Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-20
OF BARGE
ENTHUSE ON TRIP
ON MISSISSIPPI
State That Initial Voyage of
Bernhard Boat Was World
Beaten" in Fuel.
COKE FOR JOURNEY S7a
Captains Hunter and Newcombe Ar.
rive in Rock Island and Tell of
Wonders of Initial Venture.

who plotted the Bernhard barge, which
is making its initial trip from New Or
leans to st. Paul and return, were in
Rock Island today. and called on Off
Office.
The two men talked enthusiastically
of the trip and spoke well of the upper
Mississippi. that part which is in
charge of the local office. The two
pilots were at the wheel of the 1000
ton craft from st. Louis to St. Paul
and return.
The boat arrived at st. Louis at
noon yesterday, making the trip in six
days from st. Paul. 1t required IL
days on the trip from St. Louis to St
Paul and return.
A "WorId-Beater.''
Mr.. Hunter said to an Argus repor-
ter: THE trip was a world-beater. 1t
costs only S73 for fuel on the trip up
the river, and in all the whole journey
up and back, will probably not cost a
cent more than s125-and this operat-
ing a 150-horse-power engine. Coke
was burned.
The crew consisted of eight men
and believe that the cost of transpor-
tation was one-third that charged by
the railroads. Considering the stage of
the river as normally low, and the fact
that without any help the boat started
out from New Orleans and plodded up
the river for the first time, the trip
was wonderful.
we had comparatively heavy load
when we started out, but our trip down
stream was made with a light cargo of
flour.
Il think that the river between here
and st. Paul in excellent condition, and
we experienced less trouble than any
where else on the stream. Had 1t not
been for the freshet of a month or so
back. we would have had even less
trouble than we did, for the stream is
always in bad condition after flood
stage. In two weeks from now it
would be all right for traffic.
1T is now up to the merchants in the
cities TO take the chance the barge line
will offer them. do not believe that
Mr.. Bernhard will send another barge
up the river this year, but next season
l believe he plans to establish line.
Building New One.
He is building a G,O0O-ton barge,
which will make II miles an hour in
six feet of water. He is arranging to
send that up the river next spring. The
barge we had made from five to six
miles an hour upstream"
Captains Hunter and Newcombe, |
both reside in Pepin, Wis, and were |
enroute 10 their home. They piloted |
the vessel only from st. Louis to ST. |
Paul and return, for lower river pilots |
had charge of the boat on the other |
division of the Mississippi. The barge |
was scheduled to leave St Louis to-
day.
The trip as spoken of by Captain
Hunter has surprised river officials
here, who term the journey as ere
With the river at a nor
mally low stage now. during the period
Of the trip. the possibilities of an es-
iablished line of barges is shown.
OF course some trouble was expert
enced by the barge. but had the river
work not been hampered by the delay
in the passing of the rivers and har-
boris bill by congress, much of this, If
not all, would have been eliminated
and the voyage would have been even
4 greater success.