The Forrest City times., 1902-05-02

tude to which this commerce has grown is suggested by the fact that one individual fleet has carried an nually 200,00O,00G feet of lumber down the river to enrich and upbuild the ter ritory tributary to the Mississippi. In a single trip one boat has lowed a suf- ficient tonnage of lumber to load to the limit a railroad train two miles in length. It is scarcely saying too much to assert that the total downriver ton mage of lumber fleets any day in the moving season is sufficient to stall the traffic of all the competing railroad lines, if the traffic were transferred from boats to rails. and amounts to 500 O,000,000 feet annually.
 This marvellous development is due to the steamboat. and few. if any. achievements of my life afford me more personal satisfaction than the fact that'I built and operated the first steamboat of large power for this par ticular branch of river traffic.
 In the inland sections of the coun- try an impression prevails to-day that the Mississippi is now no longer an active factor in the world of transportation, that it's traffic days are only a recollection, and that the great stream has no claim upon the gratitude of the people of the northwest on the score of present benefits. This delusion will be keen ly resented by all who are Loyalty jealous of the reputation of the great river.
 True it is that it's through pas senger traffic has been almost eom- pletely absorbed by the railroads. On the other hand. the volume of it's freight carrying, especially in lum- Der and coal. is still very large, as the facts l have already cited will indicate. But of far greater mo- ment is it's value as a conservator of freight rates. It acts as a per petual and unalterable check upon the greed of railroad systems-and will continue so to act for all time to come.
 With the completion of the isth- mian canal new era of prosperity will be assured to the river. A mighty volume of traffic will sud- denly be turned southward and the activities of the Mississippi will be multiplied in q manner now hardly to be realized. This great govern mental enterprise should, for this reason, command the heartiest sup port of every dweller in the valley of the Father of Waters. and of all in the vast northwestern empire tribu- tary to it.
 It is by no means to be admitted. however, that passenger traffic is wholly dead letter on the Mississippi On the contrary, it is still considerable although radically changed in char acter. All along its course the river is piled by "short-line packets" which make daily and profitable trips be- tween cities not far distant from each other. The lines from Davenport to Burlington and from Keokuk to Quincy are examples of this traffic. which will certainly increase with the passage of time
 Another recent development is the excursion business, which is also destined to increase. The boats de- voted to these lines of the carving trade are modern and slightly, some of them costing $50000 each.
 No review of the old days on the Mississippi is complete without refer, ence to the famous races in which the last steamboats indulged-a practice which has found appropriate cmbodi- ment in the literature as well as the history of the west. How strong was the racing spirit in the old-time river masters is best Illustrated by an ip cident which will ever remain vivid in my recollection.
 As captain and part owner of the n. \. Mcdonald l had shown the proper rlver spirit by trials of speed with all corners, and these efforts to maintain the reputation of our boat had reached the ears of my partner. Mir. Musser. a conservative man, much older than my self. He had given serious admonition against the folly and danger of racing. and had exacted promise that would not again indulge in the practice. Im- mediately after had given this pledge. however, he accompanied me on an up-river trip. We were in a deep and broad channel when one of the fastest boats of the day hove in sight of our stern and was rapidly overhaulinc us.
 The strain on my self-control was great and l could hardly restrain my self from putting on more speed. when my partner suddenly appeared at my slde' his eyes blazing with the fire of contest.
 sammy" he exclaimed excitedlv. elapping me on the shoulder-"Sam- my, throw in more coal and wood, Throw in all you want. and I'll pav for it. But don't let that boat pass YOU"
 Strife for speed records was not al ways orindeed generally inspired pure ly by racing sentiment. The first boat of the season to get in at the port of destination received her wharfage free and was sure of rich cargo. and the +