Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-19
PITTSBURG's COAL TRADE.


Early History of Great Iadustry-Robert
watson's First sbipmens to New Orleans
-Oid-Time Coal Boats and Methods Of
Towing.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArcH.l
Among those who contributed largely to the
early development Of the coal industry of
Pittsburg were the three Watson brothers,
Robert, John and William, sons Of an Ale
gheny cooper, James Watson. Robert the
eldest and the pioneer IN transporting coal to
New Orleans, died at the old homestead, on
the PerrysviIle road, last April. Three quar-
ters of a century ago James Watson was work
ing at the cooper trade on q tract of timber
land, now embraced in the Tenth ward. Allie
gheny, extending from Butchers Run to
Woods Run. Along in the latter part of the
twenties times were hard, and 1t became very
hard to sell the products of the cooper shop.
Barrels abounded and money was scarce. The
eldest son, Robert, a lad Of IL, had learned his
fathers trade and was diligently at work in the
cooper shop from the time he was IA
Full Of energy and ambition, and restless in
view of the small returns, the H-year-old lad
concluded to try his fortunes elsewhere, and
believing his accumulated stock of barrels and
kegs would bring the much-needed cash in
New Orleans, he went there. At the time the
river man of the olden time, had just com
pleted a new steamboat for the Pittsburg and
New Orleans trade, and was ready TO start on
his first trip.
Reuben Miller, ST.. was then proprietor of
the leading boat store, and was one of the
senior Watson's principal customers for
tobacco boxes and molasses barreia
80
Upon Mr. Miller's recommendation Captain
Swan was induced to cover the decks of his
new packet with the surplus stock of the
cooper shop, and at the same time exercise
sort Of supervision over young Watson, who
undertook to turn the cargo into cash at New
Orleans. As there was no opportunity afforded
to sell the molasses barrels at the plantations
along the lower Mississippi on q passenger
steamer, Watson, of necessity, was forced to
sell his goods to New Orleans agents Of the up
river planters. This he did at fair profit, and
returned to the Allegheny cooper shop to
gladden. the folks at home with much-needed
cash.
The following season young Watson shipped
his barrels by French creek hatboat SO that
he might be master of his own time and peddle
out his goods at plantations along the lower
Mississippi. As the cargo was light and neces-
sarily piled high. endless trouble from winds
was encountered, but the lSyear-old lad had
the determination to surmount all obstacles.
and larger returns were yielded than before.
The difficulties from winds started the
thought of coal ballast, and the third trip
found few thousand bushels of black dia-
monds added to the cargo. When young Wat
son laid foundation for his pyramid Of bar
rels in coal he was building better than he
knew. The coal cargo was soon discovered to
be more profitable than the cooperage, and by
degrees the latter was abandoned, and atten-
ton given wholly to coal transportation.
So
The Watson brothers in time became the
largest operators in this line between this city
and the gulf
When Robert Watson began towing coal the
length of the boats was 100 to 120 feet, width l8
feet, drawing So to AZ inches. and 5000 to 10000
bushels was considered q big load. They wit
messed the growth of this industry until boats
1S0 feet In length, 80 feet wide, drawing feet
of water. ard half acre, or 100000 bushels. of
merchantable coal was towed by the Ajax from
Louisville to New Orleans.
George Ledlie an old-time coal king, was the
first to attempt towing coal by q steamboat
This was in the forties, but was not successful
because the attempt was made with side
wheel boat This failure proved a wet blanket
on steamboat towing for a number of years,
and 1t was not until 1857 1858 that the present
method of towing with stern wheels came into
chased the steamer Antelope, boat of un-
usual length for that day. the wheels of which
were well back toward the stern. They used
it successfully for a number of years, at last
putting its machinery into the Ajax Alexan-
der Watson, a well-known attorney and brother
of the coal pioneers, reports that the same ma
chinery Is still doing duty in asteamboat plying
on WesIern waters.
AS the coal transportation developed along
in the thirties younger brothers of Robert
Watson, John and William, became valuable
assistants of the pioneer as pilots, and in the
course of time achieved reputation in this
line equal to any on the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers. John Watson had the name Of being
very daring pilot. taking great risks, but he
never lost barge in an experience extending
over two-score years. be was the first of the
coalboat pilots to depart from the custom of
landing at night, thus saving one-half of the
time previously occupied in towing barges to
the lower waters.
After John Watson's new departure it was
soon discovered that there was not only great
loss of time but more danger in landing for
the night than in going right ahead.
Robert Watson afterward made his home in
New Orleans, and was a resident Of that city at
the outbreak of the Rebellion. He had a large
stock of coal on hand when hostilities began.
Though not obtrusive In his Union sentiments,
his convictions were well known, and New Or
leans very soon became o very unhealthy at
mosphere to the Pittsburger. Having gained
the confidence of the leading citizens by his
high integrity, he managed to steer clear of
trouble until Ben Butler came into command
The Massachusetts, General got possession of
the rebel archives, and among them was a
paper with a blacklist of Is suspected Union
lists. On the list was Robert Watson,s name.
Years after the war closed Watson returned
to his native city and spent his last days at the
old homestead on the Perrysville road, whence
he started in pursuit Of fortune some three
score years before. HE rests from his labors
and his works do follow him." Honor to the
memory of the pioneers who laid the founda-
tions of one of our great commercial indus-
tries. J.H.Y,