Rock Island Argus., 1901-11-08
RIVER SEASON OVER
Last of Packets Expected to Re.
tire With End of Pres
ent Week.
YEAR HAS BEEN A PROFITABLE ONE
Two New Boats in the Short Line
Trade the Coming
Spring.

y
ee the end of the steamboat packet
business for the season on this sec
tion of the river. The w. j. Young
came up from Burlington today on
the last trip and will shortly go on
the ways at the Kehlke yards for an
nual overhauling.
Unless the weather settles down
and promises better things than it
has given us of late, the City of Win
ona will end her season between here
and Clinton this week. Not that bus
mess has declined below the point of
profit, but the uncertainties of the
season from this time on are con-
sidered such as to render the risk of
navigation greater than the returns
VIII warrant.
Profitable Season.
The season for the short line pack
cts, here, as elsewhere on the Missis-
s.ppi, has been uneXampled in the
amount of both passenger and
freight business. Boats out of Rock
Island and Davenport have had all
the business sSey could well handle,
and the profit has been in proper
,ion.
Accordingly the preparations for
next years business will be made
this winter with considerable conf,
dence in a patronage in future that
will warrant the expense necessary
to secure a better class of service
than has been given in the past.
In the Burlington trade Capt. Wal
ter Blair will run from the opening
of the season the Muscatine, now
being built in this city upon the old
hull of the Urania, opposite the w. j.
Young, making daily trips each way.
The Young, although an old boat,
will not be materially altered for
another year. She is accounted
among steamboat men a remarkably
lucky boat, and her reputation is
sustained by her performance during
the past two seasons. During that
time she has not missed trip and
has made 1fl round trips between
the tri-cities and Burlington besides
II short trips 20 Muscatine. While
there is nothing fancy about her she
has the stamp of reliability.
New Running Mate for j. =.
In the up-river trade the j. ). will
continue to be the shining light, but
il is understood that the City of
Winona will not be her running mate.
The latter is past her prime and too
small Tor the business besides. In all
probability Capt. Streckfus will dis
pose of her and substitute a larger
craft. 1t has been given out that he
is negotiating for the Weyerhaueser
to take her place. The big craft is
said to be for sale, and with remod-
cling of the cabin she would make
hrst rate packet. Her sale mas been |
rendered advisable by the growing |
scarcity of logs on the upper river.
The Rutledge will be retained and /
she is now on the ways at Kahllle |
Bros. yard in this city undergoing
extensive repairs TO her deck.
All along the river the short line !
boats are growing in favor on ac-
count of their regularity, and it is |
claimed that railroad competition |
does not affect the business they do |
in the least. Local steamboat men |
point to lie Claire as an example. /
This lively river town has actually /
increased its river commerce since |
the building of the railroad through |
it. Business out of st. Louis has in
creased out of all former limits this /
season and on the Missouri river,
where regular traffic was given up |
years ago, this season has seen the
opening of packet line in Missouri |
that proved so profitable that sec
ond boat was added to the one that |
was used as an experiment in the