The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-01
THE River INTERESTS.
A SHORT AND ACTIVE SEASONS
BUSINESS
Followed by a Long Period Of Dull.
ness, Eating Into the Win.
ter's Profits.

petter III Che history OF river traffic
during the past year, and steamboat
men continue to complain of bad
business. This is notably the case
with the boats that ply in st Francis
river and the local packets that com
pose the Lee Line of steamboats,.
While the amount of freight carried
during the business season was
ample and remuuerstive, the crop
was marketed before spring was
fairly opened, and from a period be-
ginning In March, the Lee Line has
not been doing a thriving business.
This result is largely due to en-
eroachments of railroads, and also to
the fact that the planters along the
section of the Mississippi and st.
Francis rivers, served by the Lee
Line, are raising almost enough of
the necessaries of life to make
them independent OF purchases at
distant points, and this season
has been conspicuous for the
small amount of provisions and
breadstuffs shipped to points along
the river. During the year
just ended, the steamers Foster and
Macready brought to this point from
St. Francis river 1916 bales of cot
ton, 14O7 sacks of seed cotton, 35,668
sacks of cotton seed, 1862 packages
of suudries and 43 head of cattle.
The steamers Dean Adams and Goa
homa carried to this point during
the same period 1924 bales of cot
ton, S6,522 sacks of cotton seed, 5457
sacks of seed cotton and 1896 sacks
of corn. The steamer James Lee
hauled 30,553 bales of cotton, 1922
sacks of cotton seed and 1850 sacks
of seed cotton. The steamer Gay
oso's business to this port is repre-
scented by the following figures:
1903 bales nf cotton, 1893 sacks of
seed cotton, 25,079 sacks of cotton
seed, 1880 sacks of corn, 2S2 sacks
of peanuts, 1011 head of cattle, 1923
packages Of sundries. The Kate
Adams brought 28,84O bales of cot
ton, 162,415 sacks of seed and
1900 sacks of seed cotton, be-
sides re,hipping at Helena
5000 sacks of cotton seed.
The Anchor Line continues to do
q profitable business, and is appar-
emily little disturbed by railroad
competition. They have during the
past year kept ten boats running
regularly, five from st. Louis to
Vicksburg and five from St. Louis
to New Orleans. The only draw
back the line has experienced has
been a freeze in the river this
spring, which closed navigation for
six weeks.
The fleet of local packets has been
diminished during the year by the
sinking OF the Winnie in st. Francis
river, and the destruction by fire, on
the goth day of June, OF the fine
Lee Line steamer, Dean Adams. tits
not likely that they will be replaced.
The steamers Chickasaw and Fred
die Robinson divide the business of
White river. The former carried
to Memphis during the past season
1882 bales of cotton and 10000
sacks of seed. Her two largest trips
were respectively 1880 and 1926 bales
of cotton. The Memphis and Cincin.
natl Packet Company keep two boats
in the trade between here and Gin
cinnati, and have enjoyed q good
seasons patronage. The Helena
and Chouteau have during a portion
of the past season made periodical
trips between here and New Or
leans devoting themselves largely to
the carrying of seed, in which they
were eminently successful.