The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-14
.STRECKFUS URGES
RIVER TERMINALS
Veteran River Captain and Owner Of
Boat Line, Compares RhIne
and Mississippi Rivers
IN Letter.
TO INCREASE TONNAGE
How This Can be Accomplished
Through Building Modern
Terminals 10 Burden
Of Letter.


eran river man. has compared the
Rhine and the Mississippi. and out
lined his plans for revival Of traffic
on the Mississippi in a letter sent to
other river men. Captain Streckfus
emphasizes above all the need for
modern terminals and facilities for
freight handling.
In his letter he makes the following
comparison:
In 1870 the traffic on the Rhine at
the frontier between Holland and Ger
many amounted to 100000 tons. Ten
years later the traffic on the Missis-
sippf at ST. Louis amounted to almost
exactly the same figure.
In 1907 the Rhine traffic on the
border had grown to more than 49,
100000 tons, dozen times greater
than in 1870. And by 1914 the traffic
on the Mississippi at ST. Louis had
fallen to 153, 200 tons. or one-twentieth
Of what it was in 1880.
Why did the Rhine traffic increase
in thirtyseven years twelve times
over. while the Mississippi traffic fell
in thirty-four years to one-twelfth its
original volume?
Reason for German Progress.
First, 1t was not because the Rhine
has more navigable waterways trib-
utary to 1t. There are thousands OF
miles OF navigable river channel trib-
utary to the Mississippi, while hun
dreds are tributary to the Rhine.
The period was one Of rapid rail-
road development in both countries.
What made the difference?
Compare the German river terminals
and the places where our river term
inals ought to be and are not. The
tonnage on the Rhine started to in
crease in 1870, Immediately after the
harbors had rail connections with the
interior and the harbors we're provid-
tons It Is primarily on account of
the lack on the Mississippi OF termin-
al facilities properly constructed
docks, with adequate machinery for
loading and unloading quickly and
cheapIy, and with reasonable switch
ing conditions-that river traffic has
not been restored. But it is also on
account of the failure of the local
merchant to realize the importance to
him Of river transportation and thu
shipping OF his freight via the water
route when possible.
Conditions are now changing, owing
to the opening OF the Panama canal,
which now places the coast cities at u
decided rate advantage over the Mis-
sissippt valley cities. The valley cities
today have the railroads to the In
terror, but lack the terminal connec-
lions with the river
Every important city on the Missis-
sipu river Is now building Or has
plans for providing modern docks with
rail connections and the proper load
ing and unloading machinery, includ- |
ing Minneapolis, St Paul, LaCross,
Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport, Rock
Island, Muscatine, Fort Madison, Keo- |
kuk, Quincy, Hannibal and st. Louis. |
The government is taking care OF
the channel, and there is no question
about navigating the rivers: however, |
it was Champ Clark who recently said |
that the Mississippi valley need not !
expect any more appropriations to i'm /
prove our rivers unless We use what |
we already have.
Available Tonnage.
What is the tonnage available for
the actual movement OF freight? The |
three Streckfus line steamers operat-
ing between st. Louis and St Paul for i
the past four years have been running
with one-sixth OF their freight capac- /
ity utilized. The movement of freight |
could be doubled in connection with !
cur passenger business without incon-
venience or delay, and without adding
over 5 per cent to the operating ex-
penses; we giving. as in the past, fast /
service, insured freight |
rates at 20 per cent less than rail, and |
switching charges on car
load shipments
The Streckfus steamboat line in
1911 purchased the Diamond 10 line |
steamers and has been operating them
steadily. giving most Of its attention
to the passenger business-not that 1t
does not want freight, but that 1t has
been much easier to secure passengers
in response to the efforts expended.
Since 1911 the passenger business
has increas ed steadily, with the ex- ,
ception Of the past year, which was an +
one on account OF the |
xI,<, tNr