The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-09-15
Why Not Make River Traffic
Popular and Prosperous
A Peril That Menaces the Business by Short sighted
Steamboat Poicy--Some Local Instances That IL
lustrate Causes of Public Irritation.

Burlington Hawk-Eye: Burlington
| people have always taken a lively in
terest in the river traffic and This
Hawk-Eye has been a steadfast cham
pion of water transportation. Conven
ton after convention has been held at
various points in the United States to
foster river Improvement. The press
has contributed largely to educating
public sentiment In behalf of liberal
appropriations by congress for river
and harbor improvements; and the fed
eral government, which has been law
ish in its expenditures, has now enter
ed upon definite policy for the scien-
tific treatment of the Mississippi river,
and other streams, and for a continu-
Ing policy Of Improvement For all this
progress the people interested in river
navigation, have reason to be thankful
and hopeful, and the general public is
to be congratulated because of the ad-
antages that will be shared by every
body.
a Peril.
There is danger, however, that the
favoring public sentiment the river in
terests have gained through long years
of agitation and discussion may be
weakened If the steamboat lines do
not follow the example of the railway
companies at the present time In cul-
tivating friendly public feeling.
There would seem to be disposition
upon the part of some steamboat man
ayers to assume a very independent
attitude toward the public, an echo, as
it were. Of the alleged Vanderbilt ex-
preston some years ago: THE public
| be damned Several recent incidents
| tend to confirm that impression.
The unnecessary detention recently
of the steamer Quincy in the govern.
ment lock at Keokuk, the officers OF
the boat quarreling with government
employee over the trifling circum
stance of the proper handling OF a
rope, refusing to comply with the gov
eminent regulations until Major Meigs
was called in to use his authority.
An Affront to the Passengers.
A boat load of passengers and ex-
cursionists were thus detained for an
hour or two, 1t Is alleged, unwilling
witnesses of discreditable contro-
versy. greatly to their inconvenience
and annoyance Do the officers of the
. hot
such unfortunate occurrences have a
tendency to create public prejudices
against their interests?
One of the steamers recently passed
Muscatine. refusing to receive or dis
charge passengers and freight at that
port because the constituted authori
ties enforced the laws of the state oil
Iowa regarding the liquor traffic
laws that are reasonable and just and
which the citizens themselves obey. Is
the steamboat company, or the officers
Of any of it's boats. going to set up q
little rebellion against the laws of the
state of Iowa. or any of its river cities
and thus bid defiance to public senti
ment? If such is the purpose Tht
Hawk-Eye suggests that they give tbs
matter second thought and conside,
the wholesome example Of their com
. petitors, the railway COMPARES, which
} comply with the laws, both state ant
national, and are not scorning public
patronage at their stations, but ar
seeking in every legitimate way t.
! take care of 1t and render effectiv'
: public service.
r Another Instance.
4 Both the Streckfus and White Cola
/ line of river steamers have publisI