Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-08-23
Western Steamboat Routes.

From profusely illustrated article
on Inland Navigation in the July Gem
tury we quote the following: at is
perfectly true that the western steam
boat interest has been seriously inn
paired by competition with the rail
roads, and that the number of fast
boats has greatly decreased. For tho
position Of steamboat property in tho
past was peculiar. Large numbers OF
the boats were owned by the captains
or their families, and in case OF hard
times or cut rate war with the rail-
roads the boats could be sliced for
debt and traaic stopped. The com
peting raiload, on the other hand,
might be equally in debt, but in the
hands OF receiver ii went on doing
business while the poor boat owner
was tied up with his boat.
This is the common and the darker
view taken OF the steamboat interest
on our great rivers. To Offset this is
the fact that the larger rivers are now
well lighted, and more lights are adj
ded every year. The millions spent
on the rivers have wonderfully inn
proved navigation, and there ere few
er wrecks than ever before. The
slack water avigation, as on the
kanawha and the Monongahela, has
greatly extended the season in which
boats can run, and has thus extended
the earning time OF every boat on
these waters. The ownership OF the
boats mas also changed, and ia place
OF single tramp steamers there are
now regular incorporated companies
owning large fleets Of boats and hav-
ing abundant capital. These compa-
MES are enabled to furnish better,
cheaper and moro regular service, with
less danger OF ruinous competition
with the railroads Formerly the
steamboat service was eXtravagant and
costly in management, while rates
were high and profits large. The
companies now conduct their busine IS
with more economy. and seek to at
tract business by regular departures
and arrivals, more comfortable boats,
and better table and stateroom SER
vice. The lines now more nearly APP
proach the eastern lines, both In
equipment and management, and
while the old racing captains, who
threw their freight into their furnaces
rather than be beaten by rival boat,
are passing away, the new men are
real captains OF safe and comfortable
boats. The romantic days have gone
from the rivers forever, but the travel
is sailor, and in a way, more civilized.
The last OF the famous racing ma
chimes, the Natchez, was wrecked only
few months ago. The competition
with the railroads has demanded a
wholly different class OF boats, and the
tourists will compel better pas-en-
! ger service on all the lines IN the
| future.
"In the opinion OF those competent
to speak on the matter. the prospect
/ for the passenger traffic on the rivers
is far from discour ging, Once al
the world had to go by boat or stay al
| home. Now the larger number take
! the cars, and in order to retain an y
traffic at all the boat lines must oiTe
superior inducements in the way oil
| price, comfort, and attendance. Thi
they seemed prepared TO do; and it il
safe 10 say that the time will come
when many OF the river routes OF the
West will be as popular as the Hudson
! River or Long Island Sound, and tril
! or these great waterways will be re
garded as quite rs important to
right understanding of the country a
/ day on the North River"