The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-08-31
CONSOLIDATION WOULD PNoSAB-
LIZ MEAN NEW STEAMERS WITH
CINCNNATI-NEw ORLEANS
SERVICE
TOWING WOULD BE INCREASED
AND PASSENGER BOATS
WOULD BE ADDED
DEAL SAID TO BE BIGGEST OF IT'S
KIND IN WESTERN WATERS
FOR PAST so YEARS

The biggest steamboating deal on
western waters. involving. it is reli-
ably reported. between 100000 and ST.
100000, will be consummated within the
next few days. Negotiations have been
in progress for several weeks.
The Liberty Transit Company, o
Wheeling concern, headed by Johnson
c. Mckinley. and the John +. Lents
Transportation Company. OF Pittsburgh.
are the contracting parties.
II is proposed 20 consolidate the two
companies and expand and enlarge the
operations Of both.
At the present time the Liberty COM
pany operates passenger packets on the
upper Ohio river-the General Wood and
the General Crowder IN the Pittsburgh.
Wheeling and Cincinnati trade; the Cen
eral PerShing in the Pittsburgh. Wheel
Ing and Charleston trade, and the Gen
eral Beach in the Pittsburgh. Wheel
Ing and GAINESVILLE trade. The Lents
company now operates steel oarges
towing lines between Pittsburgh and
New Orleans
TO Have Steel Steamers
y II the companies are consolidated
Nach. seems practically certainty
IRE Liberty coTnp,tny's passenger pack
cts will oe augmented by the addition
of Up-tO-date steel built steamers.
which. II is said. Will operate betweer
Cincinnati and New Orleans. in coopera-
ton with the boats now covering the
MINER Ohio river trades The plans also
contemplate enlargement OF the Pitts
burgh-New Orleans towing activities
OF the Leu:s concern. The latter COM
pany has Just acquired the old Pitts
burgh Exposition grounds. in the sec
ton Of the city formerly Allegheny. and
here the largest and finest equipped
freight nd passenger terminal on the
western rivers will he established, 10
be used By the consolidated Liberty
and Lcnts interest
Freight Distribution
Recent developments on the Ohio ana
Niss.s s!ppi rivers have demonstrated
beyond a doubt that the manufactured
products Of Pittsburgh. Wheeling. Gin
cinnati and Louisville can be marketed
on the lower Mississippi at New Orleans
both for rail distribution from that
city. and to- export IN seagoing YES
sells. at a freight transportation cost
less than half that by rail. This is the
most important end OF the proposed
consolidation but the reported inten-
ton OF restoring through passenger
traffic between Pittsburgh and New
Orleans Is fully as interesting. The
biggest handicap has been the lack OF
safe and convenient freight terminals
At Helena. Greenville. Eicksburgh,
Natchcz and Baton Rogue. ON the lawer
Mississippi. New Orleans. of course,
Is we'll provided In thai respect. while
Memphis recently has expended more
than 100000 for river terminals In
this connection. the building of two
large steel side wheeler passenger
steamers at the Ambr;dge tPaD yards.
below Pittsburgh. for the Louisville s.
Cincinnati Packet company. is OF inter-
est. II is reported that one OF these
boats will he ready 10 take out the an
nual l.. & e. CinCinnati-Mardt Gras trip
next February. During the Queen
City's Mardi Grls trip last February
March, Commodore William l.. Roe, OF
the Louisville & Cincinnati Packet COM
pany. WAS quoted as saying that just
So soon as the cities along the lower
Mississippi provided safe and conyen-
lent terminals hts company would. en-
ter passenger and freight steamers in
the Cincinnati-New Orleans trads.
Liberty
The deal recalls incidents OF the
birth Of the Liberty Transit company.
organized IN 1918. during the " ORD
war. with Johnson e Mckinley it's head
and moving spirit. il restored steam
boating In the Pittsburgh. Wheeling and
Cincinnati trade after IL had been ADAM
doned more than ten years by the old
Pittsburgh & Cincinnati Packet COM
pany. which operated such large steam
boats rs the Virginia (uow the excur-
sion steamer East Saint LOUISE. the
Queen City and the keystone State
The General wood and the General Per-
Fhing were bought on the lower Miss
lssippi while the General Crowder. tho
pld Dunbar. is an Ohio river steamer.
The Liberty boats have been n success
and at the present time are doing a
muC larger freight and passenger bust
ness than ever before. Twice the traf-
fic being handled could he Secured II
additional steamers were available Not
only the Liberty company successfully
operated steamboats, but IS has also
acquired its own wharfboats at Pitts
burgh. Wheeling. Steubcnville and other
Ohio river ports.
Official confirmation OF the above
deal came last night from J. W Brown
general manager. Of Pittsburgh. as fill
lows:
In q transaction consumated at the
office OF J. c. Mckinley Tuesday. Mr.