The Cairo bulletin., 1908-09-21
TRAFFIC ON RIVERS
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ISSUES STATISTICS FOR
FATHER OF WATERS,
Conditions at ST. Louis, Memphis ano
Other Points Set Forth
River improvement
Necessary.

f! Washington Sept 20,-From an I'm
usual SURGE in government literary
production comes a notable contribu
ton for the benefit OF public interest
in waterway transportation 1t is a
monograph on Traffic on Chesapeake
Bay and the Tennessee River, jrst
issued and prepared by Frank An
drews, assistant chief Of the division
OF foreign markets OF the department
/ OF agriculture. 1t nlgnalIy points out
the Importance of improving and
maintaining improvements Of the
ccuntrys inland waterways.
The Tennessee river is treated in
connection with the water freight
trade on Mississippi valley streams
AMI gives an interesting summary Of
the results of changes IN steamboat
traffic.
According to census returns 2I0e0,
'o0) tons of freight we're moved on
rivers of the Mississippi valley in
1906 2S.000,000 tons in 1889 and T.
600 900 tons in 1880 The growth of
barge traffic and its application to the
Goa. and lumber trade caused the
large increase of river tonnage in
1889 as compared with 1880. and the
continued use of this means of trans
poration prevented the tonnage of
1906 from showing much decline I'M
de- the census figures of 1889 In re-
gard to the freight carried by steam
boats in the valley there has been
marked decline. These vessels car
ried 9200,O00 tons in 1889. while in
1905 they carried less than ona-third
as much
According to the census bureau the
number of steamboats, on these rivers
was about the same in 1889 as in
1880: in 1906 the number had in
creased more than 20 per cent. over
1889. But, according 20 census re.
turns the average steamboat in 1906
nearly so tons less than in
1889 and was about one.half as large
is in 1880 the average gross tonnage
in 1880 was 2l0; In 1889. 1S9 tons.
ind 10 1906 it was 10 tons Reports
Of the United States commissioner of
iavigatin show that on rivers Of ID I
valley in 1876 there were .
'budt 17G steamboats, OF more than .
500 gross tons each, in 1896 there
we're 20 such boats. and in 1896
,nly 80. 4
Trade at ST. Louis.
One of the leading inland ports Of
be Mississippi valley IS ST. Louis.
Conditions there viii serve 10 illus
rate those at Memphis and a number
# other inland cities. According 20
reports Of the St Louis Merchants
Exchange the average number Of
steamboats, arriving at that city an.
lually during the years 1Ss2-1SSC was
,l5S, iu 1902 1906 the average was
..2l2 The number OF barges arriving
declined from an annual average ~
.l59 in lss2-1SsG 20 only is7 in 1902
900. The tons cf freight received a-
g. Louis during the wears 1SSz-ISsa
.yeraged G0oUu0 per year. twenty
ears later The average was agtuHl
ons. shipments hy river from $. I
.oHis declined much more rapidly. FRI &
%o2lsnG the wear average was ra>--
200 tons AS compared with $4,000
o1s twenty years earlier
Through lines OF steamboats, from
T. Louis 10 N,v Orleans are no
1nger in operation AT present ir
Eat'Iing by water lt is Necessary for
passenger to change boats s- least
Ni'c-once. perhaps 40 yfcksbnrg
nl again ar Memphis The last line
IttatinE through packet boats over
ms route sent oHr Of existence about Z
~ After fhi> packet line stopped 4.
Hirns freight traffic On the Missi--
lIIl between s. Louis and New Or
=sL- vas leff 70 barges and tow ,
oats The iealinz farm product car :
ied from St Louis hy these barz,s D
'as grain. This traffic ended few
ears later and the barees stopped ,
mEiae
Routes On Packet Boats.
ih' disconiinuancc Of thrCt eh s-l q
ioe betUeen 81 Louis and NeW Or p
-ans should net b. taken 10 Indicate !
bat loag distance water transpora- J
~ - the Mississippi and It's tribu- J