Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-19

Davenport Dec. l9.-PlanS for MAX
ing Davenport one OF the great dis
tributing pointNGf the Standard Oil
Company were outlined to the Daven-
r. A. Thompson, district manager of
the Standard Oil Company, who APP
peared before the commission in regard
to the laying of a pipe line from the
present plant of the company on East
River and Federal streets, TO a point
directly opposite in the sea wall along
the river
Mr.. Thompsons plan includes the
tapping of the sea wall with the pipe
line and the shipment of Kerosene and
sasolene to Davenport from Missouri
and Louisiana refineries TO this point,
where it could be reshipped by rail.
The plan also includes barge facilities
at all points between Keokuk and Clin-
ton.
The extreme difficulty Of securing
sufficient shipments of oil by rail, due
to the lack of tank cars blythe various
railroads suggested the plan to Mr..
Thompson and he is confident that his
plan will be one OF the biggest boosts
to river traffic that has been accom-
plished in recent years. He has al
ready secured the consent OF the city
to construct the pipe line under East
River street near the present Standard
Oh plant, also secured permission for
its construction in the levee commits
sion lots now under lease to the Wes-
tern Flour Mills Company. He antici-
pates no difficulty in securing the same
permission from the various railroads.
According to Mr.. Thompson the plan
will mean the distribution from Dav-
EXPORT of from one to four million
gallons Of oil annually in excess Of the
amount now distributed. He also de-
clares It is entirely probable that dis
tribution of Oil via the Mississippi
river will be made from the huge re-
fneries at Whiting, Ind, as it would be
entirely feasible to ship the product
from Whiting to Davenport via the
Hennepin canal to the local plant.
Mr.. Thompeon's plans were submit
ted today by the board to J. c. Hall,
attorney for the commission, who Will
pass upon the wharfage matters and
report his findings direct to Mr..
Thompson.
New Barge Line Assured.
The building Of the government
fleet Of four tow boats and twenty
four steel barges, all Of the most mod
ern and approved type-for use OF the
upper river between St Louis and st
| Eo u he N
future James E. Smith, of st. Louis
president Of the Mississippi Valley
Waterways Association, informed Sec
rotary Norwood, Of the Greater DaVen-
port committee, that the government
had announced an appropriation o.
1880, 900 for this purpose and mad Is
sued priority orders for the steel plates
required in the building of the fleet.
In his letter Mr.. Smith says in part:
1T will interest you to know that
the government has announced the set
ting aside of $3.50, 900 to be used In
! building twenty-four steel barges ano
four tow boats for use on the upper
river for the transportation Of coal uI
the river and iron ore and other com
modities down the river. We have also
been officially informed that the gov.
eminent has given an order of prior
ity for the steel plates required In the
building Of this fleet.
Our organization has been working
very hard on this matter and we are
naturally, very much pleased with the
results thus far obtained.
I'VE have been somewhat surprised
at the effort being made by some in
diyiduals to revive the Upper Missis'
sippi River Improvement Association
1t was thoroughly understood at the
conference held IN st. Louis in May
that the different river organization!
on the Mississippi river then existing
| would merge themselves into our Or
ganization with the idea that 1t woult
be better to have one strong. concrete
organization for the entire valley thai
| to have a number OF small organiza
tons whose interests might confiic
and thus injure the general cause"
This early announcement by tn
government Of the appropriation
money and the issuance Of priority or
ders indicates a desire to have the tov
boats and barges in service as 500
after the opening Of navigation mex
spring as possible.
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