Boats were charged such heavy wharfage that they could not afford to land for one or two passengers or a light lot of freight.
Instead of encouraging the bringing of trade to their doors, the towns diligently and effectively discouraged it.

They could have had many boats and low rates; but their policy rendered few boats and high rates compulsory.

It was a policy which extended--and extends--from New Orleans to St.Paul.
We had a strong desire to make a trip up the Yazoo and the Sunflower--an interesting region at any time, but additionally interesting at this time, because up there the great inundation was still to be seen in force--but we were nearly sure to have to wait a day or more for a New Orleans boat on our return; so we were obliged to give up the project.
Here is a story which I picked up on board the boat that night.

I insert it in this place merely because it is a good story, not because it belongs here--for it doesn't.

It was told by a passenger--a college professor--and was called to the surface in the course of a general conversation which began with talk about horses, drifted into talk about astronomy, then into talk about the lynching of the gamblers in Vicksburg half a century ago, then into talk about dreams and superstitions; and ended, after midnight, in a dispute over free trade and protection..