Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-08-29
FORMAL OPENING or THE CANAL
TO NAVIGATION.


Tho Aomtomas NofthWeBeefn IN d
ana i.seEs. .over Five Ths.:"
and People Present the AZ.
fair . succcss.
Keoknk Gate City.
At two o'clock q stream of people
extended along Main street down the
hill and along the levee to the lower
lock. Business had been generally
suspended and our citizens Joined the
crowd which wendell its way to the
scene of the celebration. People
thronged the shore and congregated
in groups all over the bluff within
sight of the lock. 1t is estimated
that over five thousand persons were
assembled to witness and take part in
the proceedings.
At half past two the Montana came
sailing down the canal with flying
colors, having passed through from
the upper end. She was received
with cheers and her presence helped
to divert attention for the time being.
Shortly after three o'clock the Louisa
also put in an appearance having
brought down q delegation of Fort
Madison people and came through
the canal 1t was announced that
everything was
IN READINESS
to proceed. The lower gates were
swung open, and at ten minutes 10
8 o'clock the steamer Northwestern,
of the Keokuk Northern Line, came
through the bridge, flying the "Union
Jack" with her lower deck, guards
and hurricane roof thronged with
fpeople and entered the lower lock.
Att AS the upper gates swung open
and the gallant steamer passed out
into the canal amidst music by the
band, cheers and waving of handker-
chiefs on the part Of those on the
boats and on the shore and pro-
longed and deafening footing on the
part Of the whistles. The Northwes-
tern was
THE FIRST BOAT
through the lower lock and as she
is an old favorite in the Keokuk
trade the achievement naturally
aroused considerable enthusiasm.
She landed just above the Montana
and took on an additional number OF
excursionists, making several hun
bred in all including visitors and cit.
liens. About this time an excursion
train of three cars, (which was kindly
furnished for the occasion by Super.
intendent Potter, left on the G. b 4
Q. and ran along the canal as far as
the middle lock.
At precisely 6 o'clock
| TINE HfoNrANA
with q party of several hundred Of
our citizens, who were the invited
guests of the government officials
backed out and steamed up the cana
followed by the Northwestern. Tht
bluff was lined all the way along
with vehicles and people and numer
GUS handkerchief salutcs were ex
changed as the boats passed up
Large numbers Of vehicles followed
the steamers to the middle lock where
q large crowd was in waiting. TIL,
run from the lower to the middl,
lock was made in precisely twent,
minutes. The lower gates were opel
and the Montana passed right in
The gates were then closed, the wick
cts opened and the lock filled in jus
seven minutes. In eighteen minute
from the time the Montana entere,
the lock she was out through the up
per gates and steaming up the canal
i The Northwestern followed tn
Montana through the middle locl
and both went to the head of the ca
nal. The guard lock was reached a
1880, and the round trip made il
three hours and half, the boats ar
irving on their return at half pas
nine. The canal and the openin,
were voted a success.