The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-13

The following article is by Fowler
Manning, traffic manager OF the
Streckfus Steamboat line, and is peril
nent to the traffic conditions on the
Mississippi:
There seems TO be in the public
mind misconception of the present
conditions bearing upon Mississippi
river shipping. that conception beine
that the main difficulty now Is
through lack of modern or economical
carriers or that the channel OF the
Mississippi is not deep enough to car
ry material tonnage
Neither of these are correct, for the
reason that, in other parts of the
world, rivers carrying only about one,
half the depth of this channel. are
made to convey millions Of tons Of
merchandise. at rate cheaper than it
can be hauled by rail
That freight can be handled at less
than rail on the Mississippi river now.
is demonstrated every day OF the
navigation season. by the boats them
selves. so there can be no question
as to the type of boat
The original cause for the decline
of the river traffic. was not due TO lack
of economy in transportation, but was
due to rebating and fluctuation of the
rail rate, coupled with imperfect and
expensive shore facilities.
The rebate feature Of the rail rate,
has been eliminated. and the only
.bipp u-h;eb stands hofvoan .ho shin.
per on the Mississippi river today and
the desired water transportation IA
cilities, is represented entirely. or al
most so. by his wharf and terminal
facilities as found at each point on
the Mississippi river now.
With 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-
eept with a heavy switching arbitrary.
or by an added labor cost equal to
from 10 TO 80 per cent Of the water
rate, TO be derived from the shipment
after il is on board.
For shipments originating or con-
signed locally. the drayage cost or
ings, are such as to divert to rail
routings. large volume of freight
which would otherwise move By water
at a distinct saving to the shipper.
These circumstances have brought
about a reduction OF the current
freight volume TO a point. which
makes il no longer a primary factor
to the operator of steamboat. fwho
must derive from mis- property. far
and reasonable income each day OF its
operation, or he cannot expect to
make money!
The steamboat operator, therefore,
finds it necessary. under the present
conditions, 10 giTe 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 ge. and
handle passenger traffic prosita bly,.
is the sole reason for there being any
steamboats, at all on the upper Mis-
sissippi river today.
IN other words. there is not
upper or the lower Mississippi. at this
tine. which would earn its cost OF
operation, under the present condi-
tons, ii deprived of its passenger
revenue
The question now is. what changes
or improvements are necessary and
who is TO bring about these changes,
transportation service, such as the
public is entitled to, and which repre-
sents a possibility OF such tremendous
Saving TO the public in the Mississip-
pi valley.
The Improvements needed are first
2 type of wharf along side of which
steamboats, can land at all stages OF
water and upon which freight can be
stored up in receipt or for delivery.
Rail sidiazs must come on to this
wharf, in such way as to bring cars
within reach OF freight handlers or
belt conveyorg, so that freight can be
trucked or belted from car 10 boat Or
boat TO car, without interruption.
Local switching regulations and
LUZ SCI FitC Lu6St NC
standardized upon q basis which viii
afford This wharf the same siding and
other rail facilities as are afforded
other Industrial sidings within that
city limit at the same cost.
When this has been done, a ire
meudous volume Of water freight can
then De brought directly TO boatside
upon the payment OF same freight rate
for delivery AZ wharf, as is paid now
for the same freight delivery on local
factory siding
This would give the boats merely
an even break, without WORKING a
hardship on the rail lines, because the
full rail tariff for the service given
would De paid
The water carrier viii De able TO
take this freight from car, and deliver
f. OF beard wharf. or car al cestina-