The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-04-16

TO the MISSISSIPPI, ONO ana Mis-
souri, rivers. Two new fleets Of
towboats were built. The first type
put into operation on tho Mississippi
was tho tunnel screw propeller: the
other was modelled after the old
type OF stcruwhecl towboat. Both
fleets are now operating on the Mis-
sissipri. They carry n total Of 30
steel bnrges, each with the capacity
! of 20 TO so freight cars. Those boats
and bargCs have begun to attract
attention Of river engineers and
transportation companies tnrough-
out the world. II is these hat have
brought the change OF outlool on
the Mississippi and It's tributaries.
u was not until early last sum
MGR that the federal barge line be-
gan 10 show an operating profit.
When tho figures showing the profit
for the first three months, prior to
last september. had been announced,
congress began TO take notice. the
Missouri valley Waterways nssocia-
lion began TO renew IL efforts for
river development, and business men
throughout the middle west began
10 see new traffic possibilities for
this vhst aud prosperous section OF
tho country.
Tho barge line, II has boon made
plain, IL surely an experiment by
the government. The government
has no intention OF entering per-
maneutlv into tho river t~ranapCrta-
ton business. but only OF demon-
Htrating the fact that tho business
can DO made 10 pay. When that IL
done, tho barge line will be turned
over to private Interests for opera
ton.
II n this day % which Memphis
IL looking forward, together with
other centers In the valley system.
Memphis, with the other cities. IL
aware OF tho fact that not yet has
the government experiment been
successful. that when original put
lay In river Improvement has been
considered, tho barge line cannot be
called n strictly business venture
not. at least, until the profits of
operation are large enough 20 pro-
vide interest on this original invest
mont.
But tho river cities are willing 20
await developments The barge line
officials are pointing with confi-
donce to the increasing business OF
tho traffic, not only out OF Memphis.
but all tho way along tho line. and
especially to tho fat that the river
rate IL exactly 20 pos cont less than
tho rail rate. Al Memphis, too.
and ms far north M Cairo. there In
the possibility Of all the year round
river traffic. Shipments may be ~
speedy by boat ms by rail, often are.
n when tho new river terminals
are ready for use, tho shipments may
be still further expedited and the
expense OF shipment lowered.
What the railroads will do ID not
worrying many Of the a%dhcrents OF
I thu hnuN 1pn For rs m IFflalaI
Of the Memphis Merchants Ex-
change pointed put 20 the star re-
resentative. the government may eN-
orcise control of both water inc rail
rates. II may say 10 tho roads. "Nou
cannot reduce a freight rate where
water rates are IN direct compotl-
ton, unless you also reduce the rate
whore there IL no such competition"
What tho roads viii be ready or abla
10 do about such an uitimRtum is
not II matter OF great conjecture.
Has Fifth In Packet Lines.
But tho story OF Memphis and
It's river II not yet told. Memphis
has persisted in retaining It's river
traditions Of tho past. The city In
not by any means completely won
over 20 tho new FEDERAL barge line
as the sole means Of promoting river
transportation. Memphis has its
packet lines. half n dozen OF them.
and n wants 20 encourage and re-
tain It's packet lines. The boats 81
some OF these lines are shown In the
view Of the Memphis water front.
II II these that arc nearest the heart
OF Memphis. The packet lines op-
crate for n distance Of zoo 90 800
miles M and down the river from
Memphis. They divide cargoes OF
cotton with the federal barge line;
handle. also. large quantities OF gon-
ernl merchandise and make their
stops at the big river plantations
and the cities and towns along the
river.
The steamers Kate Adams. Harry
Lee. Dixie, the Eclipse, the Ossning
and others long have been familiar
TO tho people OF Memphis. For gen
Grafton after generation steamers OF
these names have been operated by
members Of various families. the
control passing from father TO son
and grandson. The Lee line, now Ia
charge Of Capt. Robert r.. Lee. Is
the oldest IN WESTERN waters; Il has
been in operation Tor nearly 70
years. Another veteran In tho
packet service IL the Adams line.
now IN charge OF Capt Reese Downs,
We operate at n good profit" said
Captain Downs OF tho Kate dams.
I'VE could do mucn better n we had
the cooperation NJ Tho barge line
management. We tried 90 prevail
upon the barge line ofIcipls 90 work
with nv iu building q new river
terminal here az Memphis, but they
/ appeared 10 prefer 10 go Il alone,
nut We shall make our way. The
Kate Adams has paid for Itself 10
or ig times since II was put into ops
Grafton. with the river improve
mcnt and better business conditions,
the future % tho packet line IL
bright.
The Missouri Fast 10 Keep Open.
Don't listen 20 too much skeptl-
cal talk about tho limitations OF the
Missouri. for navigation purposes
admonishcd Captain Downs. II have
been over every foot Of hat river
many times. l know It's develop
ment possibilities are great; but
even without the expenditure OF tho
money needed for this improvement,
the Missouri car be kept In nayiga-
ton use with little expense, All
that is necessary Is 20 keep W or
three dredge boats In operation and
thus maintain a clean channel"