The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-09-17
From Flint's Geography Of the Western States
WESTERN STEAM BOATS.

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1t is, perhaps, necessary to have some
thing of the experience which we have had
of the slowness, difficulty, and danger of
propelling boats against the current of these
long rivers, fully to estimate the advantages
of this invention. We have assembled the
Mississippi in this way for fifty days in sue
cession. We have had but too much of the
same kind of experience on the other
streams. We considered ten miles day
AS a good progress. 1t is now refreshing,
and it imparts feeling of energy and pow.
er to the beholder, to see the large and
beautiful steam boats scudding up the ed
dies, as though on the wing. When they
have run out the eddy, and strike the cur
rent, it is still more noble spectacle. The
foam bursts in shoot quite over the deck
The boat quivers for moment with the
'concnssion, and then, as though she had
collected her energy and vanqushed her
enemy, she resumes her stately march, and
mounts against the current five or six miles
an hour. We have travelled ten DAYS to-
gether, between New Orleans and Louis
vile, more than hundred miles in a dav
against the stream. The difficulty of as
cending used to be the only one that was
dreaded in the anticipation of a VOYAGE of
this kind. This difficulty has now disap-
peared, and the only one that remains, is to
furnish money for the trip. Even the ex-
pense, considering the luxury of the fare
and accommodation is more moderate than
could be expected. family in Pittsburg
wishes to make social visit to kindred
family on Red River The trip, as matters
now stand, is but two thousand miles, Ser
wants, baggage, or "plunder," as the phrase
is, the family and the family dog, cat and
parrot, all go together. In twelve days
they reach the point proposed. Even the
return is but short voyage. Surely we
must resist strong temptations, if we do not
become social people. You are invited to
breakfast at seventy miles distance. You
60 on board the passing steam boat, and are
transported, during the night, SO as to go
out in the morning and reach your appoint
ment. The day will probably come when
the inhabitants of the warm and sickly re-
gions of the lower points of the Mississippi
will take their periodical migrations to the
north, with the geese and swans, and with
them return to the south in the autumn.
We have compared the most beautiful
steam boats of the Atlantic waters with
those of the Mississippi; and we have seen
none, which, in splendor and striking effect
upon the eye, and the luxury and accommo-
dation, could equal the Washington, Phila-
delphia, Lady of the Lake Florida, and
some others on these waters. We have
been amused in observing an Atlantic stran-
ger, who had heard US described by the
phrase backwoodsmen," taking his first
survey of such steam boat If there he
any ground of complaint, it is that so much
gorgeousness offends good taste, and seems
to be in opposition to that social ease and
comfort, which one would desire in such a
place. Certainly, there can be no COMPARE
son between the comfort of the passage
from Cincinnati to New Orleans in such a
steam boat, and voyage at sea. The bar
rem and boundless expanse of waters soon
tires upon every eye but seaman's. And
then there are storms, and fastening Of the
tables, and the necessity of holding to
something, to keep in bed. There is the
insupportable nausea of sea sickness, and
there is danger. Here you arc always near
the shore, always see the green earth can
always eat, write. and study undistHrbed
You can always obtain cream, fowls, vege-
tables, fruit, fresh meat, and wild game, in
their seasons, from the shore.
A stranger to this mode of travelling
would find it difficult to describe his impress
sions upon descending the Mississippi for
the first time in one of these steam boats
which we have named. He cOntemplates
the prodigious construction, with its double
tiers of cabins, and its separate establish.
ment for the ladies, and its commodious ar.
rangements for the deck passengers and the
servants. Over head, about him, and below
him, all is life and movement. He contem
plates the splendor Of the cabin, its beauti
full finishings of the richest woods, its ricf
carpetings, its mirrors and fine furniture. it.
sliding tables, its bar room, and all its ar
engagements for the accommodation of eiuh
ty cabin passengers. The fare is sumptu
Gus, and every thing in style of solendor
order, quiet, and regularity, far exceeding
that of most city taverns. You read Yol
converse, or walk, or sleep, as you choose
Custom has prescribed that every thing
shall be sans ceremonie." The varied anC
verdant scenery shifts about you. The
trees, the green islands, the houses on tn,
shore, every thing has an appearance, al
ny enchantment, OF moving past you. TIL,
river fowl, with their white and extende,
lines, are wheeling their fight above you
The sky is bright, The river is dotted will
boats above you, beside and below YOU
You hear the echo of their bugle reverbe
rating from the woods. Behind the wooded
point you see the ascending column o
smoke, rising over the trees, which announc
es that another steam boat is approaching
you. The moving pageant glides through
narrow passage, between an island, thicl
set with young cotton woods, so even, sc
beautiful and regular, that they seem tc