The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-10-17


amount, down TO from ten to fifteen or elgh-
teen inches in depth Its bottom is san
dy, and It's bed is shifting, sometimes IN
one place and again in another. These
changes usually occur in times OF fresh
cts. and soon after their subsidence. For
several months, probably from the middle
of July to the breaking up of the ice in
the spring, the channel is not subject to
great changes.
The river cannot be relied upon for
navigation purposes later than the first of
December. though we think as general
thing it will be found open to the middle
of December, and sometimes as late as
the first Of January. It breaks up in the
spring from the first of February to the
first of March; taking the outside figures,
it is open nine months in the year for
navigation; if it is capable of being used
for such purposes.
The distance from Kansas city or Wy
andott, to Lawrence will range between
sixty and seventy miles. Of the amount
of freight hauled annually to Lawrence,
from the Missouri river, we have no means
II determining, but it is immense, and an
hon.,st statement of its quantity would
startle our eastern readers. The lowest
estimate Is eight thousand tons, or about
twenty-five TINS day; while Others
claim it will equ.ll thirty tons, and some
say as high as forty tons day.
The prices of hauling freight from the
river ranges between fifty cents and one
dollar hundred. Perhaps sixty-five
cents would be an average price. This,
at the lowest figures, would equal S270
a day for freight bills, or about one hundred
thousand dollars gear.
While these are the figures for Law
renee, it must be remembered that we are
but in our infancy, and that Lawrence is
but small part of the immense region
which would be accommodated with the
transportation of freight were it possible
By another year we have no doubt the
amount of freight up the Missouri river
and from the bt'rder to the interior of
Kansas, which would do their business on
the Kansas river, were it nayigable, would
equal 100 tons day.
4 steamer of suitable construction to
carry fifty tons trip, and to overcome
the strong current, would be able to make
only about two trips week. To carry
the amount of freight then which would
find its way to Lawrence, and points above
this, would require from three to six boats;
they should be so arranged as to form a
daily line, and should cooperate with each
other.
Such vessels as are demanded would
cost from three to five thousand dollars
each. They should be constructed as light
as possible, and should be built with a
view of carrying fifty tons freight on eight
to nine inches of water. They should
have no hurricane deck, nor no aceommo-
dations for passengers, other than light
first deck and IN awning over it. Stages
will be able to bring passengers Mp the
river at prices and speed which will al
ways compete with the boats. Down pas
sage can be made on the river in about
eight to ten hours, hence their travelling
in that direction will not need accommo-
dation for sleeping purposes, and refresh
ments can be carried by the traveller. as is
now done between this and Wyandott on
the stage. This will dispense with all
the usual weight and incumbrences for
cooking purposes and will leave the boat
TO be loaded only with Its own machinery
and its freight The vessel may be built
much after the style of fiat boat, with
side whesls, and separate engines, and
should be constructed with a view to short
curves in the river, and made easily man.
ageabie. The floor laid upon the ribs of
the boat, viii sustain the machinery and
the freight, and light deck over the
same covered with thin boards and paint
ed cloth, will protect the whole from the
weather.
We are not acquainted with boat build
ing, but we are sanguine, from our gener-
al knowledge of mechanics, that boats can
be built to meet the wants of the Kansas
river; and that such boats can carry freight
at prices which will compete with hauling
goods overland, besides injuring them less
than when jolted from thirty to fifty miles
over rough road in a lumber wagon.
If individual enterprise does not engage
in the work, company should undertake
It and put sufficient number of boats on
the stocks Immediately, so as to have them
ready for the first opening of navigation.
Fifty tons of freight, at forty cents
hundred, would amount to $400. Two
trips a week would net $500. The re-
ceipts down the river would probably
nearly pay the running expenses. Suffl-
eient money would be made from the en-
terprise in two months. to pay the cost of
a vessel. Three boats would be more
successful than one, as more business
would concentrate at the terminus of the
route, than would be were there but sim
gle boat in the service.
We hope practical men will take hold
of these suggestions. and either improve
on them or prevail upon their friends to
do so. There is quite too large an amount
of freight coming up the Kansas valley
to be hauled for any great length of time
by teams. If it is decided that the river
cannot be made seryicable, then our fg-