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March 6, 2006 -- Vol. 6 Issue 10 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
Hurricane Katrina was an act of Mother Nature, not of the Bush Administration. A Personal Note From Jack
 Recent disclosures by the Associated Press, not handled exactly in a pure way, reveal President Bush saying the federal government was ready before Katrina hit and would be ready to assist right after she hit. (Not having known the extent of the tragedy, he could not have meant that the government was thoroughly capable of handling it. He said they were ready to assist.) It was also revealed that Louisiana Gov. Blanco did not know whether or not the levees were breached. Some say they had been breached. No problem there. It was one big mess. The scene was changing momentarily. It did show FEMA director Brown very concerned and saying so. So maybe the press has pinioned him to a tree unfairly. One thing we should keep in mind. Whether Bush said the U.S. was ready, or if he had said the U.S. was not ready, it wouldn’t have meant a hill of beans to Katrina. She came with a force we could not reckon with. She brought damage never experienced before. She was like Cruella De Vil in “101 Dalmatians” imposing her meanness wherever she wished. The water from the Gulf did the rest. What seems to be important, rather than continuation of the blame game, is to fix hurricane-stricken areas as best we can, in whatever way thought to be best, continue to work on levees to protect against the oncoming hurricane season (June), and then evaluate what went wrong and fix it. Come to the aid of hurting people first. From what we hear from observers on the Gulf, the missteps have been so horrendous, the wasteful use of money has been so widespread, the utter failure of many portions of the recovery effort are so clear, that serious thought must be given to setting up some form of oversight agency to see that money is honestly spent. We know that it may not be all spent wisely, human error being what it is. But it should be controlled and spent honestly. For we have a certain element (among victims and among predators) who plan to make a killing from the tragedy. The taxpayers deserve that much. As I was thinking about Katrina after reading yet another report, I was shaving in the bathroom. As I glanced down at the commode, I asked myself, “What would be my problems if suddenly I could not flush the stool? What if my other source of water was cut off, so I couldn’t just drop in a bucket of water to flush it?” And then I asked myself, “What if I suddenly lost all electricity?” No lights, no furnace, no television, no coffee maker, no toaster, no, no, no, on and on and on. When the batteries in my electric shaver and cell phone ran down, these, too, would be useless. For the people who chose to stay, those were among the first losses experienced. They were not the very first, however, because the very first impact was the super high wind that tore houses apart and did all sorts of other damage. Then came the “tidal wave” that provided the coup de grâs for many. Some died in the wreckage. Some stayed bottled up until rescue. Some stayed for many days. If they survived the immediate aftermath, then the absence of electricity would soon cause problems when it came to food preservation in their refrigerators. Some who left their homes, were victimized by looters. These are the things I thought about in those moments after reading another Katrina report. Then it occurred to me again that no matter what the President said about readiness, he had no more idea than we did about what was to come. The outcome illustrates that we (the U.S.) was not ready for such a disaster. The President could not have simply waved a wand and sent Katrina scurrying back to sea. Neither GOP or Democrats could do that, although some critics seemed to think they had that power. It was a natural disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was trying to cover a lot of bases, not just New Orleans proper and Mississippi. Communications proved to be terrible among various agencies. And then there are the personal reports. We’ve been told that flagman are being paid about $2,000 per 84-hour week to stand out amid the debris and flag cars? They are getting $8,000 a month, including per diem. But as my friend described it, as many are quitting as are hiring on. The job starts at 5 a.m. and goes through 5 or 6 p.m., seven days a week (so it could be more than 84 hours) and there are no lunch, coffee, or bathroom breaks. The worker carries his lunch with him. He/she has to find a discreet place to take care of personal needs. Some say they just can’t take it. Yet some apparently have taken leave of other jobs to hire on. Shipyards in the area are having a deuce of a time finding help at the pay they offer. Many quit because they can’t take it. The pay sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? (If this is all correct, of course.) But is it? For four weeks of 84 hours comes to 336 hours. At $8,000, that comes to under $24 an hour. That might appeal, but it must cover room and board, and where would one stay? And what would one pay for staying anywhere? Doesn’t sound like a dream job to me for individuals. But there is money flowing like wine in some of the company contracts. At least that is the impression being relayed to me. This little exercise is not intended to comment on either government performance or people and how they are reacting. It has been said that in disasters like this, about a third of the people come out about even. Another third lose out. Yet another third makes a killing. That’s probably true, and I am not passing judgement on anyone. They say that Mississippi has passed a law allowing casinos to locate up to 800 feet inland. Land is going at sky-high rates to casino owners who want to locate inland rather than be in the Gulf. So, on the surface, it appears rates are going to make some people very well off. Maybe they will also get insurance settlements for the property they lost. They are among the third that will come out smelling like a rose. Well, if I had land there, and if my land could be sold at many times what I paid for it, and if could get an insurance settlement on my house, I’d do it, too. But we’re hearing in a roundabout way that not only is FEMA slow at paying off, but the insurance companies are dragging their feet also. That has to make for a very difficult situation. Even those trailers that were sitting in Arkansas couldn’t be placed without power and sewage and electricity available. That had to be a city or FEMA problem. Citizens could not do that on their own. This begs the question: For how many years has FEMA been moving trailers around the country? How is it that they did not know about (?) or failed to tackle (?) the task of making sure that when trailers were ready to be moved to a devastated site the red tape was eliminated, and the trailer could move right in? Am I ever glad I live in Missouri. — Jack For Those Inclined To Pray
 We have modified the steps for joining our Prayer Circle. If you visit the Prayer Circle link on at www.littleriverbooks.com, you will find that those who sign up are completely anonymous. We do not ask for first names nor states of residence. Joining is as simple as providing an email address to which we can send future prayer requests. Each prayer request list includes a link for including requests.
By joining our Prayer Circle, you can tap into the prayerful support of circle members wherever they are. Membership and prayer requests are open to everyone. Newsletter News Corrections
We erroneously reported in B&B for February 27 that no protective cell had ever been built around the President Casino on the St. Louis waterfront. We’ve now been informed that four cells have been built there. We apologize for the error. The story about the Coast Guard being sued over a water-taxi incident that resulted in drownings should have said Baltimore and not Boston. When I goof, I do it up right! Bloopers Elsewhere Mistakes are more common in journalism than we’d like to admit. The best remedy is just admit them, apologize and move on. This one in the last issue of “Heartland Boating,” published by “The Waterways Journal,” is a dandy. In a “Boat Smart” column titled: Get ready for the boating season, appeared a picture to illustrate a flooded boat transom. The cutline reads: “Vessels with an inboard/outhouse engine may develop cracks in the transom boat. If undetected, the boat could flood and sink at the dock, as this one did.” (Editor’s note: You can ferret out all the mistakes in this one yourself.) Newsletter News
We meant to call attention and raise a few cheers in mid-February when author Kathy Flippo, B&B’s “Tow Talkin’” columnist, managed to get a lengthy letter printed in the “Clinton (Iowa) Herald.” Her letter supported installation of seven larger locks on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. The letter appeared on February 14. Kathy’s dedication over the years to writing about river matters apparently convinced the editors that she deserved the space. Good for you, Kathy! Web Site News
We heard during a telecast interview that scamming on the Internet has become increasingly serious and that villains (as if we didn’t know it) are out to steal your identify. Among the latest and worst scams the guest speaker described, involves a fake program that will take you to a different site if you try to go to E-Commerce.com (or something like that.) The main point is never to give your social security number, address, phone number…any personal information for that matter…to sites like this. The “villains” now work at stealing IDs of children because they have no bad credit records. The villains have a lot of time to do bad things before the child grows up enough to discover the theft.
On The Waterfront
Kirby Buys Remaining Shares In Offshore Partnership Kirby Corporation, Houston, Texas, has announced the purchase of the remaining 65 percent of Dixie Fuels Limited for $15.6 million from Progress Fuels Corporation. Prior to this transaction, Kirby owned 35 percent. Dixie Fuels primarily transports coal from the lower Mississippi River to Progress’ power generation facility at Crystal River, Fla. According to Joe Pyne, Kirby’s president and chief executive officer, “Kirby subsidiaries have served as the managing partner of Dixie Fuels since the partnership’s inception in 1977, accounting for Kirby’s 35 percent interest.” Drought Cancels Water Release On Missouri River It is by now barely news that drought in the Midwest has resulted in a decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers not to allow extra water releases on the Missouri River to boost spawning by pallid sturgeon. Commercial barge service for Kansas City and other ports could be shortened by almost two months in the fall if the rains don’t arrive, the Corps said. A spring rise still will occur as the Corps begins increasing water releases in late March for the barge navigation season, which begins April 1. But the two-day pulse on top of those releases has been canceled. Toppling Crane Kills Man at Alabama State Docks, Investigation Goes On On March 2 a 200-foot-high crane, struck by a cargo ship, toppled over, killing a Mobile, Ala., man at the Alabama State Docks. Shawn David Jacobs, 46, was entrapped by the wreckage and crushed. The irony of the situation was that the ship was scheduled to leave for Houston the day before but couldn’t because of fog. The Coast Guard and Alabama State Docks officials are investigating the incident. The cost to replace the crane has been estimated as high as $9 million. F. A. (Bud) Mechling, 86, Crosses The Bar (Source: “The Waterways Journal”) F. A. (Bud) Mechling, 86, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., died January 31 at his home. During World War II, he assumed the duties as general manager of the family-owned A. L. Mechling Barge Lines, which provided logistic support to the war effort. After the war he became the company’s executive vice president and was ultimately president and chief executive officer of Union Mechling Corporation. Under his leadership the company won a NASA contract to move 50 Saturn V booster rockets to Cape Canaveral, Fla., for the Apollo space program and developed heavy-lift barges to transport steam vessels used in nuclear power plants. Mechling served as chairman of the American Waterways Operators, Water Resources Congress, and Mississippi Valley Association. He was also the founding member and first chairman of the National River Academy of Helena, Ark. Other professional affiliations included the U.S. Chamber of Commerce-Transportation Committee, Florida Ports and Water Resources, Water Transportation Association, Traffic Club of Pittsburgh, Waterways Freight Bureau, National Waterways Conference, Transportation Association of America, and Propeller Club. Following his retirement he served as a transportation consultant for Dravo Corporation. (Editor’s note: “Capital Currents”, official publication of the Waterways Council, Inc., called Mechling a “giant…innovative towing industry leader and energetic waterways advocate.”) You can contact the editor directly at jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com. advertisement
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Re: The Six-Port Deal (2/27/06) If you are an American citizen, you are walled off from getting into a port. Heaven help you if you take a picture from outside the fence into the port. But we will allow the “potential enemy” free run of the port and allow them to install and operate the security system. The next time I am questioned by a law enforcement officer about my towboat, ocean liner or train photo taking activities I hope they can explain why the “potential enemy” is allowed free run of the port and its facility and the American citizen who helped finance the port and its infrastructure is not allowed to take a picture of it. Homeland Security is nothing but a farce. Charles H. Bogart Re: Reporting The Six-Port Deal (2/27/06) I’ve heard radio reports that the P&O sale was first reported by the British media and then by the “Wall Street Journal” on October 30, 2005. That doesn’t sound like a “secret” deal. Thanks for your newsletter. It’s interesting and enjoyable. Tom Wright Savannah, GA (Editor’s note: I don’t question that, but since I don’t follow the British media, I missed it. It’s strange that the firestorm didn’t surface till now, and it’s strange that the media and critics, at least for a couple weeks, have focused on a foreign country taking over control of six U.S. ports rather than six terminals. Thanks for calling this to our attention.) Re: Water-Taxi Drowning (B&B 2/27/06) Not Boston, Jack. Baltimore. Hugh Ware, News and Book Reviews Editor “TugBitts” Magazine Re: Water-Taxi Drowning (B&B 2/27/06) Just a quick note. I believe the item this week about the suit against the Coast Guard should have stated the accident happened in Baltimore and not Boston unless there was another accident that I haven’t heard about. Keep up the GREAT work, I really enjoy the newsletter. Jim Arnold Re: Water-Taxi Issue (2/27/06) Shouldn’t that be BALTIMORE Inner Harbor, or was that a different capsize incident? I understand that “bigger Americans” are resulting in reviews of a lot of weight-based standards - aircraft loading, boat stability. Wallace Venable Boat Photo Center
 Of the 10 photos we display in the Photo Center this week, four are from Barry Griffith, who gives us a much better view than most of us had previously of the sunken Magnolia Marine barge MM53. (See additional notes below.) Others include: the Celeste and Suffolk, a historic picture posted by Kathy Flippo; the Phyllis and Raymond Grant Eckstein from Jesse Lybarger; and the Janet Marie, Arkwright and D. L. Johnson from Eric M. Johnson. Readers will remember when MM53, one of several barges in tow of Magnolia Marines Kelly Lee, broke loose and sank against the K&I bridge on the Ohio River at New Albany, Ind. And we remember when River Salvage of Pittsburgh, Pa., was contracted to off-load the asphalt and salvage the barge. This all happened on January 26, 2006. “The Waterways Journal” reported on March 6 that one compartment on the barge has been emptied and that there are six to go. Some of us were privy to some nice pictures; others probably saw none. And since photographer Barry Griffith shared these (with the world) as he puts it, some may have seen them already. But to get the four pictures he is sharing is really a rare treat. Barry works hard to get very good pictures and brings the story right up close to us. It is a great privilege to be able to post them in our Photo Center. Our thanks to him. The historic picture of the Celeste and Suffolk was photographed on a day when a fire broke out on the Chicago and Northwestern railroad bridge on October 24, 1958, at Clinton, Iowa. Photographer Gary Shaw, formerly of Clinton, was on hand to shoot a picture of the Celeste (in the left of the picture). Gary now lives in Flagstaff, Ariz. We were at first stuck for identification of the Suffolk (on the right), but Dan Owen of the Boat Photo Museum was not in such a quandary. He knew the ID right off. Click here to see the latest pictures. 
Recipe Box
TRANSPARENT PIE 9" pie shell (unbaked) 1-1/2 c. sugar 2 Tbs. flour 1/2 c. butter 2-3 eggs (beaten) 1 c. cream 1 tsp. vanilla Mix together all ingredients in a sauce pan. Heat just enough to melt the butter. Pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Submitted by Patty Thompson Towboat Cook, Mv. Yvonne Conway Do you have a good recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipes here! The Book Beat
Backing Hard Into River History - by James V. Swift  Those interested in a very readable history of Mississippi River navigation should try “Backing Hard Into River History” by the late James V. Swift. It really is not dated. Filled with pictures and suggestions for other reading, it traces the history of towboat development on the rivers, the history of the 119-year-old “Waterways Journal” for which he worked 60 years, and tells of his own involvement. We offer it for $10 less than the normal retail price.List Price: $29.95 Our Price: $20.00 
You Save:
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 “Ol’ Man River: Memoirs of a Riverboat Captain”
by Capt. Wm. D. Bowell, Sr., the man who turned the Padelford Packet Boat Company into reality at St. Paul, Minn. “He envisioned a thriving St. Paul riverfront decades before anyone else…,” wrote Norm Coleman, a U.S. Senator and former mayor of St. Paul. According to Paul Verret, president emeritus, St. Paul Foundation, “That Bill Bowell returned to St. Paul from World War II to get a college education, raise a family, make a fortune in printing and plastics, and build a successful riverboat excursion company is a riveting tale in itself. That he also beat the odds as a child of the Depression doubles the intrigue. His life’s story is a model for how he and others of ‘the greatest generation’ shaped this country.” This book is absolutely beautiful in its production. It is virtually all in color. Included in its 224 pages are appendices listing (1) boats owned and operated, (2) rivers worked, (3) honors and awards, (4) portrait gallery, and (5) National Rivers Hall of Fame. This is prime stuff for river historians.  “Ol’ Man River” is a river book, but it is much more. Every child of the Great Depression will see mirrored in it experiences they themselves went through. It is a tale of a hard fight to succeed after a very difficult time for the entire country. This book is also a great lesson for those who would like to get ahead in life. Success is due to determination and the gumption to move ahead with new projects. Capt. Bowell is a man, also, who discovered early that by helping make things better for others, he could also make things better for himself. He is an inventor and producer of successful products and has earned a place in history that most of us have never known about.
It is a hardcover, 8 x 10 book with dust jacket, profusely illustrated with color pictures and professionally drawn cartoon renditions of various aspects of Capt. Bowell’s experiences. Price: $28 plus S&H. List Price: $32.00 Our Price: $28.00 You Save: $4.00 (12.5%) advertisement
Those interested in learning how you can self-publish your book can find details listed at www.littleriverbooks.com where they appear in the index under other services. Get More Visitors To Your Web Site - Join The U.S. Inland Waterways Site Ring!
This is a web ring owned by Little River Books. It is dedicated to those who work, rest, or play on the inland waterways of the United States. Owners of river-related commercial or private sites can apply to join, bringing together as many waterways related sites as possible. Sign up (FREE), put the code on your page, and watch your hits skyrocket! Let’s see if we can make this one of the biggest and best river site rings on the web. Benefit from other river sites’ traffic and gain new visitors. If you sell a river-related product on your site, this is the ring for you! (You must copy and past the site ring graphic onto your web site as soon as your site is approved.) Check out the sites currently in the ring and their hit statistics as a direct result of being in the site ring. Tow Talkin'
March 6, 2006 By Kathy Flippo 
October 24, 1958, was the day of all days in Clinton, Iowa, as far as the towing industry was concerned. I remember the day well, as the black smoke billowed over town from the burning Chicago and Northwestern railroad bridge. And of course, it just had to be the draw span that was on fire and the span was closed. This created a mess of major proportions not only for train traffic but especially for the towing industry. The trains could be rerouted over the Sabula-Savanna bridge or either of the Quad City railroad bridges. The towboats couldn’t do anything but wait. It looked like a parking lot along the Clinton city front.
 Finally the industry got organized and brought up a retractable pilothouse boat from the Illinois River to shuffle barges under the bridge. Before the retractable boat arrived, they were switching tows by pushing them under the bridge and having…to continue reading, click here.
See you on the Web, Jack Little River Books jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com Don't forget to visit our web site! |
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