Daily globe., 1879-04-11
ON THE VAR PATH.

ON THE VAR PATH.
Important Consol ldation of Missouri River
Carrying Neutrality-suspicious. Of the
Northwest Transportation Company
Personnel and Material of the New Com
paDy, Etc.
The GLOBE Of Wednesday morning an
nounced the presence in the city of G. 4.
Peck, Keokuk, 1a.; E. D. Comings and
John H. Charles; Sioux City, Ia; and Com
msdore Kountz, Allegheny, Pa. Soon after
the gentlemen had registered at the Mer-
chants on Friday evening, the GLOBE envoy
made himself known to one of the party,
and in resoonse to the query of ''why are
these things thusly," was as quietly informed
the "things were moving" Pressed for
more definite answer, the envoy was
advised to keep his eyes and ears open and
wait. For two days the envoy acted on this
advice, and yesterday his patience was re-
warded by the announcement, "It's q bird;
see Wider
The envoy twigged, and he straightway
took himself to the Office of Merriam &
Wilder, 100 jackson street. Here he found
Mr.. A. II. Wilder, of the firm, and several
other gentlemen, in earnest consultation.
Notwithstanding the evidence of business 80
plainly observable, Mr.. Wilder gave the envoy
cordial greeting, and placed himself in an
attitude for hearing and answering what
might be propounded.
Getting at once to business the envoy
stated his visit to be for the purpose of get
ting at the "true inwardness'' of reported
important change in Missouri river transpor-
tation matters for which he had been on the
look out for a couple of days.
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business. Mr.. John 81. Charles and myself
interest in the Missouri river steamers Fon-
tanelle, Peninah and Gen. Mead.''
'sWhat use does Mr.. Peck propose to make
of those steamers?''
"On that point would prefer you seeing
Mr.. Peck, or some one acting with him."
"Does this sale extend beyond the river
business3"
s'Not Dy any means. It has seemed ad-
visable to consolidate and concentrate the
upper Missouri and Yellowstone rivers
steamboat interests, and tae sale made is for
that purpose. My other frontier business is
in nc way touched by the transaction, the
only change being, as I said, that Mr..
Charles and myself drop out of the steam
boat business, which is taken up by other
parties. But see Mr.. Peck himself, or some
one in his interest and you will get the
whole thing, and it will be good item for
the GLOBE when you get it,
thanking Mr.. Wilder for his kindness
the envoy started hunt for 'Mr. Peck, OF
some one in his interest,"" and soon sue
ceeded in finding the latter, from whom il
was learned that the purchases above men
toned were made for the purpose of esta0-
fishing Inc Northwest Transportation com.
pany with feet of niue boats to run be-
tween Sioux City and Bismarck and Fort
Benton, and points on the Yellowstone river
with land freighting connections to all parts
of Montana and the frontier. The princi-
pal parties to this company are Mr.. G. K
Peck, of Keokuk; Mr.. II. G. Atkins, of Siou1
City; and Mr.. E. D. Comings, until recently
of Sioux City, but now St. Paulite, in goot
standing.
, In the organization is consolidated the in
terest heretofore represented by the Peel
line of Missouri steamers, the interest o
Commodore Kountz, represented by MI
( Comings, and the Wilder and Charles inter
: est, heretofore operating separately, and nat
. urally frittering their strength away agains
: , the real objective point, at which all wer
! aiming, lat least so reasons the envoy tn
Coulson line.
By the consolidation q fine feet of steam
. ers, of equal number and tonnage to tn
, Coulson line, are gathered under one man
agement, and with the extensive business con
e nections of the parties interested, the new OF
: ganization is bound to become powerful
8 competitor for the river carriage OF the i'm
mense business of the upper Missouri AM
Yellowstone rivers.
a Besides the Fontanelle, Peninah and Ger
K Meade, purchased of Messers. Wilde
Charles, the new line will have the steamer
G. K. Peck, Nellie Peck, Gen. Tompkin
8 Gen. Rucker, Gen. Custer and John {
e Scully. Two of these boats are now at Bis
y marck loading for the upper river, Other
are on the way up from St. Louis, and sti
others will leave the latter port this week c
, early next week. The company alread
. have sufficient freight in sight by contra
for a good seasons business, and til
intention of the management is to have
.. cool deal to say about carrying whatevt
may have to be contracted for in the futur
- One of the most satisfactory featur
fact that it has given St. Paul new res
=. dent in the person of Mr.. E. D. Coming
q one of the clearest headed, most enterpri
g. ing and energetic business men of the lar
re number of men of that class engaged in tt
trade and development of the great Mort
e west, pierced by the Upper Missouri al
~ Yellowstone rivers. Such men are good
4 have around new city, and the CLIO
e. therefore welcomes Mr.. Comings to
er Paul. and gives to the Northwest Tran
,g portation company "long may it wave."
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