The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1908-10-06

lumber trade caused the large increase
of river tonnage in 1889 as compared
with 1880. and the continued use of
this means Of transportation prevented
the tonnage Of 1906 from, showing
much decline under. the census. figures
of 1889. In regard to the freight car
ried by steamboats, in the valley there
has been a marked decline. These
vessels carried 100000 tons In 1889.
while in 1906 they carried less than
One-t 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 increased
more than 25 per cent, over 1889. But,
according to census returns, the aver
age steamboats, in 1906 measured
nearly 80 tons less than in 1889 and
was about one-half as large as. in 1880:
the average gross tonnage in 1880
was 210; in 1889, 1S9 tons. and in 1906
1t was 110 tons. Reports of the United
States commissioner Of navigation
show that on rivers of the Mississip-
pi valley in 1876 there were about l76
steamboats, of more than 500 gross
tons each. in 1896 there were 20 such
boats, and in 1906 only so.
One of the leading inland ports of
the Mississippi valley is ST. Louis.
Conditions there will serve to illus
trate those at Memphis and a number
of other inland cities. According to re-
ports of the ST. Louis Merchants Ex-
change the average number of steam
boats arriving at that city annually
during the years 182-1S86 was PISS: I'm
19O2-'O6 the average was 1912. The
number of barges arriving declined
from an annual average Of 1859 in
18S2-1S86 to only 437 in 1902 ,06. The
tons of freight received at st. Louis
during the years 18s2-1SS6 averaged
100000 per year; twenty years later
the average was $4,000 tons. Ship
ments by river from st. Louis de,cline,I
much more rapidly; in 1902-19O6 the
year average was 13S.0OO tons, as com
pared with $4,000 tons twenty years
earlier
Through lines of steamboats, from
st. Louis to New Orleans are no longer
in operation. At present, in travelling
from New Orleans to ST. Louis by
water it is necessary for passenger
to change boats at least twice-once.
perhaps. at Vicksburg and again at
Memphis The last line operating
through packet boats over this route
went out Of existence about 1897. After
this packet line stopped running, the
freight traffic on the Mississippi be-
tween st. Louis and New Orleans was
left to barges and towboats The lead
ing farm product carried from ST.
Louis by these barges was grain. This
traffic ended a few years later and
the barges stopped running.
The discOntinuance of through SER
vice between st. Louis and New Or
leans should not be taken to indicate
that long distance water transporta-
ton on the Mississippi and it's tribu-
taries is not suitable to present condi-
tions. The traffic in coal and lumber
still follows long route. Large GUAM
titles of coal are. carried on barges
down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers
from Pittsburg to New Orleans. a dis
tance of nearly 1000 miles,
Farm products carried on the Mis-
sissippi river and its tributaries are
usually moved by packet boats, which
carry also passengers. Among the,
longest routes of packet boats in the
valley are the following:
From St Louis one line runs to Mem
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