|
|
|
|
July 31, 2006 -- Vol. 6 Issue 30 Written by Jack R. Simpson (unless otherwise noted), owner of J.R. Simpson & Associates, Inc. and contributing editor to The Waterways Journal.
| ||||||||
 In This Newsletter:
Thought For The Week
“I hope absence makes the heart grow fonder.” 
Editorial Comment From Jack
 My only editorial comment this week is that it is important for everyone who supports water transportation to let their congressmen know how important it is not to hamstring the Corps. The next few weeks will be spent sharing with congressional leaders information provided by industry leaders who want everyone to understand the impact of restrictive amendments added to WRDA passed by the Senate. The conference to work out differences in the Senate’s version of the bill and the one passed by the House last year will probably take place in September.
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 freë. Request lists are sent out via email, generally, on the day they are received. Come join us!
Newsletter News
A little different menu this week. And we are bringing back by popular demand the tale of the Cahaba. Enjoy! Remember the damn dam story? That, too, is worth rereading. Cahaba Story “I don’t understand what may have happened. The bridge did not raise. The towboat hit the bridge while trying to back away, but the current caught it, turned it sideways, and sank it. It came up on the other side and finally uprighted and rejoined the barges after getting rid of a lot of water.” Darrell Gammon Henderson, Kentucky Cahaba Story & Pictures
Damn Dam Story (1997/1998) (Editorial note: Every now and then someone is aggravated enough to compile a response to a letter that annoys them. Not only do they make their point, but they make it in a way that we can all enjoy. The following, directed to us by Charles Lehman, is such a piece. According to Charles, the letter “was an actual letter sent to Ryan DeVries from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan.” He suggests that we make sure to read the letter before we go to the response. Story confirmed at: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/b/beaverdam.htm) SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County Dear Mr. DeVries, It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department’s files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31 2002. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions. Sincerely, David L. Price District Representative Land and Water Management Division RESPONSE Dear Mr. Price, Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond to. First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood “debris” dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natural building materials “debris.” I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity. My first dam question to you is (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or (2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. I have several concerns. My first concern is - aren’t the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation --so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department’s dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing flooding is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream “restored” to a dam free-flow condition - please contact the beavers - but if you are going to arrest them (they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter being unable to read English). In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers’ Dams.) So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2002? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears. Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!) Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office. Sincerely, Stephen L. Tvedten
On The Waterfront
An empty plate this week. By the time some of you read this, I will be just a few miles out of town on my return trip.
Visit the Little River Books Message Board!
You can contact the editor dírectly at jacksimpson@littleriverbooks.com.
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: W. P. Snyder Jr.  The attached photo is of the W.P. Snyder Jr., the sole remaining steam-powered, sternwheel ‘pool-type’ towboat in existence. The Snyder, built in 1918, is moored at the Ohio River Museum, a site of the Ohio Historical Society, in Marietta, Ohio. In 1955 the vessel was donated to OHS by her owner, the Crucible Steel Company of America, and has been the flagship of the Ohio River Museum complex since then (and the largest object in the collections of the Ohio History Society). Unfortunately, due to decreasing state appropriations over the years, only intermittent and incomplete maintenance has been possible and the Snyder is now in ‘emergency’ condition.
On Monday I sent you a letter and a brochure outlining a campaign recently begun by OHS to raise funds to complete the match for a ‘Save America’s Treasures’ grant from the National Park Service designated for the Snyder’s restoration. Thanks to this grant plus new state of Ohio capital appropriations, plus private gifts, we have about 95% of the estimated total cost of restoration, some $1.4 million. We have embarked on a campaign to raise $100,000; $50,000 will complete the match for the NPS grant and $50,000 more will allow us to establish an endowment fund for the Snyder’s permanent upkeep. We would greatly appreciate your mentioning our efforts in Bitts & Bytes and publishing the photo of the Snyder. If you need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me here at the Ohio Historical Society or the Ohio River Museum’s site manager, Andy Verhoff, at 1-800-860-0145 or cmmoriv@ohiohistory.org. Kathy Wyatt Development Officer Ohio Historical Society 1982 Velma Ave. Columbus, OH 43211 614-297-2308 kwyatt@ohiohistory.org
Re: Eagle Boat Store I’m wondering if there are any folks out there along the rivers who might have any photos of the old Eagle Boat Store that was long a fixture on the St. Louis waterfront at 805 North Wharf Street above the Eads Bridge. In later years the building was known as The Old St. Louis Levee House and was a bar featuring ragtime bands and entertainment. The building burned in March 1972 and was razed. The Eagle Boat Store had moved from the building onto floating facilities in the 1950s and later evolved into Eagle Marine Industries. I am looking for any photos of the old building, both inside and out. Thanks! Keith Norrington
Re: Austin Boudreau That seems typical of his approach to running the boat [Point Counterpoint II]. I helped with two of his visits to Morgantown, W.Va. I heard a number of good stories from a USCG member who described himself as “Boudreau’s Nemesis.” When he was last here he was trying to convince us that we needed the boat, in addition to our dozen or so other performance spaces. He is a true “river character,” and I’m happy to have met him. Wallace Venable West Virginia
Re: Hip Tow Have been enjoying your magazine and agree with you totally about the Coast Guard issues. As a delivery captain working mostly SW U.S., I see signs where the Feds have undercut or diverted previously existing CG services. My big trip will be starting soon. Please refer to my note on the message board (“Hip tow needed…”) and my classified ad in the Waterways Journal. If you have any ideas or personal connections that might be of help to me I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. I do know how busy you are and I don’t expect my request to be a priority. During my trip I will submit some things to you (photos and/or observations) that you may find of interest for the Bitts and Bytes. I’m also keeping a blogspot at huckfinntrip.blogspot.com I can be reached by cell at 727-656-0700 or brionkerlin@yahoo.com Brion Kerlin
Boat Photo Center
This week we feature the David L. Fields and James F. Neal by John Miller; the Jesse Z by Eric M. Johnson, the W. P. Snyder by Kathy Wyatt, and the Capt. H. Colle, Tallapoosa and Christy by Ed Rahe. Click here to see the latest pictures.
advertisement
Beyond WordsWeb Site Design, Search Engine Optimization, Graphic Design Web site design, graphics, Flash animations, search engine optimization, e-commerce, typing services, database management. Chëck out our portfolio of past projects, then contact us at 636-477-8518 for more information.
Recipe Box
Do you have a good recipe you’d like to share? Submit your recipes here!
The Book Beat
For this week’s picks I recommend “Rivers of Kentucky” and “Ol’ Man River: Memoirs of a Riverboat Captain”.  A favorite book of mine is “Rivers of Kentucky” which is one of the most readable books I’ve ever come across. The authors traveled throughout Kentucky, including into the mountains where they conversed with those who live there, including the relatives of the famous Hatfields and McCoys. I was pleasantly surprised to find many detailed references about Kentucky sites I have visited, including the Mammoth Cave and its history. That alone is intriguing. The story about the river captain who was bribed to take a presidential candidate upriver rather than down river to Memphis to face off with his campaign opponent was most interesting. So you think rivers don’t play a part in what makes America tick? “Rivers of Kentucky” is written by a fine Kentucky couple, and it is a book that will most likely remain in your library if you choose to buy it. It can be read over and over again, easily, and remain a favorite. It’s just an outstanding, fun read.
List Price: $22.00 Our Price: $19.00 You Save: $3.00 (13.6%)  Ol' Man River: Memoirs of a Riverboat Captain - by Capt. Wm. D. Bowell, Sr.224 pages, profusely illustrated (virtually all color), dust jacket, hard cover, nonfiction. Like the Phoenix, Capt. Bowell rose from the ashes of the Great Depression, returned to St. Paul after serving as a paratrooper in World War II to get his college education, reared a family, and made a fortune in printing and plastics before founding the very successful Padelford Packet Boat Company. According to U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, “The Mississippi River is the soul and symbol of Minnesota, and it has no greater champion than Bill Bowell. He envisioned a thriving St. Paul riverfront decades before anyone else, turning his dream of the Padelford Packet Boat Company into reality… He is a rare person, a visionary who gets things done.” This is not just a river book. It's a book about having the gumption to succeed. Usually delivers with 48 hours. List Price: $32.00 Our Price: $28.00 You Save: $4.00 (12.5%)
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 (F-R-E-E), 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.) Chëck out the sites currently in the ring and their hit statistics as a dírect result of being in the site ring.
Tow Talkin'
July 31, 2006 By Kathy Flippo  It is unbearably hot and humid here on the West Coast of Illinois. If you are crazy enough to go outside, it is like swimming under hot water. Oppressive! I’ve never liked weather over 75 degrees, and humidity over 50% just does me in. Give me 32 below and a couple feet of snow any day!
This weather hasn’t stopped the speed boaters…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! |
||||||||
