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January 10, 2005 -- Vol. 5 Issue 2 Written by Jack R. Simpson (unless otherwise noted), owner of J.R. Simpson & Associates, Inc. and contributing editor to "The Waterways Journal." 
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 In This Newsletter:
Thought For The Week
All countries have terrorists. We just label them differently. Terrorists, in the common vernacular, kill those who disagree with them and may call their victims infidels. Murderers, thieves, crooks, hoodlums, thugs, muggers do their bit out of greed and meanness. We see the statistics daily in our newspapers. The results of the actions of these misfits are frighteningly similar, so why do we go easy on people who commit unspeakable acts just because we have labeled them differently? A Personal Note From Jack
Shipping HazMat In our last issue, in response to questions by Joanne Wiklund, we published comments by guests about homeland security as it pertains to container-on-barge movements and on the safety factors in moving hazardous materials (HazMat) by barge rather than on trucks and trains. Coincidentally on January 7, 2005, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published a story whose headline read: Train crash, gas leak kill 8 and injure 240. The accident, which occurred at Graniteville, S.C., occurred when a freight train carrying chlorine gas [sic] struck a parked train early Thursday, killing eight people and injuring more than 240 others, nearly all of them sickened by a toxic cloud that persisted over Graniteville at nightfall. In the afternoon it had been necessary to order all 5,400 people within a mile of the crash site to evacuate. (A television newscast Sunday indicated the people had not been allowed back into their homes.) This is not to imply that accidents involving chlorine barges cannot be dangerous. But it is an example of how the location of accidents involving hazardous materials is directly related to the danger such accidents produce. I have just learned from the Corps, through a site called Corps Clippings, that activities of native Americans may impact Missouri River water releases and involve land transfers back to the Indians. First off, I am not speculating whether this is good or bad. Frankly, I do not know long this activity has been going on. It occurs to me that with the constant hounding and battering of the Corps by opponents, that the Indian activity may be relatively new. On the other hand, the land was taken from the Indians - and I believe compensation was paid - some half century ago. It is possible that much more land was taken than was necessary, and that after 50 years the Corps knows pretty well if that is the case. As for water releases, we all are aware of the water war that has waged for years. Critics along the Missouri complain that too much water is released from upstream reservoirs into the streams. American Indian tribes and the state of North Dakota should consider going to court to challenge the Corps' management of the Missouri River, the Standing Rock Sioux tribe says. I had hoped that we could simply provide a URL for those interested, but such is not the case. The stories I have been reading have been sifted out so to speak from a much larger collection of material that covers many subjects, some of them inhouse. Not everyone is interested in the subjects I have touched on above, but with the constant attacks on the Corps, I wonder if this is going to indicate a trend - just one more headache to contend with as the war against the Corps and Missouri River water management proceeds. I also recognize that thousands of acres of land that was taken is not needed by the Corps. From what I read in the long articles, the Corps seems to agree and plans are underway to restore land to the Indians with reservations (no pun intended) for operations that take place on land that is leased by non-Indians. In other words, the give back would protect those who operate businesses by protecting their leases. The argument is, and it may be substantiated, that the Corps holds much more land than is necessary for the operation of some (perhaps all) of the Main Stem dams. South Dakota Rep. Stephanie Herseth was propelled to victory in the last election as a result of major Indian support in Shannon County, which gave her an incredible 94 percent of the vote. Herseth was sworn in this month, and wasted no time in introducing the Tribal Parity Act, intended to provide compensation to the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Sioux Tribes of South Dakota for damage to tribal land caused by Pick-Sloan projects along the Missouri River. In 1944, Congress enacted the Flood Control Act, which included the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program. The Crow Creek Sioux and the Lower Brule Sioux were heavily impacted by the construction of Fort Randall Dam (begun in 1946) and Big Bend Dam (begun in 1960). The story says that the 1944 act cost the tribes much in the way of lost land. I personally find this interesting, because in 1957 I was an editor in South Dakota and had an opportunity to read transcripts of the meetings between Corps and Tribal officials. While I was there, the big French earth-moving machines were utilized at Oahe Reservoir at Pierre, S.D., for the first time. That was a newspaper feature when it was pointed out that a man standing beside the wheel of a piece of the equipment was a foot or more shorter than the large tires. It seemed interesting. Today that is no particular oddity. While I was a photographer and writer in Rapid City, S.D., I visited the Sioux Indian reservations on various occasions and printed some of the pictures (not taken by me) of the Sioux Indian uprising of 1972, which drew national attention. As a subcontractor for a local photo shop, I printed for historical conservation hundreds of pictures taken on the reservations, dating back to the Wounded Knee massacre. Such a tragedy that was! And no excuse for it. Newsletter News
It is good for a change to note that since resurrecting of f^ee B&B, we have had more subscribers than ever before. Also, we believe subscribers are modifying their spam blockers to allow us through. Remember, if you can't receive email from jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com, you cannot receive B&B by email. You can always, of course, visit our archives and read them all. Subscribers by mid week last week numbered almost 670. Website News
The Portal to the Waterways portion of our website has continued to direct people to information that helps them understand what river transportation is all about. We hope to be updating it more frequently now that we are back in gear. We ask, however, that you visit the websites of our sponsors: National Waterways Conference, Tenn-Tom Waterway Development Authority, DINAMO, MARC 2000 and Tulsa Port Port of Catoosa. They make it possible for us to provide the site. On The Water Front
3 Crewmen Perish, 1 Missing After Mv. Elizabeth M Goes Over Montgomery Dam Three crew perished and another was missing early Sunday, January 9, after the 2,200 hp. Elizabeth M sank after going over Montgomery Locks and Dam at Mile 31.7 on the Ohio River near Industry, Pa.(about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh). Early reports say that six crew were rescued, with two of them being taken to an area hospital. The person missing is still believed to be on the boat. The tow's six coal barges sank, three above the dam and three downriver. According to the Associated Press and river industry spokesmen, the vessel was northbound with six coal barges and was pushing out of the lock about 2:30 a.m., when it ran into trouble. A strong outdraft apparently pushed the head of the tow around until it got caught in the river current and forced the tow against the dam. Then the towboat and three of the barges went over the dam and sank, leaving only the pilothouse visible above water. Two towboats assisted in the rescue, pulling four people from the water and two from the boat, the AP report said. [Here the numbers get confusing.] The story says two from the boat and one from the barge survived. Also, earlier it said three people were rescued by other boats and taken to the hospital. An industry fire official on the scene, Thomas Llewellyn, said attempts to reach the missing person would be made today (January 10) if water levels have receded. According to Corps personnel at Montgomery Locks and Dam, the current, which normally runs three to four miles an hour, was running 10- to 15 mph. at the time of the accident. The Coast Guard restricted traffic over a five-mile area near the dam. Those who perished were identified as Scott Stewart, 36, of Wheeling, W.Va.; Tom Fisher, 25, Latrobe, Pa.; and Edward Crevda, 22, of West Brownsville, Pa. None of the others were identified at the time of this writing. The 108- by 26.5-foot Elizabeth M (formerly the B. F. Fairless) is owned by Campbell Transportation Co., Charleroi, Pa. Campbell president Donald, A. Grimm told the AP, the towboat was shoving out of Montgomery Locks and Dam when something happened. We have no idea [what it was], he said. Campbell Transportation operates towboats and open hopper barges for hire on the Upper Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. Editor's note: Click here to see a July 1972 picture of the Elizabeth M, photographed by Dan Owen of the Boat Photo Museum. Afterthought: My experience of 30 years with stories involving tragedies is that during the first day or two after the incident has occurred, reports are frequently inaccurate and confusing. Questions are asked of Corps, Coast Guard. Safety officials, and company officials (as well as possible witnesses) at a time when no one really knows all the details. In the AP stories, the report was apparently made by someone who does not understand the river. So the early story had the tow passing through the flood gates (not the lock). In this instance, there were people obviously on the dam and lock walls, on two towboats that were assisting, and company officials nowhere near the scene. All of them are talking about it from a different viewpoint. All of them are trying to be accurate, but frequently they can't be. Our report reflects what is known from the early stories. By next week, hopefully the confusion will be out of the picture, and we will have a more accurate report and more names. A company official said they had no idea what happened. But we know what happened. High water happened! This is one of a long string of accidents that have occurred on waterways when crews challenge high, fast-running rivers. -Jack. ACL To Emerge From Chapter 11 American Commercial Lines LLC (ACL) is set to emerge from Chapter 11 reorganization today (January 10) just under two years after filing for protection, The Waterways Journal reported today. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court , Southern District of Indiana, confirmed the company's Plan of Reorganization. Coast Guard on Television The Coast Guard has reported that on January 11 at 9 p.m., January 18 at 9 p.m., and January 25 at 9 p.m., the Discovery Channel will air the three part series "America 's Deadliest Season, Alaska Crab Fishing" which features crews from Air station Kodiak and USCGC Morgenthau. Port Security Issues
Security System Operational At the end of December, the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office San Francisco Bay reported that its Automatic Identification System (AIS) is fully operational. AIS is a shipboard broadcast system that acts like a continuous transponder, operating in the VHF radio maritime band. It allows ships to easily track, identify and exchange pertinent navigation information... from one another or ashore. The AIS system is the requirement of the 2002 Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and is monitored locally by Coast Guard VTS San Francisco. The law requires AIS to be installed and operational on commercial vessels on international voyages, including tankers and cargo ships over 300 gross tons; passenger vessels over 150 gross tons; self-propelled vessels 65 feet or more in length. The law also requires AIS to be installed and operational on vessels that use VTS. This including self-propelled vessels 65 feet or more in length, engaged in commercial service (including fishing); towing vessels of 26 feet or more in length and more than 600 hp.; vessels of 100 gross tons or more carrying one or more passengers for hire; and passenger vessels certificated to carry 50 or more passengers for hire. Editor's note: We are reporting the above (and following) stories in some detail because of the great concern expressed around the nation for port security. Much is being done that we do not hear about. Homeland Security funds intended for the Coast Guard have been slow in coming. We expect AIS to be installed and operational eventually at many U.S. ports. Coast Guard Awards Contract for Second Maritime Security Cutter In late December, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded a $144 million contract to Integrated Coast Guard Systems, LLC, for production and employment of the agency's second Maritime Security Cutter Large (WMSL), the largest of three new cutter classes and the first under construction. The WMSL characteristics include: 421-foot length, 21-foot draft; and a speed of 29 knots. The vessels will have a stern launch ramp, be equipped with a 57 mm gun as well as 50 calibers, and have dual helicopter hanger capability for both multi-mission helicopter and unmanned air vehicles. The fabrication of the first WMSL began in September 2004, with delivery of the ship expected in 2007. The anticipated delivery of the second WMSL is late 2008. Annual Corps, Coast Guard, Navigators [Missouri River] Meeting at Kansas City The annual Corps, Coast Guard and Navigators Meeting on navigation and operations of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project Sioux City, Iowa, to the mouth is scheduled for Wednesday, February 16, 2005. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the National Weather Service Training Center, 7220 NW 101st Terrace, Kansas City, Mo. The center is near the Kansas City International Airport. The meeting is open to navigators, shippers, boaters, river users and river rats (basically everyone). Those planning to attend should plan to arrive early, because they must sign in and receive a badge from the security staff. There will be a designated parking area, so attendees must also sign for a parking permit for the day. In attendance from the Corps will be representatives from the Northwestern Division, Omaha District and Kansas City districts. The Coast Guard will send representatives from its Marine Safety Division, the Bridge Branch, the Upper Mississippi River Group, and the Coast Guard Cutters Gasconade and Cheyenne. Pertinent date: A block of rooms has been set aside with a single rate of $98 for only the evening of February 15 at the AmeriSuites in Kansas City. Reservations can be made by calling toll free 877-774-6467. The group rate is available under Army Corps of Engineers only through January 18. There is shuttle from the hotel to the center. Box lunches and beverages will be offered at registration for a fee. Questions about the meeting should be directed to John LaRandeau at 402-697-2534 or email (john.r.larandeau@nwd01.usace.army,.mil). This represents an invitation to attend. There is no RSVP. Crossing The Bar
Neil Diehl, 74, longtime river industry leader and civic pioneer of the Nashville, Tenn., area, was killed January 3, 2005, when he drove his 1999 Mercedes into the rear end of a car that had stopped for a traffic light. When the Mercedes rotated into the oncoming traffic lanes, an oncoming truck struck it on the passenger side. There were no other injuries. Mr. Diehl was chairman and chief executive officer of Nashville-based Ingram Barge Co. from 1984 to 1996. He joined Ingram Barge Co. in 1984 when assets of Ohio Barge Line were sold to Ingram. Formerly employed by U.S. Steel, he became, in 1980, president of Ohio Barge Line Inc. and Warrior and Gulf Navigation Co., both owned by U.S. Steel. Mr. Diehl was a founding member and past chairman of DINAMO (the Association for the Development of Inland Navigation in America's Ohio Valley) and was an initial appointee of the Waterways Users Board in 1987, serving through 1992. Alois Luhr, 82, founder and CEO of Luhr Bros. Inc., Columbia, Ill., and president of Tower Rock Stone Co. of St. Genevieve, Mo., died early January 8 in Waterloo, Ill., from complications of cancer, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. In 1938, he and his brother Eugene began a construction business, using only their one tractor. Both served in World War II, and following the war continued their business. After Eugene Luhr died in 1958, Alois Luhr continued the business, expanding the once-small operation into a large heavy construction and marine contracting company with offices throughout the country. The company does work from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes and on all inland waterways in between. The 2005 Inland River Record indicates that Luhr Bros. Operates 28 towboats. The firm has freely provided boats for attendees to tour at the annual Great Rivers Towboat Festival at Grafton, Ill., for several years. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, January 11, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo. Guest Column
By Dan Owen Boat Photo Museum The two views of the Addie May that I have posted in the Boat Photo Center this week show the Ira C. Hill after it was sold to A. M. Brooks Towing Company of Pomeroy, Ohio, and renamed Addie May. These are the only two photos of the boat when carrying this name that I have ever seen and they came as a result of an accident [involving the Eastern]. I was on the northbound Eastern as watchman (2nd mate) with Capt. E. Clare Carpenter, just below Lock 23. I was in the pilothouse with Clare about 11 p.m. when, all of a sudden, we heard a big crash and the boat jumped up in the water about three feet. I asked, "What in the hell was that?" Clare stopped the engines and said, "Evidently we hit something." I ran downstairs to the engineroom, and the bilge pumps were already operating and water was really pouring into the boat. The other watch was up by this time, so we put all six of the boat's barge pumps into the engineroom along each one of the engineroom windows. Now, that was a sight to see, a pump pouring water out of each engineroom window on one side. We ascertained that the hole was in an inaccessible place under one of the engine bed frames, so we could not cram pillows or mattresses into the hole to staunch the water. Of course, Clare called the office to report the mishap. The bilge pumps and barge pumps were holding their own, but if one of the pumps quit, it would be a losing battle. The office called the repair yard at Kanauga, Ohio, which at that time was run by Bob Bosworth's Point Towing Co., and relayed our predicament. The New Martinsville had just been placed in the blocks in their largest drydock for routine prop work and they began a rush job to lower the drydock, get the New Martinsville out, and prepare it for us when we got back down to it in about an hour. The New Martinsville is shown tied up in the one photo. After we got the Eastern on the drydock, our watch went to bed. When I got to the pilothouse the next morning, I saw the Addie May tied on the inside of the fleet a couple hundred feet below the drydock. I needed to get photos of this boat in the worst way. To get to the boat I had to climb down a ladder off the Eastern to the drydock floor, climb up a ladder to the top of the drydock, then back down another ladder to reach a barge alongside the drydock so that I could walk off the fleet to get on the bank and walk down to where the Addie May was. I slipped my camera in my back pocket and off I went. Sure glad I did now. We never did find out what we hit that night. Clare had been through that same area hundreds of times in his career, and several barges in our tow had a deeper draft than the boat. Some think it might have been a tree trunk or part of a large tree. I took the photos April 9, 1968, at Kanaga, Ohio, which is opposite Point Pleasant, W. Va. Boat Photo Center
This week's postings include 17 boats: The Alabama Princess from Craig Nowack; Isabella Queen, two of the Acadian, two of the Addie May, three of the Ira C. Bill and one of the Elizabeth M from Dan Owen and his Boat Photo Museum; five of the Corps' dustpan dredge Jadwin from William Steel; and the Kelly Lee and W. W. Crum from Jesse Lybarger. If you happen to have missed our Guest Column above, it explains under what conditions the pictures of the Addie May were taken by Dan Owen. The Book Beat
 Inland River Record 2005 Available
For those not aware of the publishing schedule, we want to remind you that the Inland River Record 2005 and its accompanying CD are available for immediate delivery. The new edition reflects hundreds of changes that have taken place in the towboat industry since the 2004 edition was published. F^ee Tall Stacks DVD or VHS available with purchase. Book and Video a Perfect Marriage  We have advertised Portraits From The Past: Steamboats of the Western Rivers for $10. Also advertised is At The Water's Edge, the DVD and VHS presentation of the Tall Stacks celebration in Cincinnati in 1999. However, these two make perfect companions. The videos show steamboats as we see them today (and in the past), while Portraits From The Past includes pictures of classic, well-known steamboats dating way back. The pictures can be framed, and instructions are included for doing this. The big news is that if you buy Portraits... for $10 plus S&H, you get either the DVD or VHS f^ee. You merely have to express your druthers. (Which one would you druther have?)
 Moonlite at 8:30 Still Available
We still have a few copies of Moonlite at 8:30, a great tabletop book about steamboats, written by Capts. Clarke C. Hawley and Lawrence L. Bates. This magnificent book is available in limited quantities these days, and it soon will be out of print. Just a quick pass through it would convince you that you need it for your collection, because it advises readers about how steamboats operated, deals with staff and musicians, the works. It took a lot of research and is very well done. Also, we are offering it at a very good price, considerably less than the release price. Check it out. F^ee Tall Stacks DVD or VHS comes with this order, too. Most Perfect Harmony: Lewis and Clark Will Keep Your Feet Stompin'  Foot-stomping music is always welcome at my house, and I hope it is at yours. Two CDs that we carry offer plenty of it. My favorite is Most Perfect Harmony: Lewis and Clark: A Musical Journey by  The Discovery String Band. This one gets you hopping from the first song and can't help but make you feel good. A second CD, which includes two of the musicians in the same band, is Living on the River. I can't give these away, they cost me too much. But I do offer a f^ee Tall Stacks DVD or VHS with your order.
For Those Inclined To Pray
Bitts and Bytes has established a "Prayer Circle" so that readers who request it can tap into the prayerful support of the circle members. At this mailing we have 19 members representing eight states. Please note that membership and prayer requests are not restricted to B&B subscribers; they are open to people anywhere in the world. We pray that God will find our efforts pleasing. The activity of the Prayer Circle will be confined totally outside of our weekly newsletter, with the exception of this portion, which will invite membership and update statistics. All arrangements must go through jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com in order to determine that an intended recipient is willing to receive mail. To learn how to join the prayer circle or to request prayer click here. Tow Talkin'
By Kathy Flippo January 10, 2005 Spring is here? Must be 'cause the first tow of the season has arrived! There hasn't been an arrival this early in the year since who knows when. For many, many years the lower locks have been closed for winter while they were being glued back together with new concrete, new machinery, new everything and anything. Those jobs are now done and boats can come north. In years back, they always towed regularly in and out of Quincy, Ill. They can do that again. Could even tow up as far as Linwood (Buffalo, Iowa) during years when there wasn't real heavy ice. But HERE? Wow! Every night I check the vessel location list the Corps puts out. A couple nights ago I noticed a boat had come up through Lock 16 just north of Muscatine, Iowa, with six barges. "Wow!" I thought, "Must be going to Linwood."... To read the rest of this column, click here. See you on the Web, Jack Little River Books jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com Don't forget to visit our website!  |
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