The Bismarck tribune., 1928-09-07
MISSOURI USED
BY FARMERS TO
MARKET GRAINS
Three Boats Ply Big Muddy
Near Bismarck Transport.
ing Crops
IS BoAr-RAlL HooKup
Bismarck Men Own Only
Transportation Co. North
of Kansas City
Is BoAT.RAIL HOOKUp r

Inc romance OF D09Cln& Gays on
the Missouri river il not dead.
Like the pioneers Of SO years ago,
some North Dakota farmers are still
dependent upon Big Muddy for
transportation.
Three boats are now putting up
and down the ancient highway haul
ing grain to rail centers.
The boats, al that remain Of Z
once vast fleet Of river boats, ply
their tortuous way between Deapo-
lis, north Of Bismarck, and Fort
Yates, south of Bismarck, serving
the farmers in those territories who
are so miles from any railroad.
These boats are operated by the
Benton Transportation company,
Inc, with headquarters In Bismarck.
Frayne Baker, Bismarck, is presi-
dent Of the corporation. Others con-
nected with it are Finley Baker,
Joseph, and w. A. Leach, al Of Bis
marck. The company was incorpor-
ated in 1924.
The company works in cooperation
with the Northern Pacific Railway
company. Farmers between Bis
marck and Deapolis who are closer
to the river than . railroad station
haul their grain to . loading station
or elevator on the river banks. From
here it is loaded into the boats and
hauled to Deapolis where it is trans
ferred to railroad cars.
The same is true between Bis
marck and Fort Yates, with the
grain being transferred to the rail-
road at Cannon Ball.
Threshing this year has just be-
gun and not . startling amount Of
grain has been hauled 20 far this
season. But before long the grain
will start moving in great shipments
on the river to the loading points,
Frayne Baker said today.
The three boats, all operated by
gasoline power, are sTha Frayne, The
Expansion, and the Marion. All are
piloted by licensed pilots.
The Frayne. is 1856 feet long, hav-
ing . capacity Of 200 tons Of grain.
It has Z speed Of 20 miles per hour
with the current and eight miles per
hour against the current. It is the
largest and most efficient boat
operating in this district.
The Expansion is 125 feet long,
but has . capacity Of only 126 tons
Of grain. The Marion is 65 feet
long, having Z capacity Of Is tons. :
The Frayne and Marion are oper-
ated north Of Bismarck, and the
Expansion carries grain to Cannon
Ball. The boats are running con-
tinually in season, giving daily serv-
ice. Each boat has = crew Of seven
men. i
Grain is handled by the Benton
company in the same manner en-
ployed by the railroads. Two farm
crowned elevators are runn.tig be-
tween Bismarck and Deapolis on the
banks Of the river, and two south Of
Bismarck which deal exclusively
with the boat company. More than
half . dozen loading points are kept
up between Deapolis and Fort Yates.
Boats have been operating In the
district in similar fashion since
1850, Frayne Baker says, but the
company was incorporated only four
years ago. The company win ex-
pand operation rather than decrease
it if any changes are made in the
near future. !.
The Benton company is the only
company operating north Of Kansas
City, Baker said. Boats Of the
company haul coal for the govern
ment out Of grain season.
The Missouri river is navigable
between thaw and freezing as far
north q the territory Of the begin
ming Of the Rocky river in Montana.
In June it is navigable as Tar q Fort
Benton, Mont.
In recent years boats have made
trips with loads from North Dakota
to Kansas City.
The United States government.
which is giving assistance to boat
transportation, hasn't aided this dis
trict much yet meinly because its
aiding work is being done In Sec
tions. The government is now de-
veloping . nine-foot channel between
Kansas City and St. Louis and il
doing most Of its helping work on
the Mississippi. Later on, the gov
ernment will probably do some work
on the Missouri. The river Is navi-
gable south to Kansas City, however
Baker said.