The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-07-17
continued Low Stage Of Water Of the
river Makes Steamboat Navi-
CATION Extremely Slow
Not Much Danger.
CAPTAIN BLAIR TALKS
ue Would Like to See the snass Re-
moved From the Channel
Other News Along the
River.

sCaptain Blair of the White Collar
me in a letter to the Waterway Jour
nal from Davenport laments the fact
that the government snag boats are
not working in this section of the riv-
r. He says so far we have had very
little delay and few days work in
this district with the snagboat ESQ
called would make navigation safe
and easy.
For some strange reason the snag-
boat (so-called) is putting in the
time on the upper end of the river
where there are few If any boats, and
snags are rare, while there is great
need of her between here and st.
Louis. and we cannot imagine any
good reason why she does not get busy
where she can do most good.
The snagboat's work is to find and
remove snags and stumps before
steamboats, find and often sink on
them. This is far better than remov-
ing them afterwards.
/ have conversed with nearly every
rilot in actual service, recently, and
all are discouraged that their reports
and requests receive so little atten-
ton, and know personally that 1t is
OF little use to report snags or offer
any suggestions and we have reached
the stage of disappointment where we
have to consider the snagboat service
on the upper Mississippi river as a
serious farce. Very truly yours, w.
a. Blair
The excursion business for the big
ger boats seems to be all to the bad
and will probably remain SO for an
other month and probably for longer
time. The continued low stage makes
1t impossible for the w. w. to come
out, the officers of the Acme company
stating that at least raise of a foot
would be necessary before the caliope
could be heard In these waters again.
All up and down the river Sunday
schools and churches are being disap-
pointed but their disappointment is
nothing as compared to the loss sus
tanned by the excursion men in their
inability to give the outing.
Edwards Brothers, two young fell
lows of Madison, Wis, who are stu
dents of the university of that state
at Madison, arrived in this city last
night from their home city, aboard
their s0-pound canoe in which they are
bound for the Gulf of Mexico. Upor
arriving at New Orleans the boys will
be awarded $1,000, providing they
have successfully covered the distance
from Madison to the Gulf.
On their way down the canoe was
struck by motor boat, which gave
no warning on dark night, and por
ton of the young fellows belongings
including watch and a coat were los
overheard.
The Roman Catholic Mutual Protect
i've Society of Ft Madison will civ,
an excursion to this city this Afternoon
On the Ottumwa Belle and barge. The
excursion is given to help defray thu
expenses of the entertainment tina
VIII be furnished to the delegates tina
are coming from all parts of Iowa
Nebraska and South Dakota.
The steamer Sidney was up yester
gay on her way to Davenport Owing
70 the low stage of the water the
Trip OF the Sidney has been shortened
to Davenport TIE boat has expert
enced no trouble In making the triy
up as far as Davenport and 1t is no
PROBABLE that she will be forced tt
again shorten the route. The Dubuqu,
VIII be up this evening and VIII la,
a. the local wharf all night starting OF
lhe return trip to st. Louis Monday
morning.
me Adelaide laid at the local whar
iase evening The Gardie Eastman
wen, north to Montrose yesterday fol
slelis and will return as soon as the
cargo can be loaded The two packe
steamers make their excursion trips
today. : -