The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-09-20
WESTERN STEAMBOAftNG.
The Prospects for Its Revival Far from
Encouraging.


Encouraging.
1t is perfectly true that the Western
steamboat interest has been seriously
impaired py competition with the rail-
roads and that the number of fast
boats has greatly decreased. For the
position of steamboat property in the
past was peculiar. Large numbers of
the boats were owned by the captains
or their families, and in case of hard
times or a cut-rate war with the rail-
roads the boats could be seized for debt
and the traffic stopped. The compet-
inc railroad, on the other hand, might
NE equally in debt. but in the hands of
a receiver it 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
we'll lighted, and more lights are added
every year. The millions spent on the
rivers have wonderfully improved nav
iyation, and there are fewer wrecks
than ever before. The slack-water
navigation, as on the Kanawha and the
Monongahela, has greatly extended
the season in which boats can run, and
has extended the earning time of every
poat on these waters. The ownership
a. hnotc hos alcn ohio -,
place of single tramp steamers there
are now regular Incorporated COM
panies owning large fleets of boats and
having abundant capital. These COM
panies are enabled to furnish better.
cheaper and more regular service.
with less danger of ruinOus COM
petition with the railroad. For
merly the steamboat service was
.xtravagant and costly in man.
agement, while rates were high and
profits large The companies now
conduct their business with more econ
omy, and seek to attract business by
regular departures and arrivals. more
comfortable boats, and better table and
state-room service. The lines now
more nearly approach the Eastern
lines, both in equipment and manage
ment, and while the old racing cap
tains, who threw their freight into the
furnaces rattle" than be beaten by a
rival boat, are passing away, the new
men are real captains of safe and COM
Portable boats. The romantic DAYS
have gone from the rivers forever, but
the travel is safer, and, in way, more
civilized. The last of the famous rae
ing machines, the Natchez, was wreck
ed only few months ago. The COM
petition with the railroads has de-
manded a wholly different class of
boats, and the tourists will compel a
better passenger service on the lines
in the future.
In the opinion of those competent to
speak on the matter. the prospects for
the passenger traffic on the rivers is
far from discOuraging. Once all the
world had to go by boat or stay at
home. Now the larger number take
the cars, and in order to retain any
traffic at all the boat lines must offer
superior inducements in the way Of
price, comfort and attendance. This
they seemed prepared to do;
and it is safe to say that
the time will come when many of the
river routes of the West will be as pop
ular as the Hudson river or Long ISL
and Sound, and a trip on these great
waterways will be regarded as quite
as important to right understanding
of the country as a day on the North
riVer-Century.