The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1886-06-23
THE UPPER MISSOURI.
Something About steamboating IN Early
Days and at the Present Time.

Som ething About Steamboating IN EARLY /
Days and at the Present Time.
In the early days Of the American Fur
company the entire country above the
mouth of the Yellowstone river was prac-
tically unknown, and it was not until af-
ter the operations Of that company in what
was then known as the country OF the
Blackfeet that its importance was dreamed
Of The expedition of Lewis and Clarke
and other expeditions Of less Importance
had been made, but had added nothing in
particular to the history of the country
away from the water courses OF the Mis-
souri, and Yellowstone rivers. That the
country was the home Of the buffalo and
tribes Of Indians the most brave and war
like III North America was sufficient for a
long time to deter even the adve INJURIOUS
traders Of the American Fur company
from penetrating its borders; but step by
step they moved on, becoming acquainted
with the savages and furnishing them
with many Of the products Of civilization
in exchange for the furs Of the animals
which abounded here. In 1929 Fort I'm
ion. at the mouth of the Yellowstone, was
built, and no other posts or establishments
were above that point. st. Louis was the
place from which all the goods were OBJ
tanned. They were loaded on boats with
about fourteen tons and with a crew of
ten or twelve men were cordelled up the
river, six months being the time usually
consumed in making the trip. In 1882 the
first steamboat, named the Yellowstone,
arrived at Fort Union, and from that time
the goods were brought up by steamboats,,
but robes, peltries, etc.. were shipped
down by mackinaws.
The advent of railroads west Of the
Mississippi made a revolution in the
country, and the discovery of gold in Mon
tana added to the Importance of Fort Ben
ton, being the principal entrepot to the
territory.
Il Later on, in 1870, when the railroads
reached Sioux City, that place was made
the shipping point for all merchandise for
the upper country. In 1874 Yankton be-
came the chief shipping point. In 1877
and from that time on nearly all of the
freight came to Bismarck, for shipment to
Montana and the northwest.
Towns are now springing up all along
the river above Bismarck. The following
facts will give some idea Of what is being
done and how rapidly the upper Missouri
is being peopled. In 1880 there were no
settlements above Bismarck aside from
the military posts and Indian agencies, and
now within distance of ninety miles five
fionrishing towns are located, viz; Wash
burn 45 miles from Bismarck with pop
ulation of 800; Conklin, so miles with 30
people; Stanton, SO miles and 400 people /;
Hancock Is miles and 200 population; ;
Coal Harbor, S5 miles and 800 inhabitants.
While these towns do not yet effect the
prosperity of Bismarck they show that the
splendid wheat land on the Missouri river
is beginning to be taken up by hardy and
enterprising farmers. Within another
year Fort Buford or some point near
there will be the shipping point and Bis
marck will take its place with its sister
cities and it's steamboat traffic, except the
local between that city and Buford, will
be gone. But other railroads are reach
: ing for there and Bismarck will loose none
of its prestige.
In another year it is to be hoped that
railroads will still further curtail the
steamboat business as far as through traf-
fic is concerned, and land freight at our
doors through the medium of the Mon
tana Northern Then will the glory Of
old time steamboating be departed. But
steamboatng, will, not deout, nor is it
the wish of any one that it should, as with
the river at our doors and steamboats on
its waters, Fort Benton, the head of navi-
cation will, III the near future, be the most
important town, commercially, in Mon
tana. No matter how many railroads
may penetrate northern Montana there
will always be a good local business for
steamboats, on the upper Missouri, and un-
less the railroads put freight rates down
to the lowest possible notch the through
business will be BY no means insignificant
The Missouri river controls freight rates
], Ia Montana to-day, and with railroads at
the head of navigation its influence in that
!. way will be many fold greater.
--mv-~ssanzssas<
The British Elections.