Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-27
RIVALS RAILROADS
importance of Proposed ReSto-
ration of Traffic on the
Western Rivers.
A FLEET FOR THE MISSOURI
Great Interest in First Trip of Steam
boat Between ST. Louis and
Kansas City.

The enthusiastic encouragement CIV
en- by the cities along the Missouri
river to plans for the establishment
of steamboat lines for freight traffic is
a promise of revival of one of the most
picturesque features of early western
life. The course of the immigrant was
not all on land. Thousands made much
of the westward journey on the double
decked stern wheelers that noisily pad
died their way up and down the Mis-
souri, and other interior rivers. Nalua
BILE cargoes of fur> and buffalo robes
were carried on these boats. and the
traffic was a strong rival to early rail-
way lines
OF late years the steamboats, have
been abandoned except on the Ohio
and Mississippi. where one may yet
find touch of the old time pleasures
and the flavor of eighteenth century
romance in the troublouS passage of
the little fleets. says the Independent.
But as Il factor on the other streams
so far as freight is concerned the pres
llSt Ol INC bltl llll''S HIS NulllNutNl
Where over fifty packets ran regularly
between 81. Louis and Sioux City not
one remains. 1t seems to have been
accepted without argument that the
railroads were all sufficient for any
traffic that might be needed.
OF late the political economists of the
west have been studying the railway
rate problem and have noted the vast
expenditures in the east for canal con-
struction and river Improvement to the
end that there might be secured rival
for the railroads that would compel Al
lower rate than would be charged If no
competition existed.
1t has dawned on them that the
western rivers furnish the basis for Il
remedy, and they have begun in Il
practical way to bring about the old
river traffic once SO important.
A few weeks ago the first steamboat
in years made its way from st. Louis
to Kansas City 1t was received at
every landing by crowds, and when 1t
arrived at its destination speeches Of
welcome and cheers of thousands were
its greeting. 1t was hailed as the be-
ginning of a new era-Or the return Of
an old regime. Plans are being pushed
to completion that look to the estab-
lishment of a feet of these steamers
for the run between the two cities.
Other lines to the farther northwest.
with larger fleets to the gulf. are in
prospect. Ship canals are planned, one
in particular to connect the Mississippi
and the great lakes, all of which means
q new method of regulating freight
rates for the vast output of the VESTS
granary.
Wants Merely Competition.
The west is not particularly anxious
to see steamer smoke. 1t promotes
steamer lines for the same reason that
New York voted for deepening the Erie
canal-tO bring about water cOmpeti
ton. The saving of a few cents pei
hundred pounds on the grain and beet
sent out of the middle west means
trips to Europe and automobiles fol
producers. If the steamboat can bring
this about it is exactly the thing FOL
which they are searching.
1t is curious fact that despite thu
immense sums spent by the fedora
government on the Improvement of ou
rivers the past two decades have beer
a period OF absolute and relative de
cline in river shipping. \ quarter cen
fury ago there were on the western
rivers vessels having an aggregate ton
mage of 394,04S. Last year the CORE
spending figures were 174,3i0, les
than half. The decline was steady dur
ing the period except for SLIGHT rail-.