The Columbus dispatch., 1921-09-21
81 .sR TRAFFIC
POSSIBILITIES
ONE TOWBOAT HAULS, 8
BARGES WITH 10000
TONS.
A RECORD BREAKER
Enough Freight to Filf Two
Large Steamships Taken
From Cairo to New Or
leans in Ten Days.

""idti AA po a5lDliLleS or
freight transportation on the coun-
try's waterways was strikingly illus.
trated a few days ago at New Or
leans when the towboat Cairo"
steamed into the Crescent City's port
with eight barges loaded with cotton,
grain, steel girders, etc, weighing in
all twelve thousand tons, or twelve
million pounds.
Colonel John P. Mayo. formerly
highly-respected citizen of Columbus.
sends the Dispatch clipping from
New Orleans paper that relates the
details of the trip. The New Or
leans paper says;
Huge Cargo lowed
Twelve thousand tons Of cotton,
grain, steel girders and general mer-
chandise were brought into New Or
leans harbor from up the Mississippi
river Saturday morning in a single
tow Of the Federal Barge Line. It
was record breaker.
The towboat Cairo puffed down the
river with eight big modern barges
containing this mammoth cargo-suf-
ficient to fill two big steamships.
Sunday night the Cairo will leave
New Orleans for upstream, towing
six other barges laden with merehan-
disc for Memphis and st. Louis.
The day Of traffic upon the Mis-
sissippi river has returned. Powerful
towboats handle from five to eight
steel barges, each Of which have
tonnage equivalent to several Of the
big steamboats, Of the old river days.
These barges are quat-looking, busi-
ness-like crafts, which may be loaded
through side or top.
Bit by bit the Mississippi Warrior
River Barge Line has increased its
business since the federal govern
ment undertook revival of river
by creating it during
the war It operated at loss for
nearly three years, but now it is on
\ paying basis-and hauling freight
1t differential Of 20 per cent under
rail rates.
A reporter anil photographer Of
rhe Times-Picayune staff greeted the
Cairo and its tow Of eight barges
Is it puffed down the river at State
Street shortly after daybreak Satur-
lay morning. Photographer Harvey
climbed aloft on a coal tipple and
hen out upon a derrick arm. and
rom this high perch trained his
amera upon the Cairo and barges.
Captain j. w. Harris, skipper Of
he Cairo, Of New Orleans, stood on
he bridge Of his sturdy craft and
quinted lovingly at the group of
light steel barges. huddled around
he Cairo as puppies would be around
heir mother-dog.
who's saying anything about
cor business ?" queried Captain Har-
Is. Does this look like it? The big
est trip we've made. The record tow
pr the Mississippi Warrior service
This voyage, which began at Cairo.
o.. meant money for everybody from
roducer 10 consumer. The 1900
ms Of freight that the Cairo's eight
arges carried was brought TO New
rleans at differential Of 20 per
mt less than railroad freight rates.
md IL was probably brought TO New
rleans more quickly, too With ships
ing IN port awaiting cargocs, that
going 70 mean a money saving al
.ound, operators point out.
"This means more to the South
Id 10 New Orleans than folks hare
alize." said W. II. Cook, local agent
the service, Take this item Of
ain alone. -Four Of the barges are
AIDED with thought mostly FROM
iddle- Western states. And brought
,uth In all probability. If It had
t been for the barge line. this grain
,uld have gone East instead
But it's an IN the days work for
e crew. They made fast hawsers.
the river by the new coal uppel
"a an hour later the tow had heen
oxen. Then freight started its tour
distribution By saturday cvcu-
z some Of it was being loaded on