The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-07-07
Boat Line to Link St.
Louis and New York
Six TwinSrew Steamers May Ply Between River Points
and Metropolis Eastern Business Men Back Of En-
ter prise

New York dispatch in St. Louis Re
public: A new line of steamers ply
| ing between New York and st. Louis
stopping enroute at New Orleans
Baton Rouge. hatcher, vicksburg and
Memphis. is projected here by some
OF the most practical steamship mer
engaged in water transportation In the
United States.
| The intention at present is to run
one steamer week from New York
to Mississippi river points, saving
to merchants Of st. Louis S. a ton
on freight OF the first class. such as
hats, shoes. carpets. dry goods. shell
hardware, clothing and cotton piece
| goods.
Six twin-screw steamers, plans FOR
which already have been drawn with
e gross tonnage of 10000, and capable
Of carrying 1000 teas Of freight on
ten feet of water, viii. according to the
plans outlined to the Republic, be.
built at a cost OF $250,000 each, OF
81. 500,000 in all. and placed in com
mission within ten months after ar
rangements have been completed.
| About $4,000 viii be necessary
to establish the new line Of steamers,
and the half million dollars In excess
OF the cost of the boats will be used
for wharfage purposes and working
capital.
The gentlemen interested in the
enterprise are now operating success,
| fully line OF steamers to southern
ports and are thoroughly familia- with
the conduct of water transportation.
It Is their purpose to land at vicks-
burg all the year around, stopping at
Natchex en- route. For nine months
out OF the twelve they will operate d.
rect with Memphis and with st. Louis
from four to six months, during the
high-water season.
The importance Of this project to
merchants, not only OF the Mississippi
Valley, but Of all Missouri river points,
cannot be overestimated. The handi-
cap under which they have labored for
years, owing to diSerential rates IN
favor OF Chicago. is not only to be
overcome, but rates which will work
to the advantage Of the entire terri
tory are to be inaug urated
For instance, the lowest rate on
frst-class freight from New York to
Memphis is 81 the 100 pounds. The
new company's rate Will be 40 cents
the 100 hounds, or reduction Of $12
a ton on local Memphis freight
To st. Louis the rate now is rs
cents the 100 pounds. Under the new
conditions 1t will be about IS cents, or
.pproximate1y IS ton less than ST
Louis merchants now pay on first
class freight.
In addition to this big reduction, st.
Louis win have differential OF about
81 ton IN its favor and against Chi
tcago, whereas Chicago now has a So
differential under st. Louis, reversal
OF S. in favor of st. Louis.
Means New Rate Adjustment.
The lowest rate obtainable now be-
tween New York and Chicago is "lake
and rail- during the open season on
the lakes, when go cents a hundred
weight Is charged, rail and water"
at 65 cents, being the next best during
the closed season.
With q 55-cent rate between New
York and. st. Louis. the railroads
would be compelled to readiust rates
to every point in the Mississippi anu
Missouri river territories.
In some sections the competition
promises to be ruinors to The rail-
roads. Vicksburg and Natchez mer-
chants, for instance, who now pay
$1.04 ton, will on first-ciass freight.
or $20.S0 ton, will pay only So under
the new scale, saving OF 1920. on
every ton OF freight shipped to and
from those cities.
1t Is proposed to operate line of
barges between 81. Louis and Mem.
phis when the water in the mississippi
is SO low 1t would be hazardous to
attempt going any farther north. and
also between st. Louis and vicksburg
when conditions are such that 1t
might be dangerous to run up the river
beyond that point
The boats, which are to be OF very
light draft, specially built for this
service, will carry 1000 tons on ten
feet of water and $500 tons on six
teen feet. The projectors say each
boat will carry about $500 tons week
ly ON It's departure from New York
and unloading at intermediate points
will tighten the burden sufficiently to
enable them to make St Louis during
the high water stages. with 1000
ms.
Confident Of Success.
I'VE have absolutely no doubt about
the success of this venture" said the
prime mover m the new steamship
line today I'VE have pledges OF at
least 100000 tons OF freight annually
from the moment the first boat casts