Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-01
MARINE TRADE.
Business Among the Steam
boats.
How They Have Run, and the
Cotton Brought by each
Boat.
A Budget Of Good Reading for
Boatmen.

Rapid strides have been made in
steamboating since the year 1907 when
FultOn's frststeamboat, the Clermont,
undertook the transmission Of passen-
gers between New York and Albany,
a distance of 100 miles. 1t was slow
work, the trip consuming about 3G
hours or at the rate ola fraction over
four miles an hour or walking speed,
At this time no other steamboat
foated upon the waters of the world.
-Four years later Fulton and Living
ston built the Orleans at Pittsburg
and ia the following spring she de-
scended the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers to New Orleans In those days
it took from four to six weeks for the
journey Now boats Of to day make
the tripfrom eight to ten days stopping
at all places of interest and attending
to regular business, The Orleans in
1872 took niue days to make the trir
from New Orleans to Natchcz. W.
have a number Of boats now that can
go owe the same stretch of water in.
side OF q hours. Many of the boats
Of to.dAy are large and elegant steam
ers finely furnished and passengers
enjoy almost all the comforts OF home
and without the fear of danger.
HATCHIE RIVER.
In the good old days before the war
quite u largo trade was carried on be.
tween this port and the towns and
plantations along the Hatchie river.
Boats OF 1900 bales capacity used to
navigate this stream during the cotton
season but since the building of the
Louisville railroad which crosses the
river near Brownsville 100 miles from
the mouth of the river, navigation
in that stream has dwindled down to
almost nothing.
Last winter after a detention of sew.
eral weeks waiting for the compile
ton orthe draw, the w j. Poitevent
ascen led Hltchie river to Bolivar,
the head Of navigation, aud, notwith-
standing the cotton season was almost
over, she returned here with a good
trip. Trade between Memphis and
Hatchie river is to be revived again
this season. 1t is understood that
during the present month a boat
will be built tor Captain j. G. Oates
Il Company, by Captain Walker
at his docks located at the lower
portion of the city. The length
Of the boat is to be- 105 feet, 26 feet
beam and 4 feet hold with capacity
for 50l bales cotton. Captain Oates
who will probably take command, is a
very enterprising man and quite popu
lar with the planters Of Hatchie river
valley-he having run boats up that
stream for a number Of years.
LEE U. S. MAIL LINE.
This line WIS inauguratcd in the
sprlng Of 1867, by Captain James Lqe
and he is still to be found on an
elegant steamer named to his honor
and which has been running rcgu-
larly, making tri- weekly trips to
Friars Point, 100 miles below here,
ever since she came out two years sro.
The steamer James Lee, which is the
fastest, finest and best appointed pack
ct that ever ran regularly from this
port was built by Captain James Rees
and Sons, of Pittsburg, expressly for
this trade She has been very sue
cescful during the time she has been
running. In pliut Of speed and
comfort she is not excelled by
any boat running out of this port.
Her staterooms are large and airy, the
cabins handsomely furnished and all
the comforts of home or as much az
can be enjoyed on any steamboat is to
b, found ofthe Memphis and Friars
Point packet James Ice. Lloyd
Whitlog, her chief clerk, has held that
responsible posi- ion ever since the
boat came out, he enjoysa fine reputa-
ton among the shippers and travel
ing public and is held in high esteem
by his EMPLOYERS
LEE LINE TO OSCEOLA.
Until a month ago this trade was
represented by the steamer 0sceola
Belle, built expressly for this trade.
which made tri weekly trips to 0sceo-
la distant about 50 miles above here.
On the 3lst of July shewss burned to
gether with the Idlewild while lyinQ
at the landing. Captain james Lee
Superintendent Of the Lee Line at
once procured the splendid sidewheel
steamer ReneM tcrcady to temporarily
take the place OF the Belle for a few
weeksuntil the Coahoma now undergo
ing repairs,be ready for duty, when the
latter will be placed in the trade per.
manently aud continue throughout
the season. Since the retirement Of
the Coahoma several monthG ago
workmen have b en- quite busy giving
her a thorough overhauling, repairing
and repainting. She has always been
a faithful and lucky boat. and will be-
come quite popular with the people
living along the line
LEE LINE TO COMMERCE..
This short trade OF about thirty
miles will bereprcsenled by a splendid
sidewheel packet for which arrange
ments have already been made. Ii is
to be a daily packet leaving here every
evening and returning next morning
giving her patrons almost an entire
day in which to attend to business or
enjoy themselves
MEMPHIS AND CINCINNATI
The Memphis and Ohio River Pack.
ct Company have six boats. namely.
Andy Baum, James w. G.f. Cons
Millar, Vint Shinkle, James d. Par
ker and Virgie Lee. These boats run
the entire year with the exception of
a month or tive when the Ohio river
is very low or obstructed BY ice,
We have three boats leaving here. ar
irving and departing each week. They
bring on an average Of 400 to 800 t,ns
each of all kinds Of Western produce
and return to Cincinnati with cotton
most Of it compressed and destined to
Eastern ports. These boats are repre-
scented in this city, By Captain r.. w.
Lightburne, who is general freightand
ticket agent and superintendent at
this end Of the line. lie furnishes
through tickets TO all the principal
cities ofthe East which include trans
fer at Cincinnati, which is attended to
by the officers Of the boats. The off
Of this line are James w. CAT.
D.n.,Jout. ~ m ga vi. D-.:I