The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23

The jolly Josie will be up this after
noon. Capt Corbett is in command.
The mammoth Centennial came down
this morning with good trip.
The palatial st. Paul will be the next
boat up of the White Collar line. She
will be here some time tomorrow.
The race horse Mary Morton, OF the
Diamond 10 fleet, will land here Tor
southern points tomorrow afternoon.
The rafting at Beef Slough commenced
on the 10th of April There was about
100 000,0 900 feet RATED this week. The
rafting has been carried on so rapidly that
the Scandinavian camp had to discon'
tinue, owing to the inability OF the steam
boats to take the braiIs away as rapidly as
they were put together. In fact the work
done some days approached 5000, 0OO
feet They intend to rush the business
this year and make short job of it.
A lumber dealer, just down from the
north, says: Most of the drives on the
Mississippi tributaries are coming along
satisfactorily, though there has been but
little rain. and the disappearance OF tht
snow was very gradual. All the princi-
pal drives will come out all right how
ever. The drives on the Tamaroa ant
the Moose, which contain about 1900
600 feet, are probably hung up for thu
season. But a favorable report is re
ceived from the west branch of the Rum
usually the most treacherous stream
the lot, and the Pine River drive is com
ing in good shape. Every log hung up OF
the Mississippi means shortage in thu
stock of logs, which will result in tn
shutting down of the mills just so muc
earlier. The fact becomes more and NOR
realized that every log that gets into th
main river will be sawed out before th
end of the usual saving season, and ths
next spring it will be impossible for tn
mills to start earlier than June 1, becaus
there will be no logs that can be got t
the mills before that time. Under thes
circumstances, no pains will be spared
get every log that it is possible to get, an
obstinate difficulties, should they occu
will be persistenuy fought"
The steamboat companies are trouble
as frequently as railroad lines by the fire
pass fiend. That this system of petty bel
ging has assumed the magnitude of q
obnoxious nuisance is no longer que
ton, but fact That an end must 500
be brought it is also evident. The riv
c lines have long suffered in silence, and
q is but Justice for them to oppose it
4 thoroughly as to leave no doubt that tht
intend to, and will, cut it down to
j least a business basis, where those M
e entitled to the privilege will have l
It chance of creeping in far enough TO ha'
r their requests answered. Unlike the raj
roads, where transportation only
. asked, the steamboat companies a
Z usually asked for a clean pass, Whit
o means transportation, berth, and mes
n for any distance. from 100 to 1000 mile
The cost of such favors is very large
the aggregate These modest request
are entirely too frequent and should n
be honored except when the courtesy
due in business way. Steamboats, We
u seldom strike gold hills" in these da
d of extensive rail competition, and t
pass system is one that bears to We
> heavy extent upon the light receipts
s. the week, month or year. A united eff
" should be made by the companies a
$, this obnoxious nuisance wiped out
n Louis Globe Democrat.