Topic starter
19/08/2016 10:08 pm
August 15, 1927 the S.S. Thorpe departed from St. Louis with 3 barges carrying 1600 tons of coal... the Dailey Gate Newspaper in Keokuk Iowa opined "Revival of the River Traffic predicted " and said that this was the first time anything has been brought here by river for many a year...
Hmmmmmm.... no river traffic in the 1920's in the Upper Mississippi? The mighty Keokuk dam with the lock was 1st completed in 1913.. why no shipping on the river? That dam cost millions!
Anyone have any insight to why the complete stoppage of river boat traffic on the upper Mississippi at this time?
Thanks for any insights
20/08/2016 1:22 am
False
That is patently false information. The river was open and there was commerce, tows, government boats, passenger vessels....
20/08/2016 3:11 am
Dis-information in the paper?
My my.
20/08/2016 5:42 am
hi all
I did a little poking around The Diamond Jo Line was a major operator between St. Louis and St Paul. Capt Joe Reynolds sold the line to the Streckfus line in 1911 they likely keep some of the boats in the packet trade but by 1919 had converted the 4 Diamond Jo line boats to the day excursion trade. (source "Upper Mississippi River History" by Capt. Ron Larson. My guess is there was a decline or near absence of freight movement on the upper Mississippi for a few years until the Thorpe poked her nose and barges up the river. And revival was slow in re starting the trade. but what do I know.
Carl Jones