Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-05
RIVER TRAVELLERS.
Oiarond 10 Plans for Next
Season.
FOUR THROUGH LINE STEAMERS

Xulucy 70 SucceO0 the 81. foul IN 0oVIk1t-
ing the Northern Waters, the Latter 70 be
Transferred to the Lower frsde-What
the Wild waves srs saying.
The man who went down to hear
what the wild waves were saying this
morning was greeted with an un-
usually frosty reception. There were
all kinds of waves. but they we're
playing close together. saying moth
ing and saving wood.
Even the whistle Of the boat
shivered. The platform on the north
side of the Diamond Joe warehouse
where the whittier and corner store
politician entertained q crowd dur
ing the balmy days OF summer is de-
serted, ard an air of desolation per-
vades the scene. The oply evidence
of life along the shore is the goVern-
ment drill boat which is pounding
away, and occasionally a rafter
will pass by. The City of Wi
mona, 10 Long and Verne Swain
are making their daily trips between
Rock Island and Clinton. but it is
only a course of a lew weeks before
they will be obliged to seek winter
quarters. The Carrier is also plying
between Rock Island and Burlington
and Capt. Blair says nothing but ice
will chase him into the harbor.
The Diamond 10 liners have made
their last trip in the upper waters for
the present season. and the company
is already planning it's affairs for a
year hence. Capt. George Lamont,
the Diamond JOS local agent,
in speaking OF business prospects,
said that he had reason to believe
that next season will be much better
than the one now closing. lie thinks
passenger traffic, especially, will be
eohauced. Taking this view OF the
matter, the Diamond 10 folk are ne
gotiating for the charter of an addi.
tional steamer to be launched in the
through line trade in case business
warrants. 1t has been already set
tied that the Sidney, Quincy and
Pittsburg will be placed in the
upper trade next season, the
company having altered its orig
inal plan, which was to have
the Quincy ply between Keokuk
aud St. Louis. The St. Paul will
be assigned to the work at first laid
out for the Quincy, which was just
built last season, and is considered
one of the handsomest packets thai
ever rested on the bosom of the old
Mississippi. These three boats will
insure accommodations, twice q weel
each way.
No Warehouse Jast Yet.
1t was hoped that the Diamond il
company would supplant that old
warehouse. which has stood on the
river front for these many years, BY
something more modern this season
but it seems that Rock Island viii
have to wait. The company LOS
30 heavily in the st. Louis cyclone, >
explains Capt. Lamont, "that it is
hardly reasonable to expect that il
will do anything in this respect for
awhile, anyway"
| Of course, the warehouse referred
to is fully in keeping with the sur
roundings. Rock Island cannot ex
pect that steamboat companies ar,
going to spend money in trying tt
improve levee when the city itsell
is opposed to any such movement.
One look at the Rock Island river
front is enough to convince any on,
of the immediate necessity of its i'm
provement. 1t is now the picture Of
a deserted barn yard-t;n cans, ole
barrels. boxes, and every description
of refuse cover it, while old pape
and straw are playing tag with thu
zephyrs which blew about in tha
locality these kind of days.
The city council has ordered tina
the levee be put in better shap.
than it is now, but SO far the orde
has been absolutely ignored. Tht
council was told that the rock which
the government is removing from
the river bed near by could be hac
for levee Improvement purpose
But nothing has been done about it
But. what can you expect wher
the man that the people elects to rep
resent them is not in sympathy will
the public wants?