The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-09-17
THE POOL LINE.

of Sunday, Sept. 9TH, gets off a large,
handsome and neatly executed edi-
ton, with their annual statement,
after the custom of the New Orleans
papers on the LIST of September. In
that issue we find great deal of in
teresting local matter of the trade
and commerce of Shreveport, and we
cannot forego the pleasure Of giving
in full their article on the Pool Line.
1t will bear reading in Rapiles, and
is nothing but just tribute TO Cap
tain Jos.iA. Aiken, the President Of
the Line:-.
In the especial edition of the Times
we feel We would be remiss in our
duties if we failed TO make more than
brief mention of the Red River Trans
portation Company. For several
years after the war large number Of
steamboats, run between this place
and New Orleans, and among The
number were some of as fine boats as
floated on the Western waters, own
ed and commanded by men who had
been for many years identical with
the interests and prosperity of the
Red River trade. Whilst some oae
or two owners Of steamboats, were
fortunate enough to lay aside enough
of the hard earnings "for a rainy
day." the majority of Them did a los
ing business because OF Che great
competition and ruinous low rates at
which they were forced to transport
freight, and to-day many of them are
poor indced-even without a shelter
they can call their own. 1t required
no very great foresight to sec that
something must be done to remedy
the evil, else all would soon become
entirely bankrupt. Therefore in
June, 1875, those of the Re,; River
captains who were owners of boats,
formed themselves into 4 company,
established living freight and pas,
senger rates and agreed TO spool
their earnings" The organization
was chartered and is to-day known as
the Red Rivers Transportation Com
pany, and Captain JOSEPH, A. Aiken
chosen President, a position he has
ever since filled with credit to him
self and entire satisfaction to his
Company.
The first year after organization,
the Company encountered all the Ills
chat steamboating is heir to, such as
the loss of two or three good boats,
low water, opposition from several
disappointed or disaffectcd steam
boatmen, who would enter the trade
with some old worm-eaten tub, or
possibly good boat, but oftener the
former, and for no other purpose
than to "cut rates" by which means
they hoped to force the Company to.
take them in or to buy them off,
The second year was nearly rep;ti-
lion of the first. Still at The close
of Tue season The Company found
they had small balance to their
credit. Thus encouraged, new stca-
mers were built in place Of old ones,
and the Company entered upon the
third year with every prospect of do
ing a paying business, but in this
they were disappointed. The third
year was fraught with disastcra, low
water and dangerous navigation
which occasioned tedious delays and
an outlay of private means on the
part of every member of the Compa
ny in improving the navigation of
the stream. About the time these
difficulties had been surmounted, The
yellow fever made its appearance in
New Orleans, thus causing the most
stringentquarantine regulations to be
enforced by every village and town
along Red River against that unfor.
tunaie city.
After the quarantine was raised
business resumed it's natural func-
tions and the best class of both high
and low water packets belonging to
the Red River Transportation Com
pany piled regularly between all
points on Red River and the Cres-
cent City, carrying freight and pas
sengers both ways at the lowest liv-
ing rates.
Since the organization of The Com
pany the interests of the Red River
valley have been better subserved
than ever before. We have been
furnished with an excellent class of
steamers, differed by experienced