The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1907-04-02
WILL REVIVE RIVERS,
Stnnmboat Traffic Promises to
Be Restored Shortly.
Rm REBATES MURDERED IT.

wv soGeSVs - sssSss~ssssS -
oi66o In 81 Louis, Cincinnati are
O1ssr Waterway Cities That Old Tin.
AUkjvlty May Rsturn--vast Missis.
s1ppl valley viii Benefit.
Hsvival OF busy days OF steamboatina
On Ne Mlgslssippi alrd its trii3utaric.
u nkely y be the outcome of the pas
sanD Of the rate law and the agitation
By business men and farmers for more
fac1litiss for moving goods and crops.
The waterways commission announe
"a " President Roosevelt will look In
70 Nils subject particularly. There Ii
muuA talk among men interested In tho
stsnmboAting that has survived oi
plaIns 70 provide more facilities. Steam
bo1es wero almost driven out OF busi
ns1B by railroad rntc cutting. Such
nneehods will be impossible under the
rat6 law.
- decline Of the steamboat busi.
nesG - tlYe lfIssassippi and Its tribu
tartss began In 1872, when the rail
roads STARTED their inronds into the
trade that had been controlled by the
nN13 craft, writes 4 st. Louis CORE
spo0dent OF the New York Times.
Tf11dc on the Mississippi had revived
arr the war and was at the highest
p0tnt from 1903 to 1872. From that
ye6t the decline was gradual until
abeat 1886.
1ca6ic on the Missouri, however, was
thA first to be affected owing to the
eaf0er extension OF railroads into that
te1Eatory. Only three boats wero ply
int between st. Louis and Kansas City
In 1855 and none from st. Louis to
poeats above Kansas City. Some small
bo1kS were plying In ''short trades" on
tho Missouri as far up as Bismarck.
n. D. For the last fifteen years traf-
ncU N the Missouri has been practically
abGndoned, 30 far as direct connection
VI 81 Louis 10 concerned. Efforts
drA now being made to revive this In
dumkry. A syndicate Of Kansas City
merchants, hoeded by L. n. Jones. hns
anEuDunced tAAk II - ready to organize
b Atmpnntk W1sh I capital Of 500, 900,
to 4stahoMA 4 nne Of boats between
K1HsaS cry and g. Louis. A Nash
VII C&tnn} steamboat company will
run O. u two boats on the Missouri
fr1lh e. Louis to Miami. $50 miles up
th1kive.
urge quantities u grain were car
si14 ID barges from 81. Louis to New
OtDDans tor export from 1860 to about
Is. L0w railroad rates to the sea-
bo11d ana 1ow waiter troubles In the
M1usissipSl n 1900 caused this branch
a. Transportation to be abandoned.
yguree given BY the o. Louis Mer-
chnhts' Exchange relative TO tho river
rolac Of the last twenty pears are as
fo1bws:
9saes arrts.ns ............... rs! 3! i.oss o,s
Td6 of fnoight rece4ved. -, 02.s8o 825.0o0
Tqe Of lumber and logs b4
rs q i.sisas shipped out. ssoss @ ssis @
Ne volame Of business IA 1887 was
pr1bably only two-thirds OF that OF
10g1, when the decline began. The sta
usllcs oS tho Merchants Exchange
Ghow ! very material decline In the
receipts q lumber by river from the
sooth Ii t1s last few years.
4ne railroads by the rebate system
n yearS made low rates to all river
pulnts, 80 the steamers were obliged
tOneet them In addition to having to
co1kend with sandbars through the low
w41nr o1ooons. Shippers solicited rates
fr6ln 18th the river lines and the rail-
soAi1A oon1ing one against the other.
tt Snllods usually made the lower
raoDA 1nd the steamboat companies In
eueayorint to meet them were ruined.
40 0t Louis and New Orleans An
chr linc, the last line of steamers op-
ornking between st. Louis and New Or
lehns. went out OF business III 1893.
Ca1tain I. NJ. Mason. for many years
prseident OF tho line. says difficulties
reeultins from low water In the river
had as mucA 10 do with the failure as
tn matter Of rates. The low water
waS caused partly by tho lack Of ef-
fsctual improvement OF the river by
tn government
AZ present shipments to New Orleans
b. river must be transferred at Mem
pths and again at vicksburg. The river
lines ~ making no attempt to secure
through business. having abandoned II
10 tho rAiiruadA
One line having three boats operates
betw4eh Dt. Louis and st Paul In the
midsummer season, combining its bust
No. ehjof1y 70 passenger traffic. Only
ou1 00AA making two trips week,
opkeoAsG 0ekMeen st. Louis and Peo-
~ IA t,e Illinois river, where In the
ea11y seventies steamers were making
da1lv &Us.
0Cesident w. A. Bennett of the Gin
ct1hati chamber VI commerce says that
~ thinks most important to the utiliz-
int Of the waterways Of the coun-
tr3 II legislatlon to prevent pooling
of8hterests or other arrangements that
pSet1baliy at present prevent competi-
tt4 betWeen railroads and steamboats,.
Jt1 4 well known fact that the rail-
g11roe oeAtrol The inland river traffic.
a. Xaidf1y Of Cincinnati. m ex.
t1nato 1Ntk4e 1f Sbsamboats, says:
m1soAd rehating of late years has
a1l1eA o1salysed RIVER traflc We