The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-13
I The Present Status Of Water l'ranspor-
tation on the Mississippi River.
(BY FOWLER MANNING.

/, ice and facilities on the upper river.
should be an organized support OF the
excellent boat service now actually
| available to nearly all OF these points,
| and which would be quickly expanded
I il patronized.
This matter does not seem to have
I, been mutually understood clearly by
/! the steamboat operator and the public.
! The public has been inclined to
place upon the steamboat operator the
entire responsibility for the decline in
water shipping. and even today, many
men will be found who have no hest
fancy whatever In clubbing thu present
steamboat operator az an -out-of-date"
business man. who employs Obsolete
equipment" and archaic" methods
/ in the conduct Of his business.
This same man apparently over
i looks the fact, that this very boat by
virtue Of it's operation by this same
unbusiness-like owner. Is saving to
! the shipper about 90 per cent oil what
his freight would be in the absence OF
the boats.
I These archaic" steamboat methods
however. still offer this shipper to
move his. freight at 20 to 40 per cent
| less than the actual rail rate now APP
plying, but the "unbusiness-like bust
ness man. does not take advantage of
| it, because of his archaic landing
facilities.
A deliberate comparison of these
things seems to demonstrate that the
] shipper Is the man who is negiecting
I his opportunity. and who Is not en-
ploying modern methods in the con-
duct, as well as in the safeguarding,
! OF his own business, for the reason
!! that after the steamboat man has
brought about this reduction, or has
maintained in effect this reduced
rate, he does not profit by the freight
tonnage a good part of which should
| logically be his reward for the saving
he had brought to the river shipper.
The general public seems TO have
i felt that for the steamboats, to receive
the patronage desired. that they muss
offered by rail- lines, and at the same
time handle the tonnage at lesser
rate.
To expect the steam boat operator to
install and maintain wharf and termi-
nal facilities. has never in the history
Of the world been realized, and never
; will be.
Every deep water port and wharf
system of the globe. and every steam
boat wharf OF Importance, is owned
by the local government, and Is held
- al o1f kn
and unquestionabIy the same condi-
lions are going to be found applying.
when the upper Mississippi river is
served by adequate terminal and
wharf facilities. necessary to prop
er water service.
In the final analysis, this water
transportation is no commercial prob
lem." for the reason that no one
seems TO have given it sincere and
thorough investigation from an i'm
personal standpoint.
Or, If the matter has been seriously
Investigated, the public has not been
given the benefit OF a concrete and
specific explanation of the true condi-
tons, nor has the public been advised
as to what would correct promptly
and efficiently, the present water
transportation conditions.
When this has been done. the pub
lie will demand service Of this kind,
and will get IL by assuming and work
ing out that part OF the matter which
is one of public responsibility.
A general support OF present water
lines by steady patronage. plus shore
facilities, will make substantial wa
ter service permanent and profitable
to the steamboat operator and the
public alike.