Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-21
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Steamboat Int1Eesta.

Away up at Winnipeg. IN the Brit
| ish possessions, Captain John b. Davis
former Memphian and White river
boatman, is new busy preparing line
of steame55 10 navigate the waters oi
that vicinity. A recent Winnipeg
newspaper has the following about the
business and its prospects, which will
be interesting to all hereabouts who
know the energetic Superintendent:
The season tor using our navigable
waters is fast approaching and in view
OF this fact, the navigation companies
arc busy getting ready for what prom
Uses to be busy Season. Hitherto this
trade has been restricted almost en
tirely to Lake Winnipeg and the Red
and Assiniboiue rivers, but this sea-
son the traffic OF the Saskatchewan,
between GrandRapids and Edmonton,
promises to be greatly in excess of
anything that has heretofore taken
place on that stream.
The steamers Of the Wi nnipeg and
Western Transportation Company will
navigate the great Saskatchewan river
from Grand Rapids to Prince Albert,
connection between Grand Rapids and
Winnipeg being made by means of the
North West Navigation Company.
Boats will be run weekly to Prince
Albert, and an extra steamer will be
put on from Prince Albert to
Edmonton. The distances to the
various points on the Sine are
as follows: Winnipeg to Grand Rap
ids, 300 miles; Grand Rapids to Moose
Lake, 100 miles; Moose Lake to Pas
Mission. 80 miles; Pas Mission to Cum
berland, 100 miles; Cumberland to A
La Corne, $50 miles; A La CorDe to
Prince Albert, S. miles; Prince AL
bert to Carlton, rs miles; Carlton to
Battleford, 100 miles; Battlelord to
Fort Pitt, $50 miles; Fort Pitt to
Fort Saskatchewan, 200 miles; Fort
Saskatchewan to Edmonton, 80 miles,
or distance in all from Winnipeg to
Edmonton of 1880 miles, with only one
transhipment, the short portage at
OTduu hdpluos
The trip, with close connections, can
be made in two weeks, and is very
pleasant trip in summer. 1t is ex
pected that much better time will be
made this season than last, owing TO
the fact that captains have become
acquainted with the river, the naviga
ton OF which presents some OF the
difficulties which Msrk Twain has de-
scribed in his "0ld Times on the
Mississippi" In fact, most of the men
are old Mississippi boaters, and the
company has secured the services, as
Superintendent, of Captain John b.
Davis, who has had 30 years expert
euce on the Mississippi and its tribu-
tar;es.
The company began operations on
the above route last season with only
one steamer, and by the close of the
season had FIVE good boats. The Mar
quis, with capacity for about $50 tohs;
the Lily, 100 tons; the Northcote, l75
tons; Manitoba, l75 tons, and North
west, 220 tons. The vessels are
now lying at Cumberland, where
there is also a large quantity OF
freight, which could not be passed
through last season on account Of low
water. On Monday a crew of four or
FIVE men will be sent to Cumberland
by dog train, to get the boats ready.
Cant Sheets. veteran on Northwest
waters, goes in charge OF them, and
will spend this season on the Saskatch-
evan.
| The Northwest Navigation Company
make the connection by the steamer
| Princess between Winnipeg and Wes-
tern. They have also two boats on the
Assiniboine-the Marquette, which
runs between this point and Fort Ellis
and the Alpha. plying between Braa-
don and Fort Ellis. On the first trip
the Alpha will go as far as Fort Pelly.
On Lake Winnipeg the company have
two tugs engaged in carrying lumber
from the various mills on the shore
| The navigation season generally opens
about the LIST Of May, except on Lake
| Winnipeg, where the ice does moi
break up until about the beginning Of
june.
Mr.. Macarthur, q pioneer navigator
of Manitoba rivers, is building 1
steamer at Westbourne, on Lake Man
itobs, of 1876 foot keel and 80 beam, Il
ply between Westbourne and point
on that Lake. Her draught will b
sufficiently light to run the waite
there. Mr.. McArthur's venture vii
doubtless prove financially a success.