The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-06-10


suits. When the Mississippi river was
reoDened to commerce by the fall Of
Vickgburg and Port Hudson, Captain
VIII Hallam was the first TO see and
seize the opportunity. He bought ev.
erything he could lay his hands on In
the way Of steamboats, and barges and
sent them all upon trading voyages
each under charge OF a captain. but
each directed by his own masterful
mind-up and down the Mississippi,
and up and down the Ohio. and up and
down every navigable tributary OF
those great rivers.
II was Captain Will Hailam's prac-
tice TO make partners Of all men who
might render him service. Thus when
he saw how great business there
must be Mt Cairo In supplying Pitts
burg steam coal to the government
fleets on the Mississippi and to the
thousands of other steamboats, traf-
ticking In those waters he went at
onc0 TO PIttsburg. and two days later
be had made a certain Captain Red his
partner In the control Of that vastly
rich trade.
Captain Red was the largest owner
Of the Plttsburg mines and the pioneer
In tho business Of carrying coal laden
barges In acres and scores Of acres
down the river. pulling them with
stern wheel steamers OF large power,
but still OF power insufficient for the
accomplishment of the best results.
Captain Reds feet was unable to
control the trade. Captain Hallam
pointed out 10 him the desIrabillty OF
making " adequate and dominant
Within two days the two had formed a
partnership which included number
OF New York bankers aud investors as
unknown and silent stockholders In
the enterprise, and an abundant capl-
tai was provided. An order was given
for the hurried building OF the Ajax.
the Hector. the Agamemnon. the Her.
cules and half dozen other stern
wheel steamers Of power so great that
they could carry the coal needed for
their own furnaces. but must tow 1t in
barges alongside.
These powerful steamers were 10
push vast fleets of coal laden barges
down the river all the way from Pitts
burg on the east to st. Louis on the
west and New Orleans on the south.
They were to supply. through Hallam's
agents, every town along the river and
every steamboat that trafiicked TO any
part OF It, Hallam was master Of II
all. Cairo was to be the central dis
tributing point. and II anybody along
the river owned coal mine In Ken
lucky or Indiana or elsewhere he was
quickly made to understand that his
best means Of marketing his product
at profit was to sell II through the
Haliam yards at Cairo.
In the meanwhile. as one region aft
or another In the south was conquered
by the Union arms, Captain Hallam,
whose long river service had brought
him into acquaintance with pretty
nearly everybody worth knowing south
OF Cairo, established agents of his own
at every point where there was cotton
to be bought at extravagant prices.
payable In gold, even while the war
was going on. These agents bought
the cotton, the planters agreeing to de.
liver II upon the banks of the rivers
and leave II there at Hallam's risk.
Then Captain Hallam's steamboats,,
big and little, would push their way up
the little rivers, take the cotton on
board and carry 1t to Cairo.
Captain win Hallam was quick to
make up his mind with regard to a
man. He was exceedingly accurate In
bis human judgments, too. and his con-
ndence In them had been strengthened
by experience In successfully acting
upon them. AS he phrased II, he knew
how to size man up" and as the en-
ployer OF multitudes of men In all
parts OF the country and In all sorts of
capacities he had daily need Of the
skill he had acquired In that art. It
was as much part Of his equipment
for the conduct of his vast and varied
enterprise as was his money capital
Itself.
When young Duncan presented him
self In the private Office after his
nights vigil as watchman Captain
Hallam asked him to sit. Captain Hal
lam had been impressed by this new
conner, and he wanted to talk with
him.
He broke at once into catechism.
"Why did you do that little fire ex-
act last night?'
He asked the question precisely as |
he might have done II he had resented /
the saving of his wealth of cotton.
"Oh, 1t was simple enough. The fire |
meant damage, and was there So, !
Of course, put 1t out" !
"But why? The cotton wasn't yours, /
and you hadn't been hired to watch It,"
"No of course not. But when gen
tie mean when any decent man /
sees property atire he doesn't ask
whose 1t Is before putting out the
blaze"
You're Virginan, should say,
from yonr voice-late Of the rebel ar
my. What's your rank?"
"None now. I've put the war com.