Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-14
WORKING FOR The
RIVER TERMINALS
Upper Mississippi River I'm
provement Association Has
a Real Mission.
WATER HAS ADVANTAGES
Soon as Proper Facilities Are Provided
Vast Amount Of Freight
Will Be Handled.

That the chief mission of the Upper
Mississippi River improvement associa-
ton is now to perfect terminals, load
ing and unloading facilities, is the
statement made by Z. L. Rose of Alton,
field agent of that organization in an
nouncements just sent out of the an
nual meeting to be held at Saltwater,
Mimi, Sept. 16 and II.
THE original cause for the decline
of the river traffic" says the announce
ment, was not due to the lack of
economy in transportation, but was
due to the rebating and fuctuation of
the rail rate, coupled with expensive
and imperfect shore facilities.
THE rebate feature of the rail rate
has been eliminated, and the only
thing which stands between the ship
per on the Mississippi river today and
the desired water transportation facil-
tiles is represented entirely, or almost
so, by his wharf and terminal facilities
as found at each point on the Missis-
sippi river now.
Only One Improved Port.
with the exception of New Orleans,
there isn't port on the Mississippi
river at which freight can be trans
ferred directly from car to boat, ex-
cept with a heavy switching arbitrary,
or by an added labor cost equal from
10 to 80 per cent of the water rate, to
be derived from the shipment after it
is on board. For shipments originating
or consigned locally, the drayage cost
or the inconvenience of the present
landings, are such as to divert to rail
Nf ;er1,f
which would otherwise move by water
at distinct saving to the shipper.
These circumstances have brought
about a reduction of the current freight
volume to a point which makes it no
longer primary factor to the operator
of a steamboat who must derive from
his property a fair and reasonable in
come each day of its operation or he
cannot expect to make money.
1.-The steamboat operator, therefore,
finds it necessary, under the present
conditions, to give his attention very
largely to the creation and handling of
passenger traffic, which is available and
which can be handled regardless of
shore conditions. And the fact that he
can get and handle passenger traffic
profitably is the sole reason for there
being any steamboats, at all on the
Mississippi river today.
'In other words, there is not a steam
boat in operation on either the upper
or lower Mississippi, at this time,
which would earn its cost of operation,
under present conditions, if derived of
its passenger revenue.
Need Wharves.
1.-THE question now is, what changes
or Improvements are necessary and
who is to bring these changes about, |
in order to make possible a water |
service such as the pub |
lie is entitled to, and which represents |
a possibility of such a tremendous saw
ing to the public of the Mississippi |
valley?
THE improvements needed are, first, |
a type of wharf alongside of which |
can land at all stages of |
water and upon which freight can be |
stored upon receipt or for delivery !
Rail sidings must come on this wharf |
in such a way as to bring cars within |
reach of freight handlers or belt con-
veyors so that freight can be trucked |
or belted from car to boat or boat to /
car, without interruption. Local |
switching regulations and arbitraries
for river service must be standardized
upon a basis which will afford this
wharf the same siding and other rail
facilities as are afforded other indus
trial sidings within that city limit at
the same cost.
when this has been done, tremen-
ious volume of water freight can then
be brought directly to the boatside up
factory siding.
Would Give Even Break.
This would give the boats merely