The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-10-26
Mississippi Stern Wheelers Of Mark
Twain's Time to Be Augmented
BY Other Boats Of Mod.
ern Construction

| SEU SSUStIuSktOU
st. Louis, Mo-, Oct. 26.-Steam.
boats that during the days of Mark
Twain and since have piled the Mis-.
sississippi, performing perfunctory
duties not at all commensurate with
the rivers possibilities. are to be put
to work to help win the war and will
be augmented by boats of modern
type; by barges and towboats power
fully propelled and modernly equip
ped, capable of greatly relieving the
heavy transportation burdens Of the
railroads.
| A feet Of freight-carrying boats
running between New Orleans and
! ST. Louis and on up the river as ne
cessity demands, has been designed
and the federal government has
backed the project with millions Of
dollars. The Mississippi Valley Wa.
terways association, representing va.
ried interests throughout the val
ley, is exercising general supervision
Of the project.
Revival Of river traffic on a larger
scale was suggested months ago
when freight congestion on the rail-
roads became acute. Business men
began to wonder why the broad ex.
panse Of the Mississippi could not
be used to transport their freight ex-
peditiously and the idea took form
in an application to the government
for financial assistance to build and
maintain a river fleet. The govern
ment appropriated $S,OOO,OO0 to be
expended between st. Louis and New
Orleans and $3,600000 to be used on
the upper Mississippi, between st.
Louis and Minneapolis. These
amounts, it is explained, are consid-
cred merely expressions Of good will
and II the project gives promise of
being successful as many millions as
may be needed will be forthcoming.
After the general scheme had been
worked out by the business interests
in various river cities, cooperating
with government officials, M. ]. San.
ders of New Orleans, was appointed
federal manager. For many years
he has been identified with gulf ship
ping. Working with him are A. w.
Mackie, regional manager, and Theo-
dore Brent, who will supervise traf-
fic details.
Mr.. Sanders assumed his duties
early in July and Immediately insti-
tuted a search for available craft
with which to begin operations. He
declared needs were too pressing to
await construction of steel barges.
After a survey of the district he an
nounced that forty barges and seven
towboats had been found and that by
September the barge line between st.
Louis and New Orleans would begin
operation on weekly schedule.
Meanwhile orders for additional
barges and towboats were planned
and construction of docks begun. In
st. Louis, for instance, 1t was decided
that the proposed municipally-owned
dock costing 100000 would require
too long to build. According small
landing was erected at cost of $751;
5000 to meet present demands.
Advices from other river cities indi-
cate similar activity. New Orleans
is making tremendous preparations
for increased business and according
to figures presented by its chamber
of commerce, will probably expend
$25,0O0,000 within the next year for
docks and other terminal facilities
Memphis has announced that $780,
600 will be expended on docks and
equipment for handling freight. Cairo
ILL.,, will spend 100000 Greenville
Miss, 100000, and small towns in
Arkansas will expend at least $25,
900 in docks. These are merely first
figures based ON conservative esti
! mates of increased business that will
! come to these towns. Pledges have
been made for more money as neces
sity demands.
The Mississippi Valley Waterways
association, which is an outgrowth oil
the traffic revival movement, has
compiled a formidable array of evi
dence.
One 1,000-ton barge, association of
fcers, say, can carry as much freight
as fifty cars, and if each towboat
conveys three barges, the feet as il
enters New Orleans is equivalent tc
$50 cars, which are thereby released
for other service If seven towboats
each escorting three barges, are
placed in operation on September
L L.