Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-27
RIVER TRANSPORTATION.

III
Freieht Carried To aud From st. Paul
by the River Steamers-A Considerable
1ncrease Although There Was Too
Much Water Ont of the River-The Fast
Passenger Boats-Good Prospects for
Steamboatmen.
Through the kindness of Capt. Jno. II.
Reaney and II. D. Mathews, Esq, agents here
of the two steamboat lines, the GLOBE is en-.
abled to give showing of the river business
of the season of 1881, in comparison with
1880, as follows:
K.NL L. & ST. L. & ST. P. PACKETS.
1880. 1851.
Freight brought to ST. Paul, TONS 1910 S,947
Freight taken from st. Paul, tons zoos 3,055
Total round trips, st. Louis to st.
Paul.. ::......... Ito 0S
Number of horses, mules and cat
included I'M in the St. Paul shipments of the
season of 1881, by the st. Louis and St. Paul
packet line, were one of 1900 barrels of
flour through to New Orleans, one of
$500 sacks of flour through to Europe via
New Orleans; and one of $4,000 bushels of
wheat in bulk, to Europe via New Orleans.
The round trips, st. Louis and St. Paul,
made by the several boats of the Keokuk
Northern packet company in 1880 were as fol-
lows: Tidal Wave II, Arkansas 2, Annie Is,
Belle of Lacrosse IA, Clinton Is, Minnesota z,
Red Wing II, Minneapolis 6, Northwestern 2,
Alex. Mitchell Z, Bald Eagle 2, Alex. Kendall,
II, Charlie Clever 4, Victory 1, and Mary
Barnes 2. Total no trips.
The round trips made by the several boats
of the st. Louis and st. Paul packet company,
succeeding, this year were as follows: Mary
Barnes l, Arkansas 10, Grand Pacific Is, Bald
Eagle 4, White Eagle Is, Alex. Kendall 2,
Victory 1, Fannie Tatum 2, Gem City IS, Cen
tennial 2, Bright Light 2, War Eagle 4, and
Minneapolis 1. Total, 6S trips.
DIAMOND 10 LINE.
1880. 1881.
Freight brit to st. Paul, tons. -. 1858 6,157
Freight from st. Paul, tons..... 4,1S6 1,0S5
Total OF round trips ~ "a
The round trips made by the boats of this
line this season were as follows: Mary Nor
ton, 16; Libbie Conger, Is; Diamond 10, Is;
Josie, Is; and Josephine, IA. Total, "a trips.
REVIEW OF THE SEASON.
The totals of freight carried to and from st.
Paul for this season of 1881, by the two lines,
being 15,104 tons brought to the city and
1000 tons carried from if, are but small in
comparison with the the tonnage of freight
received and forwarded over our railroads.
Yet It would have required about 800 cars to
have moved as much freight. Furthermore,
the Importance of the boat lines to the CON-
merce of st. Paul is not to be estimated by
their freight carrying, for it is potent fact
that while they are running the railroads are
compelled to be cheap carriers. 1t is also
equally certain that if the channel of the river
is improved so as to make the river perma-
nently navigable throughout the open season
of each year both shippers and steamboatmen
will be thereby made more Independent. of the
railroads, and the latter will be compelled to
carry cheaper than they have yet been required
to.
The river season has been notable because
OF the extraordinary high stage of water from
the opening of the river last spring until this
time. But at the opening of the season the
old Keokuk Northern line had been broken up
and its successor, the st. Louis &
st. Paul line, was but partly Or
ganized; and the Diamond 10 line
had become, in three or four years OF low wa
ter, committed to business along shore, most
ly below Lake Pepin, about all it could take
care of. Hence there has not been as many
boats here this season as was needed, and they
have not come with regularity If there had
been more boats, running regularly. there
would have been more business, although
freightlng was throughout the fall limited by
the unusual rains, preventing country deliv-
cries at shipping points.
The passenger business of the two lines is
not stated, but it is understood to have been
about double that of 1880, so that the season,
as whole, has been a profitable one for the
boats.
1t is reported that both lines will be in
creased and improved for next season. The
owners are encouraged to increase their in
vestments by the good progress making in
~, ND NV ha r1v in
creasing evidences that the railroads cannot do
all the business of the river towns, and that
there is going on a rapid development of COM
merce which peculiarly belongs to the river,
the exchange Of 'long-shore products and
manufactures which cannot pay heavy charges
of transportation.
The through shipments to New Orleans and
Europe, as noted above, are believed to be the
beginning of an important diversion of eX-
ports and imports in favor of river transpor-
tation. With the river improved SO that
barges and boats can be run the season through,
to and from st. Paul even in low-wa seasons,
the cheapness of the water route to the ocean
must In time ensure large through carrying
trade to and from the gulf port.
The new departure by Commodore David
son, of the st. Louis s. st. Paul line, in put
ting on two fast boats, which have made the
round trip regularly once week, was highly
appreciated by the travelling public and
helped greatly to make the river route popu-
lar with summer tourists. Next season the
fast boats are promised as regular feature
from the opening to the close of the season.
The figures of tonnage above given, it
should be remembered, do not include the
large business of local and irregular boats in
carrying wood. brick, lumber, ETC., of which
no record is kept.
CITY NOTICES: