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September 19, 2005 -- Vol. 5 Issue 38 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:
Ever Wonder
Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"? A Personal Note From Jack
 Reports on Katrina Aftermath
I don’t know how others feel, but after reading official news releases on the Internet, viewing television, reading newspapers and blogs, I have concluded that there is one side of the Gulf Coast story that major news organizations have been neglecting. While it is true that we got reports early on about looting and other crime in New Orleans, and while it is also true that we heard about the Superdome disaster, there are no reports about how rotten some evacuees have behaved after being rescued from their plight. If what I read is true, it is really terrible. Of course, there are some touching stories out there, too. One Baton Rouge resident told how the city accepted the first 600 evacuees and put them in one of the city’s new schools. Within 10 hours, the writer said, they had destroyed classrooms and all the computers, ripped out the urinals and destroyed the bleachers. The city called back policemen who had been shifted to New Orleans as well as National Guard to watch over them. Then they moved them to a different location along with another 600 other evacuees. Also sent my way were reports from two people who had volunteered to assist at the Astrodome in Houston. Two to three pages of examples were presented, and it is enough to make one sick. The Astrodome was really well prepared, and in addition to all of the arrangements one might normally expect to find in a shelter, it had included a movie room and library. One writer was so bitter about the experience that he could hardly contain himself, but he substituted asterisks for most of the profanity he felt necessary to express his reaction to the mean-spirited evacuees. They complained about being offered turkey and ham sandwiches when they wanted hamburgers and alcohol. When they did sit down to eat, they left their garbage for others to clean up. Well, political correctness prevents me from getting into all of it. But it did not prevent the writers. Toning it down a bit, they said 70 percent of the evacuees seemed very ungrateful for the help. Perhaps one out of 10 said thank you at any time. That is a pretty high percentage of people whose behavior was unacceptable. I sure hope the writer was wrong. It is, I suppose, the nature of news organizations, especially at the time of disasters, not to blame people for bad behavior. But to tell the story correctly, one must remember that the criminal actions in New Orleans represented hoodlums doing what comes natural to them. One retired military colonel said thousands of criminal types descended on New Orleans, which was ripe for the picking. Of the three boats owned by the police, only one worked. Some 800 policemen didn’t show up for work, one official observer said. The police had no communications, while the hoodlums arrived, he said, with boats behind SUVs and had better communications than the police. They fought over territory to loot. And they were armed, probably better than the police were. But there is other equally disturbing information in the wind. One observer, whose home was right in the middle of the hurricane area, said speculators from back East were in town buying up houses on speculation before the hurricane hit. They are like scavengers. There is that kind of person who will be attracted to disaster to fatten his wallet. The pricing of gasoline is another curious subject. One would almost accept that after such a disaster and damage to oil rigs and refineries, gas prices would rise. But oil industry is not without its questionable actions either. At the hint of a hurricane in the Gulf, gas prices are raised immediately at some stations throughout the country. If the storm doesn’t strike, too bad. The price stays up, at least temporarily. Stations collect much higher prices for gas that costs them less. Can you believe that they now have some of us believing that $2.50 a gallon is a bargain! Wonder where the price will be when it all shakes out. The reports on Katrina and reaction to the disaster are a Pandora’s Box, a witchy soup that contains good and evil. Generally speaking, the President gets it in the neck, and I don’t believe that all the criticism leveled is due him. But like a captain, he is in command of the ship, and the weight of command falls on him. I expect that in the end, after much investigation, there will be attempts to soften the criticism of the President, but the damage will have been done. The failure of state and local government to do its job was a major link in the chain. As I said last week, to view how much has been done since Katrina struck is to see really how much has been accomplished. In my view it has been miraculous. Yet, the timeline does show a very slow exit from the starting block. Nevertheless, everyone knew there would be a Katrina. The record shows that federal, state and local governments had been studying it for decades. If it had not been Katrina, it would have been a different hurricane. "A rose is a rose is a rose…" It was an accident waiting to happen. The question was not "Will it hit?" but "When will it come?" Can you imagine a clothing store in South Dakota not stocking heavy coats because the operators didn’t believe the temperature would ever get below freezing? Some will say that they don’t want to talk about the failures; they want to move ahead and rebuild. Well, they had better take a good look at why the disaster was so large and put their foot down when it comes to planning. I have been astounded at the hundreds, if not thousands, of "drowned" cars on the streets of New Orleans. Were they all out of gas? Couldn’t some of those people have escaped the wrath of Katrina if they had wanted to? The thousands of people who refused to evacuate only exacerbated the problem, and their plight now will cost the taxpayer billions. When I was in New Orleans years ago I was amazed at the lack of zoning. Not only should zoning have kept people from building crummy shacks next to expensive mansions, but it should have kept anyone from building in areas prone to flooding. New Orleans was a mess. Everyone talks about how wonderful New Orleans was and how it must be rebuilt. It is true we need a port of New Orleans. A vast amount of imports and exports are handled there. But marine businesses, while of necessity, are located in Danger’s path, usually plan for it. Citizens do not. New Orleans has had levees above and below for more than 300 years. There is nothing new about the business of living below sea level. It doesn’t take rocket scientists to know what must be done to keep water out. I have supported the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers forever, it seems, and I still do. The Corps has been clear that hurricane protection was a necessity (still is) and for all of its arguments, its proposals were in large part ignored. It is said that money was siphoned off for other projects. I believe that, too. It has been reported that Save Our Wetlands has fought Corps proposals and other hurricane protection project expenditures for decades. Well, we know they have; they have been in large part responsible for the degree of damage. But SOWL also fought hard to save the vary wetlands that would have lessened the storm’s damage. Thousands, perhaps millions, of acres of wetlands were crossed and re-crossed by the oil companies and they cut channels and moved rigs and, some say, even drilled for oil. The capacity of the wetlands to help reduce the storm surge was emaciated by human greed and ignorance. On the other hand, the storm surge came in east of the wetlands. What really is bad about all of this is that one finds it hard to know what to believe. Were the evacuees as bad as the volunteers said? Did money that was intended for hurricane prevention such as levees go instead for the Industrial Lock or, as some suggest, get spent on projects to protect gambling casinos? Was the spending to be shut off for every other project for years until they finished the levee to Category 4 protection? Was the Louisiana governor’s performance in the face of danger as bad as some suggest? Is there a reason why some 500+ buses in New Orleans were not used for evacuation but remained idle instead to be "drowned" by the storm surge? At the estimated 27,000 persons per trip for those buses, I wonder how many people could have been saved that weren’t? Was it necessary for New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin to take several days off in the heat of battle to go to Dallas where he reportedly bought a house and resettled his family? He was the captain of the New Orleans ship, most conspicuous at times by his absence. Now I’m told that contractors have moved into Diamondhead, Miss., (about 60 miles east of New Orleans) and are cutting down 200-year-old oak trees, much to the dismay of residents, who are angry over the move. Taken as a whole, it is good that Americans are so generous and willing to help hurricane victims in their time of need. But we must not be blind to the truth. We must not allow political correctness keep us from evaluating the situation for what it is. The criminals that are caught must be punished and punished as criminals should be. The colonel reported that most of those caught were less experienced locals. The pros got away after robbing banks, jewelry stores, et al. It is vital that the federal government monitor spending very carefully to see that it can be kept as honest as possible. Normally, in situations such as this, billions of dollars are wasted. Fraud will surface. People will receive money they do not deserve. As one observer wrote, after this is all over, a third of the people will be worse off, a third will be back to normal, and a third will be better off. We shall see some of this happening, but we shall not see it all. In typical fashion, oversight will be insufficient to ferret out fraud. Finally, the danger in this situation, as far as news is concerned, is that it becomes difficult to tell fact from fiction. Even Internet reports that carry legitimate identifications can be wrong. Reporters corner victims who are thankful for whatever help they get, and miss the scenes where evacuees use racial slurs and spit at volunteers who didn’t provide hamburgers and alcohol. We’ve heard about muggings, rapes, destruction in the Superdome but so far I have heard little other than blogs about the unacceptable behavior of evacuees in the Astrodome and at Baton Rouge. One volunteer said that when he asked a group of young men among the evacuees to help move some cots for young women, he was spit at and cursed and told "We just lost our homes, and you expect us to work!" Add to this the fact that technology has made it possible to concoct picture stories that are not true. One cannot tell, honestly, when he/she sees an odd picture on television whether it is real or not. The Internet is filled with hoaxes - pretty darn clever ones, by the way. Networks continue reporting progress on the recover while throwing in two-week old pictures. Which ones are old? Which ones are current? How would the viewer know. I’ve seen some of them many times over the past two weeks. What is crucial in the investigation about response to the hurricane is the time line. When did the President first know? When did he first talk to Louisiana Gov. Blanco? When did he first…? When did she first…? What did she and Mayor Nagin not do that they should have done? What did they finally do that they should have done earlier? Hopefully this will all come out. If the truth is that our governmental apparatus was insufficient and could not respond adequately for any reason, we need to know. Not for the purpose of blame but for the purpose of correction. If New Orleans is rebuilt, as I suspect it will be, then it must be done correctly. And the overseers must hold the line on where people will be allowed to build, where businesses will be allowed to build, and what must be done to protect those areas. After all, the public will pay the bill. We have a right to expect the government to do it right. They probably won’t, but we do have the right to expect… they can’t take expectation away from us. Newsletter News
I forgot to mention that Ed Rahe of "The Waterways journal" passed word to me that Betty Evans, wife of the late Bill Evans, former WJ staffer, called in to say that she had escaped the New Orleans area and was safe in Baton Rouge. No word as to how the WJ’s old office on the Gulf took the storm. I am interested in the status of Richard and Gwen Block, owners of Marine Educational Textbooks, Houma. I am wondering if they are okay. If anyone has a clue, please let me know. Web News
I may well have used this before, but it is a good site to see a brochure promoting the maintenance and modernization of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. A kindly reader supplied it. Another kindly reader has supplied the address for the Canal Society of Ohio. 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. Advertising
Your classified ad can go in this space for $10 for one week, $20 for two weeks, $25 for three weeks, and $30 for four weeks. For details click here. On The Waterfront
Grain & Allied Industries Establish Aid Fund For Agriculture Grainnet.com has reported out of Washington, D.C., that Agriculture River Recover Fund has been created to aid the agriculture industry and anyone working for or providing services supporting U.S. Agriculture and its grain industry. The idea came from a diverse spectrum of the grain and allied industries, Grainnet.com said. The North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) the National Grain And Feed Association (NGFA) were asked for their assistance in establishing the fund. NAEGA president Gary C. Martin said, "Individuals and businesses from across U.S. agriculture and the international grain industry are uniting to help our own and to provide support for the recovery of the vital Mississippi River/Center Gulf region." Martin said the group is receiving and responding to requests from around the world from those asking how they can help. Mississippi Casinos Hit Hard Editor’s note: Usually I am not overly concerned about casinos; however, they do employ Gulf residents, many of whom were put out of work and lost most of what they had. A kindly reader forwarded damage pictures, which I cannot use, but I gleaned from the Associated Press cutlines some data that gives you an idea what they show. This is just a few snippets from the list. Some pictures were of the same damage: In Biloxi, Miss., the Treasure Bay Casino "pirate ship" was reduced almost to its frame by Katrina. Hurricane Katrina flooded several floors of the Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino, and dumped the rooms contents onto U.S. Highway 90 in front of the casino. The President Casino barge in Biloxi, Miss., was ripped from its moorings and floated about half a mile across U.S. Highway 90, finally beaching on top of a Holiday Inn Express. AP reported that floods, fires and looting road in following damage to the Palace Casino at Biloxi, Miss., deepening the crisis that left slot machines visible in the casino damaged by Katrina. At Biloxi, Miss., the storm washed several gambling barges inland and damaged the Grand Casino. The storm drove on casino barge into a residential area north of Highway 90. The Copa Casino was moved ashore at Gulfport, Miss. The Hard Rock Casino, scheduled for its grand opening September 8, was badly damaged. Retiree’s First Day On Boat Trip Down Mississippi Turns Tragic Earlier this month, a Minnesota couple sold their home, packed most of their belongings on their new sailboat, Brisas II, and set out to sail down the Mississippi to the Gulf, thence to their retirement home in Brandenton, Fla. As the Associated Press reported, the trip ended the day it began. Steve Bowles, a longtime 3M Company fire-protection engineer, slipped on some rocks, hit the back of his head and died on the banks of the river. When he struck his head, he rolled over backwards and landed face down in the water, a witness said. They had just picked up their sailboat that day. Another Cheer For The Coast Guard An editorial in "The Waterways Journal" today (September 19) praises the Coast Guard for its efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. "The Washington Post" reminds us that the hurricane "wiped out Coast Guard stations in Gulfport and Pascagoula, Miss., and looters wrecked part of its New Orleans base. But that did not stop the Coast Guard from sending out rescue helicopters and cutters on dangerous and exhausting missions to save lives and clear waterways after the hurricane ravaged the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29," the "Post" wrote. Katrina Pushes Plan For Locks It is being reported out of Washington that the advent of Hurricane Katrina might be instrumental in getting the Corps plan for the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers passed. The $2.4 billion bill includes $1.1 billion for coastal restoration. (I suspect this was tacked on in recent days to enhance possible passage of the bill.) Legislators disagree on whether the move will help or not. 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 
Recipe Box
If you are a towboat cook, home chef, backyard barbecuer, tailgater, or know anybody who is, please pass the word along to submit recipes! CAPT. PAT FLIPPO’S SINFUL SOUP Retired 1992 off M/v Audrey Fouts, a 50 year river veteran. He came up with this one all by himself. Makes a giant crockpot full…enough for four people! (Oh yeah, you can’t just eat one bowl at a sitting… four huge ones is the record!) Fry up 1 lb. lean bacon crisp and drained (use microwave) and chop into pieces size of your little finger nail. At the same time get out the Dutch oven, peel enough spuds chunked to golf ball size to fill it; fill with water and boil. In crockpot put 1 family size Cream of Mushroom soup, 1 regular can Cream of Potato soup, 1 drained can of mushroom pieces, 1 lb.Velveeta cheese, and 8 oz. grated cheddar cheese. Add bacon. Drain spud water into a bowl. Add spuds to crockpot. Stir it all up. (Oh yeah, turn crockpot on!) Add enough of the spud water to fill crockpot. Stir again. (or you could fill it up with milk instead, depending on how many calories you want.) Let burble and gurgle. Serve with sody crackers. And then you wonder why K. Flippo is so darned fat! It’s that Sinful Soup! Submitted by Kathy Flippo Clinton, Iowa advertisement 2/4
Author Offers Book of Stories of River Pilots
"Stories Of River Pilots On The Great Western Rivers" is a book written by a river pilot, Captain Charles F. Burdick. It also includes other stories by other river pilots. It has pictures and river information. This book gives good insight as to happenings and events that make a river pilot’s job challenging. It is comb-bound with clear plastic covers and is written in language suitable for schools, etc. The price is $8 plus $4 shipping and handling. Please allow two weeks for delivery. Order from, and send checks or money orders to: Charles F. Burdick, P.O. Box 205, 600 Second St., Grand Tower, IL 62942. You can email him at mastermariner@juno.com. Boat Photo Center
 We’re still plugging along, but we can use more boats for next week. Helps like blazes to get them early and give us a head start.
This week we have 11 boats from three contributors. They are the James G. Hines and Texas Star from Barry Griffith; the O. H. Ingram, James Faris, David L. Fields, Lexington and Baxter Southern from Craig Nowack; and Valda, Delta Queen, Sugarland and Rusty Zeller from Leon Puckett. Some folks may wonder why I don’t pick up hurricane-damage shots. The answer is that virtually all of them are shot by photographers who are not identified and can’t be reached to get permission. I have always honored copyrights myself, and I expect others to do the same. That’s why we try to be so careful about identifying photographers. Besides, the Internet has been running over with pictures of Katrina’s visit, and most people see them on television, in magazines and newspapers and on the Net. I will be very happy to pass along the URLs that will take our readers to hurricane pictures. Dan Owen has passed along an address where you can find Katrina aftermath pictures. Click here for the Boat Photo Center. Book Beat
Excellent cut-price buys on our web site include "Steamboats On The Fox" and "Steamboat Treasures" both in hard cover. Fox normally retailed for $29.95, is a tabletop books with lots of pictures and sells for $20 + S&H. Treasures was $27.95 and I am selling it for $12 + S&H. Both are excellent books. Treasures is about Missouri River steamboating.  Steamboats on the Fox River - by D. C. Mitchell
209 pages. Heavily illustrated. Hard cover. A pictorial history of navigation in northeastern Wisconsin. This large tabletop book is a gold mine of pictures of steamboats and postcards, many in color. It is a must for steamboat history buffs. Our Price: $20.00  Steamboat Treasures - by Dorothy Heckmann Shrader
252 pages. Illustrated. Soft cover. Nonfiction - In the critically acclaimed Steamboat Legacy - the first book of her Missouri River Trilogy-Dorothy Heckmann Shrader told the poignant tale of her grandparent’s generation. In Steamboat Treasures, she traces the writings and career of her wonderfully outspoken uncle, Steamboat Bill Heckmann, the Mark Twain of the Missouri River. Our Price: $12.00 Gift Shop
Steamboat Clock & Barometer - The hinged porthole-style case is solid brass with a lacquered antique finish. It has quartz movement for convenience and accuracy and runs on one AA battery. The matching Steamboat Barometer has visible aneroid barometer movement, and the antique brass case is hinged so that the movement is accessible from the front.280522 Steamboat Quartz Clock $136.49 280722 Steamboat Barometer $146.99 Tow Talkin'
September 19, 2005 By Kathy Flippo  Come next spring, folks that live along the great Upper Mississippi River between Savanna, Illinois, and the confluence of the Missouri River and between that and Washington, Missouri, might catch a very interesting sight if they happen to be looking at the right time. It is sad news for the residents of Savanna and good news for the residents of Washington. And the news? The retired Mv. Frank C. Rand will be on the move again.
When Al and Janice Swift purchased the Rand, it was already retired and fitted out into a restaurant and operated on the Missouri side of the UMR above Alton, Illinois. Since it no longer could run under it’s own power, it was put into a tow and brought up to Savanna. Then came the big move during spring high water a few years ago to float it up to the Lazy River Marina above Savanna, right across from the main entrance to the Savanna Palisades Park. Lots and lots of elbow grease and a ton of money were put into the boat to spiff her up and make her into a first class restaurant. The first deck had a gift shop in the stern, a towboat photo gallery in the engine room and the galley towards the bow. The restaurant and bar were…to continue reading, 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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