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May 8, 2006 -- Vol. 6 Issue 19 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
Something doesn’t set right with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s refusal to let the Senate vote on the proposed Water resources Development Act. How can GOP leaders say that President Bush is supportive of water projects if this reluctance continues? Editorial Comment From Jack
 We have been following the Water Resources Development Act issue for years. And Congress hasn’t passed one in about five years. So much for all the support GOP leaders say comes from President Bush. That doesn’t make Bush any different than most recent presidents. The inland waterways, Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have struggled for decades with inadequate budgets. The mere fact that the Coast Guard budget has jumped since Katrina does not mean that the government is getting fonder of the agency. If readers recall, the Coast Guard and the Corps have been burdened with almost insurmountable tasks, many of which really put the crimp in their budgets. Much of this after Katrina. (The Coast Guard needs to have updated equipment. The Corps needs to have sufficient funds to do the jobs authorized by Congress but not always financed. And critics need to let the Corps do its job. No agency is better at what they do, though there are a lot of armchair generals who believe they know better.) Recent efforts to get Bill Frist to allow a Senate vote on WRDA have not succeeded. A major telephone campaign sparked by waterways leaders directed many calls to Washington last week, but as Missouri’s Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond tells us, Frist is holding up the show. The Midwest Area River Coalition (MARC 2000), based in St. Louis, reported that Coalition members joined senators from the Upper Mississippi Basin at a press event in the nation’s capitol on May 2 to urge Sen. Frist (R-TN) to bring WRDA to the Senate floor.  According to MARC 2000, “Flanked by Senators Kit Bond (R-Mo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), MARC 2000 President Paul C. Rohde emphasized the importance of the Upper Mississippi River System as our nation’s ‘Third Coast.’ American-grown and American-made commodities shipped on this critical transportation artery deserve an efficient, reliable and cost-effective lock system,” Rohde said. Also speaking at the event were coalition members from the National Corn Growers Association, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and American Land Conservancy, to discuss the economic importance of new lock construction, river transportation, and ecosystem restoration measures proposed in the WRDA legislation. Not to be overlooked in the WRDA issue is the conclusion by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River do not need modernization, just prudent maintenance. The OMB claims that the facilities are good for another 50 years with good maintenance. We need today a drive by waterway supporters to challenge OMB’s position, which will do nothing, if followed, but put our river system farther behind the ever-improving river systems of our South American agricultural-market competitors. OMB’s position represents a fatal flaw in thinking, since it paves the way for further obstacles to be placed in the path of needed waterway infrastructure improvements. Has President Bush really bought into that position? We see no outward signals that he hasn’t. We are not thinking only of transportation needs today. The Corps and other agencies report a sizable growth in the needs in future years. Construction of locks and dams takes time, many years in some cases. If we only maintain the operational integrity of the facilities, we will be doing nothing to improve the systems efficiency when it comes to handling increased traffic. The object is eliminate delays. Congress apparently recognizes the need to maintain and modernize. The House passed its bill WRDA 2005 by an overwhelming margin last year. So far, 81 senators have signed a letter in support of the bill. But Frist will not put it on the schedule. We have no alternative but to believe Frist’s lack of action on WRDA is strictly political. We are fully aware that money demands are high and that the nation faces numerous critical issues at this time. We also are fully apprised of the emergency funding bill for the war in Iraq and aid to the Katrina victims, which has been pushed to nearly $15 billion more than the President requested. He has threatened a veto. But one day, the waterway issue is going to jump up and bite us in the caboose. It represents infrastructure that should not be allowed to deteriorate. One reason is that without good waterways, our competitiveness in world markets is dulled. Another is that one shouldn’t wait till the boat sinks before breaking out the patching kit. Recovery can take too much valuable time. Further, allowing waterways to deteriorate has a negative impact on the cargo statistics. This being the case, it only adds ammunition to water transportation critics who would prefer to see an end to the towing industry, especially on the Missouri River. Just as our highway system constantly needs upgrading and maintenance, so, too, does our river system. Both handle critical cargo to fill transportation needs of the nation. Frist apparently is accommodating OMB by supporting its position and helping Bush by giving him an excuse for not openly supporting waterways – that is, if he actually does. We hope waterway leaders and members of Congress who support WRDA are able to persuade Frist to allow the bill to come to the Senate floor. Bitts About People And Boats
Both Fred Seckendorf and Jeffrey Yates were kind enough to bring us up to date on the troublesome landing barges (entertainment complex) that once graced the Covington, Ky., riverfront. When the city finally rid itself of them and they were en route to be salvaged for steel, they sank May 3 at an Owensboro harbor. So now they sit on the bottom of the Ohio River. In December the barges had been sold for $48,500 to Midwest Steel Ventures of Bethalto, Ill. The barges sank as workers were removing concrete debris from what used to be an entertainment complex. The complex has had a history of leaks. Fred also brought to our attention an announcement by Kirby Corporation that Marine Systems, Inc., and Global Power Holding Company, both based in Houma, La., have announced the signing of an agreement for Marine Systems to purchase Global and its subsidiaries, including Global Power Systems, L.L.C., United Diesel, Brady Diesel and Unitech Diesel. The closing of the acquisition is expected to occur in early June 2006 and is subject to certain conditions, including regulatory filings, the announcement said. We couldn’t be happier for Boat Photo Museum Czar and towboat aficionado Dan Owen, his family and in-laws in the celebrated return from Iraq of his son-in-law Rob, who, with other Iraq veterans, returned home last week to Illinois. Our best to all of them. For Those Inclined To Pray
 For those desiring prayer support for themselves or others, we invite you to join our Prayer Circle, which allows you to submit requests, thereby tapping into prayerful support of our 40 Circle members. There is power in prayer. Membership in the Circle and/or the submission of prayer requests is open to anyone and free. Request lists are sent out via email, generally, on the day they are received. Come join us!
On The Waterfront
Benzene Pipeline Would Take 125 Barges A Year Off Of Mississippi Pipeline Technology, Baton Rouge, La., is negotiating for rights to lay an eight-inch benzene pipeline from a Dow Chemical Plant near Plaquemines, La., across 23 miles of Iberville Parish, through Point Pleasant, under the Mississippi River to the TOTAL Petrochemicals USA Inc. plant near Carville. If successful, the line would go under construction in 2007 and could remove up to 125 benzene barges that annually move that product on the Mississippi. Company officials met with county residents on May 6 to explain the project and why moving benzene by pipeline would be safer than by barge. Benzene, which is used in a variety of products, is a carcinogen. Not all that attended were convinced of the safety of the project. Anticipated Runoff Into Missouri Set At 83 Percent of Normal The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwest Division reports that even though “melting of some low-level mountain snow and welcome rain raised Missouri River reservoir levels 0.5 to 2 feet during April… anticipated runoff for the year remains at only 83 percent of normal.” There is currently 38 million acre feet (MAF) stored in the reservoirs, 19 MAF below normal. Runoff for the year is forecasted to be 21 MAF, 83 percent of normal. Normal runoff is 25.2 MAF. System storage at the end of May is forecast to increase to 38.7 MAF. The agency reported earlier that levels are sufficient to go ahead with a spring rise, but the move is being delayed due to rains that raised river levels in some areas. The “spring pulse”, as they call it, is intended to promote spawning among the endangered pallid sturgeon. Fresh Mississippi River Water May Help Refurbish Coastal Wetlands It is reported that scientists are hopeful that fresh water being directed from the Mississippi River may help to refurbish some of the coastal-wetland damage done by Hurricane Katrina, which cut deep scars in the wetlands. Scientists from across the country have visited Louisiana’s coastline in eastern Plaquemines Parish. It is reported that constant flow of fresh Mississippi River water has been fed into the marshland for 14 years, pushing saltwater father out toward the gulf. Trees now line the freshwater marsh and other plants that cannot survive saltwater are flourishing. Scientists Say Models Underestimate Giant Waves An interesting story by Capt. Richard Eberhardt in “The Waterways Journal” this week tells how scientists now say computer models underestimate the size of giant waves and that “the largest sea swells ever measured exceeded what computer models predicted were even possible.” The story tells of a British research vessel sailing intentionally into a violent storm 155 miles east of Scotland and suffering 12 hours of immense seas. The research team recorded a series of waves 95 to 98 feet from trough to crest at wind force 9. Interestingly, the largest masses of water struck the research ship a day after the storm had been over for a day. The conclusion reached after the appearance of several related articles was that existing models strongly underestimate maximum wave heights. The construction of ships and oil rigs is partly based on computer simulations, but the waves observed were not predicted by the computer simulation. Stay tuned! You can contact the editor directly at jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com. Welcome To Our Site Ring
Site Name: Baltimore & Chesapeake Steamboat Company URL: http://www.steamtug.org Owner: Walt Mathers Description: Home of the last hand-fired coal-burning steam tugboat still operational in all of North America. It is wished to have the 1906 Steam Tug Baltimore serve as America’s inland coastal waterways ambassador. The B&CSCo. is a Non-pofit 501 (c) 3. advertisement
The River School - Deck and engineer licenses, radar observer, tankerman, fire and water safety courses, video programs. Travel classes in convenient locations. (800) 238-7113 www.riverschool.com From Our Readers
Re: National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque, Iowa The Lilly Belle, which Audubon purchased from Capt. Ike Hastings in 2003 and now at its home port at the boatyard of the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, is looking for the following: 1. One or more licensed pilots to hire on for periodic tours of the river. 2. Financial supporters to help us keep the boat afloat and in good running order and for us to use to build support for this great river during our river tours between Minneapolis, Minn., and St. Louis, Mo. Anyone interested in either should inquire to me, Dan McGuiness, Director, Audubon Mississippi River Program. My cell is 651-260-6260. Dan McGuiness Re: Quality Shipyard I enjoyed seeing that Quality Shipyard at Houma, La., was still building boats. I was sure shown a good time down there a few years ago. I was commissioned by MEMCO Barge lines to build an exact scale model of its still-on-the-ways towboat Christopher M. Parsonage. So, I went down to Houma and spent the better part of a day being shown through the shipyard, and checking on the Christopher’s construction details. I needed that guidance before I started the model. So, the more the merrier when it comes to towboat orders. And yes, yes, yes to your thoughts on property owners building in hazardous spots, then letting the rest of us pay for their lack of judgement. Glenn Hensley Kirkwood, MO USA Re: B&B The B&B is right on track. Sure enjoyed the memories of the history of the Steamer Tennessee. She was a beauty to behold. At one time, it was Capt. Russell Colbern’s boat, before he brought out the Mv. L. Wade Childress. Capt. Colbern was one of the best on any river. We river folks hope Robert Miller has a fruitful visit to the hospital. We have to keep him spry and healthy for the future of river history. Years later the new Texas was a looker too, but she kind of looked like an old loved steamboat, putting on airs. No harm intended. Byron Rozier Salem, Ark. Re: Saint Paul I am very thankful for your reply; your help is very much appreciated. Thanks. I can’t help but wonder if the St. Paul [Saint Paul] is still sitting somewhere near St. Louis where she was abandoned in 1953. Do you know? The possibilities are stir’n the waters of my little mind. Ish Teitloff (Editor’s note: The name of the vessel appears in some places as St. Paul and in others as Saint Paul. An artist’s rendering of it in “Portraits From The Past: Steamboats From the Western Rivers” shows the spelling as Saint Paul, all caps.) Re: Saint Paul According to Keith Norrington of New Albany, Ind., a river historian long interested in St. Louis area steamboats, “The Streckfus excursion steamer Saint Paul/Senator was stripped at the St. Louis levee and in 1953 towed downriver by the venerable steam tug Susie Hazard, where she was scuttled behind a wing dam.” Boat Photo Center
 Nineteen more new photos grace the halls of the Boat Photo Center this week, including the Titan, Lillian G, Frederick and Wanda B from Eric M. Johnson; the Sir Frederick and Senator Stennis from John Miller; the John Roberts and Audrey Fouts from Chuck Perrin; Alany, Anaconda, and Annie III from Jan van der Doe; the Stephen L. Colby from Ron Richardson; the Bob Koch from Ed Rahe; Inca, Barbara Lee and Alton Simms from Dan Owen and the Boat Photo Museum; and two photos of the Whayne H (before she became the Kathleen Nicole) from Brent Maletic. We also have a photo of the Coast Guard’s cutter Cheyenne, sent in anonymously. The Alany, Anaconda, Annie III (and Aquarius, which was posted earlier) are former tugboats that were converted to towboats, Jan van der Doe wrote. The Inca, Barbara Lee and Alton Simms are part of the occasional Old-Timer Gone series, about which Dan Owen writes below. The occasion for the Old-Timer Gone series, in this case, is the word that the Alton Simms has had its engines removed and the hull is offered for sale. Dan provides the following lineage: Inca 262300 Twin screw, built 1951 by Sturgeon Bay (Wis.) Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. 90.6 x 30. Orig. had National Superior diesels, 1,800 hp. Repowered 1983 with Cat D399 diesels, 2,250 hp. Orig. Inca, owned by Indian River Lines, Inc., Wilmington, Del., operations office at Paducah, Ky. Sold June 1957, renamed Barbara Lee by Gulf Transportation Co., Houston. Transferred 1960 to Marine Leasing Corp., Wilmington, who restored Inca name. Sold 1983 to Interstate Towing Co., Milford, Ohio. Returned 1968 to Marine Leasing. Sold 1969 to G&C Towing, Inc., Point Pleasant, W. Va. Sold June 1973 to Mile 725 Towing Service, Winona, Minn. Sold Dec. 1973 to InterMarine Associates, Inc., Winona. Sold March 1975, renamed Alton Simms by Simms Bros. Towing Co., Inc., Mobile, Ala. Sold July 1977 to Citicorp Leasing, Inc., Dallas, Tex. Sold 1978 to Brown Marine Service, Inc., Pensacola, Fla. Dan Owen Boat Photo Museum Note: We could use a variety of pictures from other photographers. This week I was able to mix them up pretty good. But now I have long lists of pictures from just a couple people. — Jack Click here to see the latest pictures. advertisement
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Recipe Box
Do you have a good recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipes here! The Book Beat
We remind readers this week of some really, really good buys in the way of river books that will not be on our shelves very long. The reason is that we are intentionally reducing inventory. The quality of the books is really good, and the price is particularly right at this time. They include: Views on the Mississippi Master of the Mississippi Taming the Upper Mississippi Road to the Sea Self-publishing your book:  Self-publishing your book is a good way to go, but there are booby traps everywhere. Call us at 314/921-4419 to find out how your book can be published without experiencing the problems many writers have faced. Remember, when you self-publish with us, you pay the costs, but you get the books. With some subsidized printing schemes, you don’t. 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'
May 8, 2006 By Kathy Flippo  Did a couple 300-foot interviews up at Lock 13 this past week. The first boat crew I talked to was on ARTCO’s Mv. Ardyce Randall where Tom Casten from Popeye town, Chester, Illinois, is first mate. Trip Capt. Scott Taylor from Canton, Missouri, was standing the after watch, guiding four loads of fine-ground coal and eight loads of white crushed limestone up the river.
The limestone intrigued me, as Alter’s Mv. Phyllis went up last week with 15 loads of it. Tom says they picked it up at Linnwood, which is just south of Davenport but north of Buffalo, Iowa. I’d bet my bottom dollar that is where the Phyllis picked hers up too. It is all going to St. Paul. Met a couple of the deckhands this trip. Brian Poindexter…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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