The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-05
THE BR0ADHORN FLEET.
WHAT IS TO BE FOUND IN OUR HAIR
Dor ON THE FLATBoATs.
A Deal Of Information as to How Apples,
Potatoes and Other Produce Is Han
died On the Levee. and What the STUFF
Is Worth.

"A This is about the time OF the year that
n the fiatboats make their appearance on
q Southern waters, and just now they are
moored at our wharf to the number of
n dozen, with more to come.
A few years ago from thirty to forty
boats lay at the landing all ct once, and
very often their stay here extended over
n three, sometimes four months, and even
Il longer. For some time back, however,
the broadhorn traffic has been waning
and now they are not as numerous us in
bygone days.
The causes Of tho decline OF the business
is VERY various" and it is not necessary
to give details in an article like this. Rail
way barge lines and cheap car ying steam
boats have contributed 10 the result.
There will always be flatboats, however, as
long as there is timber to build them OF,
and though they may be few in number
4 we will have them at our wharf every year
= as long as the Mississippi River flows
z toward the Gulf. Last year there were
.fabout dozen boats with their cargoes OF
apples. cabbage and other stuff,
.teliefly Ohio Valley produce, sold out at
\ our wharf. Sometimes there is boat or
two loaded with tiles, fire brick and the
like brought here for a market from the
kilns on the upper Ohio. The spots will
be Knocked out OF this traffic later ii the
proposed kiln near Grand junction does
not fall through.
number OF flatboat argosies 90 on
further south for a market, and in earlier
days ha II Of the wooden houses in the city
oil New Orleans were constructed Of fiat
boat plank, while nearly all OF the side
walks in the outskirts Of that famous city
were built Of flatboat gunwales. There
are people living here now-and not gray
bee ., either-who remember when Pow
dras street and all Of the thoroughiares
near the river front had ilatboat gunwales
for sidewalks
This year, ms noted, the flatboats are
here as usual but so far there has been
little else than apples offered among the
broadhorn fleet. And ii may be noted
that apples, as well MS other produce, is
awfully cheap this season-cheaper indeed
han has been known for a generation.
The law OF supply and demand governs
values in this rs in other commodities, and
II a barrel OF potatoes is worth barely 81 80
now, against double as much last year, it
is all because the crop has been abundant.
Well, just now there are full 1900 bar
rels OF apples aioat in our harbor. About
5000 barrels were sold here within the
past week or Ten days, and many came
by rail, but the bulk of the lot came on
steamers and floats. The majority Of the
boats here now are from up near Wheel
ing, w. Va, and points within twenty
miles oil there, but one or two craft with
apple cargoes came from New Amsterdam,
about fifty miles below Louisville. II was
about a week ago that the towboat II. i.
Frisbce arrived here with large fleet of
produce loaded boats in tow, and she
dIopped or left seven OF the list here
Tor market, then pushed on for further
south with the remainder some fifteen or
more going south.
OF those moored at our wharf now, there
is the barge Powhattar. lolonmngto Capt.
Geo. Anschuiz. from Darlington, upper
Ohio, about twenty miles below Wheel
ing. This craft met with a mishap last
Thursday evening, having been sunk by
the steamer Kate Adams rs that vessel
backed away from the landing The cargo
consisted Of 900 barrels Of apples, eight
barrels OF cider. 70 ty-nine barrels Of POI
tatoes end thirty.two barrels OF onions. Il
was badly damaged. and being insured in
Bensdoris agency force was at once put
thing
Three DAYS ago, or ON Monday last, the
cargo brought nearly -, 100 NJ public out
cry on the landing. OF the lot, /, 500 bar
rels OF damaged apples went to the vine
gar factory at 81 cents per barrel, and 100
barrels, not damaged, sold for sl.l5 per
barrel, while eight barrels Of cider realized
SBi IN all. The potatoes and onions arc
worthless, but the barge may be saved.
This was not bad sale considering the
fact that apples in car lots are today worth
only 81 10 sl.b0 per barrel, rs 10 quality,
while potatoes are only IS TO as cents per
bushcl and onions from Sl.20 20 Sl.i0 per
barrel, this being for round lots on ar.
rival, mind.
Other boats, now aloat and in good
order, either Mt the levcc, foot OF Court
street, or above the city. awaiting chance
20 sell, include one ilatboat belonging 10
Mr.. Woodland, from below Louisville,
which brought about 1900 barrels Of APP
PIES also II. II. Mallory's three ilatboats,
which came In the Frisbcc's tow eleven
days out from Darlington. with 100 bar.
rels Of potatoes and $500 barrels OF apples
also John Beavers ilaiboat from Mata.
aGss :. near Wheeling. with 1900 barrels
Of apples; also L. Williamson's boat with
s,DuO barrels OF apples, ana another boat
owned by Capt. Anschutz, with |, 100 bar
rcls Of apples. These are about all oi the
flatboais now In our port, aud large
share Of their cufgoes have been disposed
Of. In this connection IL may be well to
remark that an apple dealer sent big
round lot here few DAYS ago, aud had
been led 10 believe that he could gciabout
81 per barrel for them. lie will hayc to
close out his venture at loss; for a single
barre OF very good apples can be had at
that figure.
There are q number Of flats with pro-
duce now under way aud coming down
the Ohio Tor this port. In the list IL
Thornley, & Wilholms craft, which Mt last
accounts was floating lazily with the cur
rent near Raccoon Island; also l.. 4. Km-
lnor's boat, which was at Unioniown,
lower Ohio, four days ago. The cirgocs
will be reported when they reach here.
Several other boats are to arrive, but the
owners names have not been asccrtained
BErcHUN's riLIs act like magic on a weak
stomach.
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