The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-20
RIVERMEN READY
FOR FLOUR FREIGHT
From Minneapolis to the Gulf,
with Heavy Tonnage on
-a-.. Barges.
Cheap Outlet for Product of Min
:. neapolis Mills, and New
.....:. Markets.

Practical rivermen, who own boats
suitable for the purpose, stand ready
to make contracts for carrying flour
down the Mississippi river from Min
neapolis to the gulf as soon as they
are assured Of fve-foot channel from
facilities at Minneapolis.
The interest in the river route lately
evinced by the millers and made public
in T h g ourn q OF yesterday, is
directly traceable to the overtures OF
the rivermen, who are already making
bids for the freinght traffic which they
are confident will develop.
Iowa & Minnesota Navigation compa-
nv is the man most interested in the
utilization of the river channel which
will soon be possible with the compile
ton of the government lock dams at
Meeker's island and at the soldiers
home.A He has made study of river
navigation for some time and is thoroly
convinced that it offers to the millers
Of Minneapolis cheap outlet for their
is good money in river freights and is
willing to enter upon the business as
soon as conditions are ripe.
Waits on Channel. .@
"Just so soon as I know that there
is a fve-foot channel between Mime
apolis and St. Paul and proper dock
age at Minneapolis, said Mr.. Van
SAINT to The Journ | today, ~
the shipment of -four from .Minneapo-
! lis to New Orleans the following spring.
! ~ am willing to do this, not for
any sentimental desire to make Mime
| apolis the head of navigation, but be.
cause I believe that there is money in
the business for us as well as saving
for the millers. ~.
"We now have three towing boats in
first-class condition. One of them is
day. Each Of these boats can tow ten
barges carrying 500 tons Of -four each,
making total tow Of 5000 tons. Forty
| days would be the maximum time con-
would come back light This means
! six trips for each boat thru the season
Of open navigation. .--z.. . IT,
ut is safe to say that with the
steamers we have at present we could
deliver 100000 tons Of -four at New
| Orleans in a season. One winter would
be time enough to build the needed
barges. - -
The Dock System.
"The dockage problem at Minneap.
| OILS Is uO pTODlem. UrdV1Cy CnuCeS, dS
suggested in T e Journ |, furnish
a cheap solution. At the gulf we could
offer another great saving. 1t would
be possible to load the ocean steamers
direct from our barges without the in
prevention Of either dock or lighter.
"There you have our view Of the
proposition in brief. It looks good tt
US. so good that we are ready to back
1t with money. All we ask is a chan
mel and docks, and we will have those
in q short time. AS soon as they are
ready we will be ready to take con
The Iowa & Minnesota Navigation
company has for its officers, besid,
President Van SAINT, Captain Elmer Nc
Craney. vice president, and Captain
Miles J. Scandrett, secretary-treasurer
The latter are r1vermen Of long stand
ing and experience. Captain McCrane'
commands the new North Star, which
makes it's first trip today, and Captain
Scandrett commands the J. W. Va
SAINT. Former Governor Samuel R. Va
, SAINT. who Is also one of the oldes
rivermen in the state, is financially in
terested in the company of which hi
son is president.
, In addition to the North Starr an
the J. W. Van SAINT, the company own
the Ben Hershey and the Musser, bot
towing boats, and four smaller boats