The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-17
THE NEW ORLEANS BULLETIN, WEDNESDAY,

hard to find. She leaves positively, SO hurr.
down your freight
FoR ATrAKAPAs.-The Ida, Capt Forgay
leaves to-day for all landings on the Atchafa
laya and Bayou Teche.
1 FROM OUR EXCHANGES.
Shreveport Times: The weather yesterda,
was all that an outdoor man could ask for
and it was made pretty good use OF on tn,
leyee. The Clifford was the first packet il
port to break the ice. She got away for BARR
Hill on Clear Lake soon in the day. The
Texas spent most Of the day in discharging,
and 1t was late in the afternoon before she go
washed Oft. The Frank Morgan picked up a
very good freight for the above raft and sailed
late in the day.
| The La Belle, however, was the centre Of
| attraction, and cotton poured down to her
pretty fast at times. At dark she had in sight.
| as near as we could come to it, 400 bales OF
cotton, 1900 sacks cotton seed cakes, 100 bar
rels Gle, 70 head Of CATTLE Is bundles hides
and good list Of people.
We neglected to mention on the first arri-
val Of the La Belle, that Capt. w. T. Boar d.
man, SO well and favorably known on Red
River, was one of her pilots. 1t makes no
difference whether he is on the roof or in the
pilot house, Capt. Boardman is the same
man.
Freight on cotton to New Orleans yester-
day was stiff at one dollar per bale and cattle
according to contract. Up freights are half
card rates or less
ST Louis Republican, 14th:
There are no changes to report in the con-
dition Of the river at this port, save that the
snow on the ice is taking the form of water,
which circumstance will greatly assist in rot
ting the ice Business by boats loading at
Cairo and Belmont in connection with rail-
roads leading from this point, have in the
past week, done little The grand rush will
come after the ice moves out, when the whole
business interests of st. Louis will be i'm
proved and life and activity reign again. The
long siege OF ice has had one good effect on
our merchants and shippers. They now have
a feeling realization of the value OF our boat
ing interests. BLESSINGS brighten as they
take their flight" As to the oft-repeated
question when the river will open, why not
rhyme it thus:
As the world was not made in day,
And It's better to laugh tn n cry,
think can now safely say,
The ice viii be gone by July.
With the river distressingy low,
And the ice growing heavy aud thick,
With plenty of hail. rain and snow,
With three feet on the bar ''by stick"
how in the name of broken-down steam
boatman can the ice get away any sooner?
AS the Republican did not start till the
year 1908, we cannot personally state whether
the following letter is authentic or not.
There has been more wind expended on this
first boat business than would set ship
sailing. We hope the following letter from
one who assures Us has the papers will
settle the matter
Rirer Editor RepuJIcan-In the Republic
cans ''river news" last Tuesday, 9yh are some
historical items respecting ''the first vessel
set ahoat upon tie Western waters" taken
from the Cincinnati Com mercial and Mays
vile Republican the former saying the brig
Dean in 1906 was the first vessel and the lat
ter asserting in correction Of the former that
it was the Mary of M4ysville in April, 1904;
also naming several others that followed her
in 1S06-7-8 The rivuet-chroniclers Of the
river-cities' press are somewhat justitiabe this
season in falling back on old time items mas
much as the persistent frigidity of their
usual source of supply renders it impossible
to fill their fuvial columns with matter of
fresh interest; but when they get upon his
torical navigation, it would be well to give it |
Upon this matter of "the first
vessel" both these journals are wrong "The |
HfSI VeSSei aHoat upon Ine western waters
was the brig st. Clair, 100 tons, built by Com
modore Preble, at Marietta, Ohio, in 1899 |
He descended the rivers in her to New Or
leans, where he fitted her out properly for
ocean service, sailed her from thence to Ha-
vana, and from there to Philadelphia, where
he sold her.
From 1902 to 1906, mark those dates),
there were built at and near Pittsburg the
ships: Pittsburg. Louisiana, Gen
Butler and Western Trader. Brigs- Mamma,
Dean and Black Walnut. Schooners- Amity,
and Conquest. In 1888 the Mon
,ngahela Farmer and brig Ann Jean were
aunched at Elizabethtown. 1t will be seen
here were several first vessels" prior to
hose named by the Cincinnati and Maysville
,hroniclers, But the st. Clair was the first Of
he first ones. H. G. JOHNSON.
RATE OF FREIGHT BY RIVER FROM NEW ORLEANS To !