June and July there
was very low water. Later in the last
named month there was heavy rain, which
improved the condition OF navigation very
much during the month of August but
this had scarcely been felt when the pres
ence of yellow fever at Memphis demanded
precautionary measures, and quarantine
was again. established, which lasted until
after the8xonclusion of the commercial
year. It will thus be seen that less than
one-half of the year remained for boating
purposes. Them so far as the lower South
ern trade is concerned, there was feeling
of anxiety among travellers, growing out of
the prevalence Of the epidemic in the pre-
ceding Summer, which initiated against
travel during such parts of the year as
were exempt from disease.
Under such circumstances as these, that
the boats should have been able to make
even tolerabe showing, indicates how
firmly the river business has been estab-
lished, and what promise there is for it
when we are blessed with favorable condi-
tiuns After the conclusion of quarantine
in 1878, and until the closing OF the river
bv ice, there was good business, which
was followed in January, after the raising
of the ice blockade, by still more pro-
nounced improvement. The p 'oling ar
rangements entered into by the boats en-
gagged in the lower river trades saved the
business from unwholesome competition,
and an arrangement entered into with the
railroads, for the preservation OF uniform
rates, was well maintained throughout the
year, so that the business was done in such
way as to receive satisfactory compensa-
ton, which is more than can be said Of
some previous years. Thirteen steamers,
seven of which were side and six stern
wheelers, made regular trips to New Or
leans generally leaving here on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays. Plying regu-
larly betwe cen here and Memphis were five
steamers, making two and sometimes three
boats leaving mere weekly.
To-the New Orleans line, for the new sea-
son, will be added the Will Kyle and the
Reube1, r. Springer, both new steamers.
To Evansville, one boat has been running
during the past year, and another will be
added during the new year. We have had
one boat running up the Tennessee River,
and the business with that stream has
shown considerable improvement. though
Cincinnati, of late years, has not partici-
pated in the business of that valley to the
extent which its rich resources invite. In
this connection, too, it may be remarked,
that of the Muskingum, Kanawha, Big
Sandy, Kentucky, Green, Wabash, Cum
berland and Tennessee Rivers, all navigable
tributaries to the Ohio, the Tennessee alone
is navigated by a Cincinnati boat. Two
steamers have run hence to Madison, max.
ing, except on Sunday, one boat daily. The
list would by no means be 'mplete with
ont adding the Cincinnati and Louisville
Mail Line, which has, as in II any former
years, had steamer leaving daily fol
Louisville. ;......
The up-river trade has been affected
sympathetically at least, by the unfavora
BILE features Of parts OF the year in tht
lower trade, as well as by the extremel.
low water during the early part and th'
later weeks of the commercial year, bu
the general aspects Of tie year have bee,
favorable. As was indicated in the pre-
ceding report the number of boats ha
been increased, and with enlarged and i'm
proved facilities has come increased bust
ness. Five steamers have been running
between Cincinnati and Pittsburg max
ing. with the boats leaving for Wheeling,
departure daily for the upper Ohio, saw
when interrupted by low water. T
Wheeling, two steamers have been running
as before, leaving this city on Tues
days and Fridays To Huntingdon
two steamers have been running
as during the former year. in connection
with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The new Bostona, in the future, is to con
stitute part Of this line. To Pomeroy
three vessels have been running making
except on Sunday daily departure.
,Tri-weekly trips have been made +
Portsmouth by one steamer; as many b.
another to Maysvlle, and to these shoul
be added daily trips t. Chilo by still an
other boat. We have had also organize
here during the year line Of steamers t
run between Huntington and st. LOui.
leaving this city for st. Louis every Friday
These boats also connect with the Chesa
peake & Ohio Railway. A larger numbe
of transient boats have been running b.
tween Pittsburg and st. Louis, but this ha
not created unhealthy competition.
may be remarked Of the river interest Q
well as of the railroads, that the desirable
ness OF such an understanding as wi
secure a fair remuneration to all concerned
is steadily asse. ting itself. How to best a.
complish these results, without surrende
ing, to q certain extent, in exception,
cases, the benefits which come from bette
facilities and superior business manag
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