The following comparative table gives the totals for the different classes of trade for the series of years 1896-1892:

a Including 1,000 excursion passengers, 533 of which were above southern limits of Sioux City, Iowa. b Including 6,200 excursion passengers.

e Including 34,693 excursion passengers.

From Table 2 it is seen that the long-trade packet business in 1896 was less than that of 1895 by over one-half, while the other items of the river's commerce show a slight increase over that year.

At the beginning of the season two packets-the Libbie Conger and the Benton— were engaged in the long trade, extending their trips as high up as Arrowrock, 221 miles above the mouth, and their books showed a fairly profitable and an increasing business. Both boats had made six trips, but unfortunately were both lying at the St. Louis wharf on May 27, 1896, the date of the disastrous cyclone. The Conger suffered a total loss, while the Benton was badly wrecked, and, not being repaired until late in the season, did not again enter the trade.

The decrease in mile-tons is due to the loss of these steamers, as the usual number of trips made by these boats is one trip per week.

No new lines of transportation have been established during the year.

Table 3 gives the number and total registered tonnage of steamboats engaged in trade on the Missouri River for the years 1889-1896.

a Five of these did not go below southern limits of Sioux City, Iowa.
b Six of these did not go below southern limits of Sioux City, Iowa.
c Ten of these did not go below southern limits of Sioux City, Iowa.

Four gasoline boats on the river carried an aggregate of 6,411 tons (58,980 miletons) during the year. The number of boats passing six of the gauge stations is given in the following table:

Unreasonably high rates of insurance on the river have been continued without

change since 1889.

TABLE 5.-List of steamers plying on the Missouri River and tributaries in the district of New Orleans, enrolled at the port of St. Louis, Mo., in the year 1896.

Name.

TABLE 5.-List of steamers plying on the Missouri River and tributaries in the district of New Orleans, enrolled at the port of St. Louis, Mo., in the year 1896—Continued.

125 Mississippi and tributary C. C. Turner, Osage City,

rivers.

130.....do

115 ....do
130 ....do

Steel.. 1890 153
Iron.. 1872 100

..do

Missouri and tributary
rivers.

Steel.. 1887 154 Mississippi and tributary

rivers.

Iron.. 1880

110

...do

Steel.. 1883 150

...do

J. W. Spencer..

Steel.. 1891
Steel.. 1883

160

..do

150

Missouri River, 10 miles
above and below Jeffer-
son City, Mo.

160 Mississippi and tributary
rivers.
...do

.do

Missouri River between
St. Charles and 10 miles
above Hermann.

110 Mississippi and tributary
rivers.
.....do
160.....do

Steel.. 1893 160
Steel.. 1883

Steel.. 1888 116 ...do

Steel.. 1881

166 ....do

Steel.. 1895

140 Osage River

Mo.

W. L. Heckmann, Mount
Sterling, Mo.

T. B. Sims, St. Louis, Mo.
L. L. Kurzebaum, Carthage,
Mo.

D. N. Burruss, Miami, Mo.
M. T. Moore, Jefferson City,
Mo.

C. C. Turner, Osage City,
Mo.

Chas. B. Able, St. Charles,
Mo.

R. M. Marshall, Tuscumbia,
Mo.

Hermann Ferry and Packet
Co., Hermann, Mo.
Cole and Callaway Transpor-
tation Co., Jefferson City,
Mo.

R. M. Marshall, Tuscumbia,
Mo.

Wm. L. Heckmann, Mount
Sterling, Mo.

Washington Ferry Co.,
Washington, Mo.

Hermann Ferry and Packet
Co., Hermann, Mo.
Do.

James Short, St. Charles,
Mo.

E. W. Wild, Hermann, Mo.
James Short, St. Charles,

Mo.

Henry Kellar, Warsaw, Mo.

TABLE 6.-List of steamers plying on the Missouri River and tributaries in the district of New Orleans, enrolled at the port of Kansas City, Mo., in the year 1896.