Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-29
STAND FROM UNDER.
Commodore Davidson DOps His War
Paint, Preparatory to Making Another
Dash for tho Commerce of the Upper


Commodore Davidson DOps His War
Paint, Preparatory to Making Another
Dash for tho Commerce of the Upper
mississippi.
The name of Commodore VIM. IT. David
son is synonymous of dash, pluck, energy
and determination, and all that the words
imply, in connection with his career on the
upper Mississippi river. It is but few
years since he entered the lists with one
small boat, in opposition to the powerful
corporations then controlling the rive,
traffic, for portion of the business doing.
1t is not necessary here to re-
capitulate the Commodore's Ga
reer from that time to this
It is as familiar as household words to all
residents along the banks of the Father of
Waters, from St. Paul to St. Louis, and from
St. Louis to the gulf. With an energy that
would not accept defeat, and sagacity as
wise as it was aggressive, he steadily pushed
his way to the front, acquiring a little here
and there, until he to-day largely controls
the river traffic from St. Louis to st. Paul,
With the growth Of the country tributary
to the upper Mississippi, the advent of the
railroad and the changes that have taken
place in the river itself since the Commo
dore came upon the field of action, a change
has of necessity taken place in the characte,
of the river business, necessitating CORES
ponding changes in the mode of doing the
same. One of the striking characteristics
OF the Commodore, and one to which his
success is probably most attributable, is the
fact that he has anticipated and prepared
for these changes, SO that when
they came, he was able to meet
them aud reap the fruits of his foresight
This characteristic OF the Commodore il
again receiving marked exemplifcation by
another new departure, the nature of which
is fully set forth in the following, copied
from the ST.. Louis Globe Democrat OF re-
cent date:
When Commodore Davidson, of the Keokul
Northern Liue Packet com any, built the Ea
giles to run between St. Louis and Kookuk
making three round trips per week, it was re-
garded as very advanced step in navigation
on the Upper Mississippi. And it was. e.
conraged by the results of this experiment.
the Commodore is, however, about to make an
| other dash that will far eclipse the previous
one, and work a revolution in navigation OF
the upper river. He proposes to construct
feet of
THREE NEW STEAMERS
to form through line between st. Louis ant
St. Paul on the fastest time on record in thes
waters.
These new steamers are to be side-wheelers
Of uniform dimensions and STYLE 81 feet bean
| and 300 feet in length. They will be Is fee
longer than the Eagles. but Of lighter draft
drawing but two feet of water and are expect
to be built at La Crosse and the other two q
st. Louis. The Dan Hine will pass up to-day
with barge Of timber for the one to be con
structed at the former place. They are to b,
new throughout, end will cost between $50, 0Ot
and 100000 each.
They are expected to make
THE ROUND TRIP
between st. Louis and St. Paul in one week
The usual time now is nine or ten days. Tn,
distance between these two points is 800 miles
30 it will be seen that the boats will have t,
make pretty good time to accomplish this
It is anticipated that they will be able t.
make seventeen or y, eighteen miles pei
hour up stream. They will be built wit!
Wow to accommodating the passenge
traffic, and will carry only passengers and light
freight. The new boats will be out about The
last of May or first of June.
NEW PACKET DEPICTS.
During the past eighteen months the com
pany has erected new packet depots at Daven
port and Montrose, Iowa. Rock Island, Nauvoo
Quincy, Cincinnati, Turner'S, Beach's Landing
and War Eagle, ILL.,; Gregory's Landing, Gan
ton, Ia Grange, Hamilton, Falmouth, SCOTS
and Cap-au-Gris, Mo. These buildings, in
Guiding the stock yards in connection with
them. have cost the company about $62 600
These large OUTLAWS OF money for steamb boats
and buildings Indicate that the K. N. Packe
company intend making things livelier thar
ever on the river next season.