Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-08
WANING OF THE WAVE
Pessimistic Views of River Mat
tiers by lie Claire Cores
pondent.
THINKS IT ALL OFF WITH BOATS.

Actual Conditions DO Not. However, Sus-
tain the Dismal ConcIusion-Signifi-
of the Short Trade Packet in
the Commerce OF the Inland Water
ways.
a correspondent of the Chicago Rec
ord writing from lie Claire on the
close ofthe boating season of '9S speaks
gloOmily of the wane in business the
past year, during which the
correspondent saws: There was a
good stage of water, and the improve
ments which have been made upon
the channel gave them very fair navi-
cation: but, Notwithstanding this.
business never before has been so
poor"
The writer then proceeds to emu
merate the causes of the decline in
business along shore. He says: 1.-The
Mississippi, 80 years ago. was the
great main highway. Twenty years
ago it was doing vast mercantile
business by the numerous fine packets
running above St. Louis. But in this
degenerate day the river has fallen
into state SO low that it is little
more than a road for the raft boats,
and great common sewer for the
towns along its banks. The railroads
cannot altogether meet the rates
that the boats can afford to make,
but by meeting them half say in rates
and the other half in quickness OF
transportation they have usurped the
place that the river held before they
came. and the river, it is safe to say,
never will regain its old Importance.
-, IL ff,f no fol of mi
passenger traffic and the reliance the
packets have become accustomed to at
tach to the tourist travel. This year,
however. it is claimed that because
some climatic freak, perhaps, the
tourist season was shorter than
usual, although at the outset a boom
ing business was expected. Coupled
with this was a smaller business in
freights than has ever been known.
The railroads had plenty to do, but
the boats went begging. Early in
the hot weather of September the
Diamond Joe boats, the only line run
ming between St. Louis and St. Paul. |
were taken off. There was not bust !
ness enough to Justify them in fight
ing their way against the declining
stage of water. The short line pack
cts, which seldom run more than 100
miles and return, did a better bust !
ness in proportion than did the large
boats, but it was purely local and just
where the increase came from it was
not easy to say.
The correspondent continues: The |
other main business of the river
that of rafting logs and lumber slIf |
fered alike with the passenger and |
freight traffic. The reason for the |
decline of the rafting business is |
easily found. The mills along the !
river are closing one by one. as the
timber supply of the north dimin- |
ishes. a good many of these mills !
have consumed the timber from all |
the lands held by their owners, and |
these men have not found it profitable |
to buy logs in the market with which |
TO feed their saws. Instead of q hun
dred raft boats or thereabo last |
summer saw only about sixty on the !
upper river. One sawmill in Rock |
Island has been pulled down. The |
one mill in Moline, it Is understood, |
may not open again. Muscatine has !
another one in like situation. All |
along the river is the same decline of
the sawmill industry. Naturally the |
boats do not raft logs if the mills are
not there to cut them