The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-05-29


But little more than two years ago, ,he
whole trade ofthe Mississippi river above
: Ga.ena, was done by iittle boats like the
Argo . AMI those boats were by no means
regular in iheir departures and arrivals
sSvhon another boat, about like the Afgo.
came into this trade, it was thought that the
competition would be ruinous 10 both boats;
and the rivalry between them, waxed ex-
CO c.ee,linsly hot. The Argo and her compel
itor, used TO have some terrible trials OF
speed together, running up stream, some.
times, bow and how. as savage IS two
hedge hugs, aDd about as feet. The busi-
ness above increased; and the next year the
Senator came into the trade, boat of more
tonnage aud pretensions; and which was
considered marvel Of a steamboat, (and
she ,cas a fine lnodel,) with only one en-
CINE. and with voice like a huge bulldog.
The Franklin No. III also cane into the
strnde, commanded, as she now is, by Capt
I.odwick who obtained this boat in place
of the old hrgo, which was sunk by snag
endangering amongst other valuable lives,
that Of the Hon. Henry Jackson, Of Saint
Paul, then a member of the Legislature of
Wisconsin. The Senator was then owned
and commanded by Capt. Smith Harris. -
iii is just as natural for Harris to climb
up TO the hurricance deck Of Steamboat,
and to nestle in the plot-house, as il is for
a chicken to go 10 roost.)
Capt. Harris sold the Senator to Orrin
Smith. now the popular commander of the
Nominee: and the next season. brought that
the trade. In lS49, then, the boats in this
trade, were the Senator, Capt. Smith, once
week from Galena to St. Paul the DIR.
Franklin No. 1, Capt. Lodwick, from ST.
Louis to St. Paul, once in two weeks; the
DIR. Franklin No. 2, from St. Louis to ST.
Paul, once in two weeks; the Highland
Mary No. 2, Capt Atcbisoa5 (who had for
several years before done transient bust
mess in these waters, about once in two
weeks; and toward the close Of the season.
the Yankee, Capt. Keller Harris, once a
week from Gaena TO St. Paul: with occa.
sionally transient boat. In 1850, the same
boats were again in the same trade, with the
exception of the Senator, which Capt.
Smith sold; and in place of her, brought
into the trade, the Nominee, that large, fine
boat which he now commands. la 1850,
transient boats were more frequent than be-
tore, Notwithstanding the increased tonnage
of the regular boats. The Anthony Wayne
made several trips; but none Of The transient
boats met with very decided encourage
ment. During that summer, the little old
Otter which used TO be a crack boat in these
waters, came creeping up to the levee of ST.
Paul, with cargo of pine boards looking
as disconsolate as an old race-horse with
the hcaves, nithling at rye straw. In the
summer of 1850, Capt. John A,chison, the
most obliging Captain &C boat and the most
patient of delays of any commander of a
water craft, since the days of Captain Wou-
ter Van Twiller, died of the cholera; and The
Highland Mary No. 2, with her Scotch
plaided lassie for figure head, disappear
ell from our waters; making but one more
"trip; and commanded then, by Mark Atchi-
son, brother of the deceased. The Mary
will be long remembered, for the spirited
little baud that belonged to her, consisting
ofthe bar-keeper and sundiy Of the culina-
ry corps Of the boat.
In 1851, (ihis Year, the trade opened
with the same arrangement Of boats as at
the close Of navigation in 1850, except that
the Franklin No. l., has become regular
weekly trader between Galena aid ST. Paul,
instead of making trips once fortnight be-
tween ST. Louis and Saint Paul. We have
now, therefore, three weekly Galena pack
cts, and one only (the DR.. Franklin No. 30
to St. Louis. To this list, must be now adj
ded the Tiger, owned in Dubuque, which
is to make weekly trips TO St. Paul and
back. Messrs. WATSON 6. Barnes of Saint
Paul, have also little boat on the way
here, intended, we believe, for trading up
the Minnesota river. Messrs. Wasson and
-.3fit 4ts .-f ~
Barnes are erecting machine shop, &c.,
and sill soon be ready to execute orders for
Abe construction of steamboats,. In 1850,
was built and launched, also, above the
Falls Of st. Anthony, that mose extraordi-
nary boat the Governor Ramsey, which is
now running from ST. An,hony as far up as
Sank Rapids; boat to which we earneslIy
+ invite the attention of those who wish to run
aboat with. iiulc or no water--a sort Of ar
fihcial tsrrapin, which scrabbles over a sand
bank with ease, and with slight modification
would do to navigate the Desert of Sahara.
Thus, 40 have presented, briefly, the re-
cent history of steambou.ing in the Upper
Mississippi; but we viii not forget to add,
that the steamboat Yankee, in 1850, had thu
honor Of having gone several hundreds Of
miles mp the Minsesots river. into . region
Ofuild, fairy beauty,'a land as lovely as the
imagination ever painted-.he recollection