Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-04
RIVER SEASON OPENS
Packet Lines Between Clinton and
Davenport and South to st.
Louis Started.
Speculation as to Eject Of the New
Road on the Steamer
Traffic.
The Verne Swain and Others Of
streckfus Line Already in
Commission.

s.! Davenport, April 4.-The river season
has opened With rush. Both short line
packets, the Verne Swaine for Clinton
and the w. j.. Young, Jr., for Burling-
ton. left the Davenport dock for the first
trip of the season yesterday. 1t was a
big business, too, that the boats en-
joyed. Seldom has the season opened so
Iprotitably for the April sunshine caus-
ed many people to accept the accommo-s
cations offered by the boats, while
Agent Osborns had sufficient freight on
hand TO cause the faces of Captains
Knack and Blair to light up with pleas
sure. With the weather fair, heavy
freight and passenger business. and
With the best crafts on the upper Mis-
sissippi under their feet, there really
was little to be desired.
The Verne Swaine was the first boat;
out. She decided to start the season
from clinton. and made her FIRST regu-
liar trip outgof Davenport this after
noon. 1t was at 8 o'clock Monday morn =
ing that she loosed her moorings on the
lsDavenport dock. and proceeded8to Rock
Island. A half hour later she was whist
ling for the draw and glided thru the
government bridge like ray of SUM
light. The Verne presents f1Aer ap-
spearance than for many seasons, and
Capt. Streckfus has good reason to feel
pride in the craft. whose fine appears
ance Is the result Of his personal super
vision during the winter.
Capt. Streckfus is Of the opinion that
the river business will be so heavy with
IN couple of weeks that3Ihe will be
Warranted in putting Inc City of Vino.
ma in service. River men agree that the
new railroad is not likely to hurt the
Clinton packets. 1t vii be wholesome
kind of competition which will be a ben
eft rather than hurt. The packets will
cut their freight rates low enough to be
exactly two-thirds of the rail rates and
With this proposition they will leave the
matters With the shippers. On passen-
ger and excursion business 1t will be
somewhat different, but general opinion
Seems to be that the river and rail Will
join together in booming passenger bus
mess rather than attempt to cut each
other out.
Capt. w. a. Blair occupied the digni-
fled position of pilot on his trim craft,
the w. j. Young. Jr., Monday afternoon,
as she left her Davenport resting place
for the trip across the river and thence
to Burlington.
The ferry boat Augusta surprised
everybody by entering into the Daven-i
port-Roc Island trade on Sunday.
The better the day. the better the
deed is the motto of the management
OF the Augusta, and 1t took but few
hours sunday to get the dock on this
side of the river in shape. The day was
such a perfect one that the trouble
taken by the Augusta in preparing fer
business Was more than repaid. On the
Rock Island side the Augusta is still.
having trouble With her dock. The ice
lifted it uIy high and dry ashore, and ii
is no small job getting the rude struc-5
Bture into the river again. A couple
more days will be required before the
work is done. The Augusta made reg
Sular trips yesterday and will continue
50 to do the season thru.
The steamer Sidney, of the Diamond
10 line, will leave ST. Louis on April TO-
She will meet the Young at Burlington
on April II. The thru line of packets
between this city and St. Louis will
thus be established.
The Volunteer will enter the Bur-
lington trade on May 1. The City of
Winona will be out in couple of
weeks.
The ice went out at the Clinton
bridge Sunday, as is evidenced by the
floating ice in the river in front of the
city \ gorge has been holding for
some time at Clinton.
Seven feet was the stage of the water
in the Mississippi yesterday and con-
fstant rise was noticed.