The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-25
River Navigation Of the Northwest.
REVIEW on THE STEAMBOAT TRADE OF THE
UPPER MISSISSIPPI.

symbol Of the national unity, but in its
commercial history is the index Of the ma
tional greatness. There is nothing in the
history of the world in all its ages which
equals the rapid rise OF states upon its banks
or the marvellous expansion of the river
marine which was the chic! agency in the
ACHE vement of these immense successes.
We are apt, in our admiration Of the
splendid results which have been accom-
plished, to forget the means to which we owe
them. Majestic as is the volume Of the Mis-
sissippi and its tributaries, immense as is the
aggregate length OF navigable waters which
vein the interior basin of the continent in all
directions-the magnificent areas upo their
banks which now afford homes TO millions
Of people would have slept on for centuries
locked up in their primeval solitudes if the
introduction of steam had not opened them
to civilization.
The commerce OF the lakes might have
been sustained to considerable degree with
out the aid of steam, and states and cities
would doubtless have lined the banks Of
these inland seas, il their marine had been
restricted to sailing vessels but nothing
less than steam could have converted the
swift currents of our we tern streams into
the channels Of mighty commerce.
The history, therefore, of the growth OF
the steamboat trade Of the Mississippi and
its tributaries is one Of the most interesting
chapters in the annals Of cur national pro-
gress.
The first steamboat which was launched
on Western waters, was built at Pittsburgh
in 1911, seven years before the pioneer
steamer Of the Lakes was launched. This
boat was somewhat less than 200 tons In
the next five years eleven other steamboats,
were built on the Ohio river and its head
waters. These twelve boats had an aggre.
gate carrying capacity Of 2,235 tons but,
limited as this tonnage was, it Effected an
important revolution in the trade on West
ern rivers, which had heretofore been carried
on solely by barges, fiat boats and small
schooners. Such was the impulse given to
the steamboat trade by the successes OF
these twelve apostles in Western steam nav.
igation, that from 1917 to 1884, the num-
Der Of steamboats, increased TO go with an
aggregate tonnage OF $4,000 tons In
1912 there were AS boats on the same
waters, and in 1851 this number had in
creased to col.
Previous to 1923, the only modes Of trans.
portation employed on the Mississippi,
above Prairie du Chen were Mackinac
boats and canoes. Mayor kittson, who
came up to Mendoza in that year by the for
mer of these primitive oonveyanccs, describes
the points now occupied by populous cities
along the route, as complete solitudes. A
few rude houses at Galcna marked the site
Of the present metropolis Of lead. Dubuque
had no existence, and above Prairie du
Chen there was no. single civilized habi-
tation till the trading posts at Mendoza
were reached. If Mr.. Kittson had waited
q few weeks, he might have come on the
pioneer steamboat. whose advent into
these then almost unknown waters is thus
dQcribed by Mr.. Neil 1t was during
th1 fear (ls23) tina, it was demonstrated
that II was practicable to navigate the Mis-
sisippi from ST. Louis TO the junction of
the Minnesota river.
Previously it had been supposed that the
rapids at Rock Island would prove an in
surmountable barrier. On the second of
May, according to a printed announcement.
the Virginia, steamer ll3 feet in length,
and % feet in width, drawing six feet Of
water, left her moorings at the ST. Louis
levee, destined for Fort Smelling. Among
the passengers were Maj. Taliafero, the
agent Of the Dako,ahs Beltrami, an ltal-
ian count, once judge Of Royal Court,
then a political refugee; Great Eagle, a
Sauk chief returning to his village from a
conference with Gov. Clark; family from
Kentucky, With their children, guns chests
cats, dogs, and chickens, emigrating to Ga
lena, which was then the frontier. At Du-
buque, the Indians held possessions OF the
mines, and watched oil who visited thSm
with jealous eyes.
After the steamer bad passed the mouth
Of the Upper Iowa, q grand illumination
greeted the appearance Of the Great Fire
Canoe as il glided along the confines OF
Minnesota An eyewitness writes 81,
was perfectly dark and We were at the mouth
Of the Iowa, when we saw at a great Dis
tsnce, all the combined images Of the inerna.
reyioos IN fail rser'ection | was on the