The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-10-08

Engineers, that the result of such i'm
provements will be beneficial to al
!, traifroads paraiieiing orin the territor,
adjacent thereto. These benefits
would acrue by reason of the addition
al security to their roadbeds and from
future development of the territory
thus improved: provided, of course
such improvements are completed
land that the railroads will move the
profitable traffic, while the steam
boatsswiA do just what they are now
Idoing.
My opinion is based upon existing
i conditions at Cairo. past and present.
About forty years ago when Cairo
had but one railroad. the Illinois Cent.
raj, from five to ten steamboats, were
always at our wharf receiving and dis
charging freight and passengers, or
laying up for repairs. Elegantly equip
iped lines of Observation-Disclosures
palaces-were run between St Louis
and New Orleans, others between st,
Louis and Cairo, or Cairo and Mem
phis. Vicksburg and Natchez; and
others between ST. Louis, Cairo and
Obio-Tennessee- Cumberland river
points, in fact there were packet
lines to all river points passing Cairo.
and the Cairo wharf was indeed Il
busy place
Cause of River Decline.
I'm a few years the Mississippi
Central Railroad (now the southern
division of the Illinois Central) was
constructed to Cairo, the the Mobile
& Ohio railroad, the Cairo & St Louis
railroad tnow the Mobile & Ohio,
the Cairo, Vincennes & Chicago rail
road now the Big Four, and the Cot
ton Belt and Iron Mountain in Mis-
souri,, With the coming of this new
method of transportation. steamboat
ng, to great extent. was suspended,
and there was no traffic for it in pay
ing quantities. Yet all this time Cairo
was at the head of deep water nayi
CATION, with plenty of water from Cal
70 to New Orleans the year around, |
and uninterrupted navigation from
afro to st. Louis, and from Cairo up |
he Ohio. except during the winter
season when prevented by ice, or
Turing low water periods, and then |
only for short duration. The reas-
IN for the suspension of steamboat |
Ing to and from Cairo, and all other |
river cities, was not so much from |
lack OF water as from lack of traffic: |
was not because the traffic OF the |
,onntry was ON the decline, but be- |
cause the country became progressive
and alive in providing facilities for
moving traffic by the construction OF
railroads which invaded every river
city along the Ohio ami Mississippi.
including Cairo
Following this progressive spirit,
the business man of Cairo, as well as
every other river city, desired to get /
his shipment to its destination, and |
receive returns on same, as quickly /
rs possible, and naturally shipped By |
the quickest route, just as win always /
be done by progressive people. It'll
therefore becomes the duty of nro-
sressiVe people to forge ahead with |
and further increase the traf-
tic of this country BY Improving the /
and Ohio rivers. construct.
ing levees, maintaining the banks, I
settling up these fertile valleys, put
ting them to use producing grain and
cotton and other products, and crea-
Ting additional traffic for steamboats,
and railroads"
Other Speakers. |
Mayor Parsons responded to Presi-
lent Smiths request for remarks. He
referred to the many great demon
STATIONS in various parts OF tire corn-
ry, the Fulton.Hudson celebration in
lew York, the centennial in St Louis
md the enthusiasts reception which
vas being given to President Taft
His Honor regarded
his as proof of good feeling and
in the country Referriugl
to Cairo and her interest
n river improvement he said the
trip of the president down
he river would afford a rare oppor-
unity for making d long step for
yard and Cairo ought not to miss the
nance to do her part in matter of
o mrch Importance to her-now was
he time to strike. He read letter
rom Capt. Agnew of the Tennessee
liver company Offering Cairo a boat
Or use in the presidential fleet and
G hoped a, strong delegation would
o to New Orleans. His Honor also
resented an invitation from Capt S.
= Fowler of Paducan, that the Cairo
to the meeting of the
ihto River Improvement association
I Cincinnati be his guests for an in
'rmal breakfast on their trip to Gin
apt. Fowler offers the Cairo delega-
on every courtesy while in that city
waiting the return OF their train.
Hon. Walter Warder made feryent
nd eloquent appeal to Cairoites to
rake up strong delegation for the
residential trip. In calling on MIR.
Varder for remarks President Smith
l1sN kpl l,&. |