Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-08-03
A CLEVER PROJECT.
A River Mans Very Sensible Prop.
OsitiOn
A Stdewh eel Excursion Steamer and
the Various Benefits That tt would
Afford to the Three Cities.

want an itemT
Most assuredly. Never wanted one
more. What is it?"
| "Well, I'll give it il you'll publish it
and do it just as tell you.
Anything to suit you so that get the
item"
The above brief conversation had
ensued between hardshell river
man who las seen years on the old Mis-
sissippi and mas known every boat of any
Importance that has ever left st. Louis
and who still keeps busy eye on things
along shore and an ARGUS commissary.
well. I'll tell YOU" he resumed
This excursion business has becom
quite factor in the active enterprises Of
| the three cities. l never noticed it so
much until last summer, when the Libbie
Conger was assigned to the three cities
for that purpose by the Diamond 10
company. This year the Golden
Gate as you know. has had all she
| could do. but she is not. 10
tell the truth, large enough for the
business. The White Eagle is larger
but don't consider her safe, and every
season is likely to be her last. The Gate
is in every way safe, but she is hardly
large enough and not exactly as fast as
an excursion boat ought to be, but she'll
do in the absence of something better
What | want to propose, however, is the
something better; boat that will fulfil
all aims for practical as well as pleasure
purposes"
What would be your idea of such
boat?" was the interruption on the part
of the reporter.
MY idea provides for a fast running
sidewheel steamer. No old boats re-
modelled, mind you; bat brand new
one, designed and built expressly for the
business. Such a boat could be built at
a cost not to exceed $50. 600"
where would you raise the money!"
THE money! why, bless my soul, it
could be raised here in the three cities ins
side of a week. Before you is a mau who
is ready to put $500. yes. SIS 900 into
! such an enterprise. and l don't doubt in
the least that could raise another S.. 900
in this city. My plan. of course, was to
have this gri-city affair. Davenport and
Moline should certainly each be able to
| raise an equal amount and it could be
! owned jointly. You can figure it this
way for instance. Take it on the theory
! that there are forty men in each town
who would be apt to go into such an en-
terprise. That would make 1870 and each
|! ones share would be only $3.50. and am
J prepared to say the investment would
yield ten per cent"
What would be your design for such
a boat?"
"As l have said. side wheeler to be
gin with; a boat 220 feet long, with thir
ty>five foot beam and thirty two foot
floor; provided with three boilers, twenty
inch cylinders and seven foot stroke.
which would enable her to trave, fifteen
miles - hour. There should not be more
than twenty staterooms-ten on a side -
and thus made, she could sccommo-
date comfo- tsbly eight hundred peo-
pie to one thousand. With the numer-
Gus places within fifteen or twenty
miles of here for excursion or picnic
parties, the boat could be made to pay
but this is not all. When either or all of
our tri-cIty business men wish to get up
| a pleasant trip, either for themselves or
guests in the city. they would have the
means Of doing it. and they could run
either to Dubuque or Burlington as easily
as they can 90 to Clinton or Muscatine
now. Then in the spring or fall the
boat could be put to practical use be-
tween this locality end st. Louis; in fact
10 might be so used the round.
making periodical trips and having
abundant time for the excursion and
pleasure purposes. 1t might be called
the "Tri. Cities" and thus prove of im-
mense benefG as an advertising medium.
ture it would be successful, and in a
pleasursbIe way none will question its
success