Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-13
WILL BE AS OF OLD.
Outlook for Through Traffic on
the River.
PLANS FOR THE DIAMOND 10.

st. Paul to be R<baiit asd stiu Another
Boat to be Added Next Ys.--A Rev.val
Of Aississippi Commsres Enthusiastically
Predicted.
II the stage of the water along the
Mississippi continues any where near
what it now 10 for the next two
months, the present season will
prove the best for upper river COM
MERGE that has been known for 10
yeare. and the consequence will be
preparations by the Diamond 10
line during next winter for the res
toration of old time steamboat trsf-
6c from St. Louis to St. Paul. The
conditions that have prevailed so far
have been more than satisfactory to
the great packet company. The
three boats now running in the
through trade have been able to keep
close to the schedule at all points,
and business has been better both as
to passengers and freight carried
than for many years. An old time
steamboat man. who is in position
to be familiar with the plans of the
Diamond 10 company. snd who was
in the city last week. remarked that
the company felt SO encouraged over
the outlook that it had practically
determined to rebuild the st. Paul as
soon as navigation closed. make her
. light draught boat much after The
design of the new Quincy, and place
her in the through trade next year,
and not only this, but at the same
time to construct companion to her
in an entirely new boat. This would
enable the company to put the
Quincy in the short trade north Of
St. Louis that she was built for, and
with the Dubuque and Sidney in ad.
dition to the St. Paul and new
steamer give the company four first
class packets between st. Louis and
St. Paul besides. The st. Paul
draws too much water for the upper
river, and so has been confined to
the St. Louis Quincy business. and
the Quincy has bes n running through
since she was commissioned. al
though planned for the peculiar ma
ture Of the short line business.
Getting Back to Old Times.
II the Diamond 10 carries out such
a plan as This it will be getting back
to old times on the upper Missis-
siPPi. Not SO many years ago but
what it Is in the memory OF those
who have taken an interest in river
matters, the 10 line did q thriving
business with four boats on the river,
and they we're more expensive ones
than the ones now running. They
we're the Pittsburg-now the Du-
buque-the Sidney. Mary Morton
and Libbie Conger. The latter dis
appeared in the St. Louis cy-
clone, after she had been
sold, just as the Morton now
on the lower river. was because of
the cost OF operation. The 10 line
is progressive. The company has
always kept its boats up to date. and
with practical man like the
veteran master and present su.
perintendent, John killeen, in
charge, is enabled to make it's
boats as good as new. and provide
them with the advantages of mod
ern invention and science as they de-
velop. II the company could sue
coed as 1t did with it's smaller pack
cts. it could surely prosper now
with more modern and more eco.
nomically run boats, notwithstand-
ing that railroad competition on
both sides Of the river 10 q factor to
be taken into consideration now. In
the haley on days of old the company
had the opposition Ct the Saints line
with such Dig tidewheelers as the
Gem City, st. Paul, Minneapolis,
Red Wing. Golden Eagle. etc. But
1t was superior steam boating that
made the Diamond 10 line, the COM
Pany always having in command Of
it's boats the best masters on the riv er
just as it has today. It is hoped the
reported intention as to the com
pany's immediate future is au
thentic.
The Gen. Barnard sailed for the
north.
The F. Weyerhauser brought down
50 strings of logs.
uO ". kU. W htoES duU n. ". DIOCk.
mann came down.
The regular local packets made
their customary landings.
The water is stationary at 6 80 al
the Rock leland bridge; the temper
ature 1T noon was 76.
The 10 Long has shifted her SEIZED.
ule and is running on the Verne
SWANS time instead of the Wi
nopa's.
The intense heat of last week came
very near causing serious trouble at
Dubuque. The rails and other iron
on the bridge at that place we're ex-
Panded to such an extent that 1t
frightened and prevented the draw
from opening. At about 4 O'Clock
Friday the steamer Dubuque came
down. whistled for the draw to open,
but it was found impossible to do %.
The engines were set to work, but
broke in the effort to swing the
draw. The Dubuque coming down.
the steamer Sidney going up. and
number Of raft boats were compelled