The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-04


Capt. Hatcher being bound to add his name
second season to our list of first through boats.
On the morning of the 9th the Keokuk went
down, passing through the lake at P. NJ, and
connecting with the midnight train. at La
Crosse
This was an earlier opening of the season
than usual, as will be seen by the following list
OF first through boats for the past twenty years
1S44-Otter, Harris April 6.
1s45-Otter, Harris, April 6.
lS46-Lynx, Atchison, March31.
1S47-Cora, Throckmortcn, April 4.
1S4S-Senator. Harris, April :.
1S49-Highland Mary, Atchison, April >.
1S5O-Highland Mary, Atchison, April 10.
1S51-NOminee, Smith, April /.
1852-NOminee, Smith, April To-
1o53-West Newton, Harris, April II.
1S34-Nominee. Bakely April s.
1a55-War Eagle, Harris, April
1S56-Lady Franklin, Lucas, April IL
1s57-Galena, Laughton, May L.
1s5s-Grey Eagle, Harris, March %.
1s59-Key City, Worden, April %.
1S60-Milwaukee, Cochrane, March IS.
1S61-Ocean Wave, Webb, April s.
1S62-KeOkuk, Hatcher, April Is
1S63-keOkuk, Hatcher, April g.
THE PROSPECT.
Although the ice in the Lake was vet for a
week troublesome, navigation was fairly open
ed, and from all sides came promise of q big
season for the steambOat-men in our trade
The Mississippi was bank full and the Mime
sofa running over. Alsng the Minnesota river
the warehouses were full Of produce. From
st. Louis, Dubuque and La Crosse came cheer
ing promise OF lots of work for the St. Paul
boats.
THE GREAT DROUTH.
But by the 23d of April we had commenced
noting the fall OF the river, by the end of the
month it was the daily heading of our river
paragraph, and about the same time commence
ed those alarms about the drought from all
parts of the country, which continued with but
little intermisson throughout the summer
Happily the harvests were in good part saved
by the long season and favorable fall weather,
but the river interest went down with the low
and 23d of May had no effect upon the river it
still continued to fall steadily. The thirsty
earth drank up the rain, and seemed to ask for
more. At the first of June the larger beats
still continued to come up from below but the
Minnesota river boats found less than two feet
of water on the rapids. After the 18th of June
the Minnesota river boats made no more trips
above the rapids. By the 10th of June the
larger boats ran no further up than Red Wing
Or Hastings, thereitansportng freight and pas
sengers to lighter draught boats. The St.
Louis boats soon drew OFT entirely. Three feet
in the channel to Hastings. On the 10th of
June the river at St. Paul was at low water
mark with 26 inches in the channel to Has
tings, and but 20 inches on MENDOZA bar. On
the 10th the river was reported lower at st.
Paul than it had been in any season since 1915,
with but 30 inches to Hastings and on Mer-
dota bar.
LIGHT DRAFT BOATS.
In few days, at this low water, the channel
became better defined and the light draft boats
which were now our only reliance, made their
loads. The small boats that had piled up the
various tributary rivers, as those dried up,
came into orr trade from below as well as
above, and by the aid Of lighters soon had our
freight business in fair trim.
THE BUSINESS OF THE SEASON.
But such unprecedented low water. during
FIVE months of the season, in which time no
large boat could reach US, and it was difficult
to get even a full loaded barge up, of course
reduced the aggregate amount of the business,
until it makes poor show in comparison with
mast wears. Not the least item Of loss by low
water was the carrying trade of the Minnesota
river which would this season have shown an
immense increase if only the produce in ware
bonse on that stream could have been brought
out. We hope some day St. Paul will have
railroad up the Valley-in the meantime We
hone the Minnesota will be navigable for
longer time next season SO as to open the eyes
of our citizens to the value of that trade.
THE ARRIVALS.
The arrivals are, for the reason already Civ
en-, less in number though including larger
number of boats than last year
1862. 1868.
Number of boats. ............ 81 43
Number of arrivals. ......... LOIS 743
OF the 743 arrivals this season. 232 were
from Dunleith, 2s5 from La Crosse, III from
Minnesota river, "a from st. Louis. from st.
Croix river, 1 from Pittsburg and Is from other
points. t9'geuk sit
Among the arrivals We must not forget to
mention the bringing Of the Cutter around St.
Anthony Falls, and her arrival here early in
August, the first arrival in St Paul from the
Upper Mississippi ~ M agI
The Wharfmastsr's books chow the numbsr