The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-07
" WAY UP RIVER
Steamboating Upon the
Sacramento.
A Few Words About Early Days on
the Upper Sacramento River.
The Pilots.

Mr. Gleaves of Redding and several clli-
zens of that pretty little mountain town
are agitatng the question Of the feasibility
OF navigating the headwaters of the Sac
ramento River. Whether Mr.. Gleaves of
Redding will succeed in persuading the
United States Government that the valley
and mountain lands of Northern Califor-
MIA are deserving of being heard from in
Congress. Is to be settled shortly by con-
certed action on the art of the peoples
Congressional representatives from that
section.
Not only has the opening up of the Sac
rsmento River between Red Bluff and
Rrdding become matter of Importance
10 the den liens of the pine tree district,
but upon the enterprise is centered many
of the brightest hopes of the entire State.
RailrOad-ridden Redding and silent Shasta
have long slept the sleep of tranquility.
and for years have not awakened to an are
OF prosperity.
Deep in the lockers of the Office of
the United States Engineer at Wash
lngton are hidden the musty records
of days when a noisy, Saucv-loOkng
but diminutive river steamer used to
splash its way around the bends of the
higher Sacramento, between palisades of
pines and environments III wooded cTags
OF days when Redding was a prosperous
mining town. lacking in beauties of archi-
tectural designs, to be sure. but radiant
with natures own untarnisDed lOvelineSs;
Tor IN those times the woodman's ak, the
telegraph cOmpauy's unsightly poles and
the railroads cut and "embaD kments"
had marred none of the perfect features
OF the Mort bern California Landscape.
Red Bluff people. say that this early
navigator was named ''The Goid," while
those from Redding declare that the little
vessel was named after q Sacramento
storekeepeT with almost as common a
cOgnOmen as John Smith.
One of the original stockholders in the
ReddiDg River-bOat Company was an en-
terprisinG genius whom legend claims was
an instigator of the town lot sale which
gave Sacrament Its name. This sale was
conducted in 1913, and in an advertisement
OF the venture printed at that date the
name Sacramento was first given to the
capital city.
But the naming of the mosquito city has
nothing TO do with steamboatIng.
After several successful trips to Redding
from Red Bluff the rivcr-boat owners be-
gan to advertise for business. Red hand
bills and flaring placards were distributed
among the hotels of San Francisco an
nounciug that Redding could be reached
by river steamer. An eXOrbitaDt rate of
fare was charged.
Crowds travelled by the river line and
paid their dust out generously for such
luxuries as bunk on the lower deck or a
chair near the boiler.
Though the details of how the early
pilots of the Sacramento havigated are but
vaguP-rumors and "reminiscences OF the
usrd-tO- be-there are still In existence some
few written tales of encounters with sharp
bends of the stream. bumps against sand
bars and collisions with snags.
Unlike the old time pilots of the Missis-
sippi, as described professionally aud un-
professionally by Mark Twin, the steers
man of the Upper Sacramento did not
have to note the different shades and dis
celebrations OF the water to decidehis prox-
unity to danger. The towering forests
and massive heights OF slate and granite
cast shadows that defied the most skilllul
wheelmaD and buried all the shallow
basin OF the ice-cold stream in sombe
gloom, changed only by the warm rays If
a MIDDAY sun. Steering was more or less
gue>swork for others than the oldest of
the river pilots, but luckily the channel
was seldom altered by the swift current,
though occasionally snag would lodge
against hidden saDd-bar and in an in
credibly short space of time form an island
against which river boats would bump
their broad bows aud play havoc with the
crockery, IL the craft was fortunate enough
20 possess any, for those were the days of
tin cups and plates and useful but not
ornamental tableware.
Mr.. Gleaves of Redding and his asso-
ciates are by no means discouraged by the
reports that small vessels were often
grounded at the bend near the north head
and on the bar north OF Old Selma's
Camp" They are fully convinced of the
navigability of the river as far north as
the "turn" below Redding and refer back
TO the records TO substantiate their argu-
ments that no wrecks are noted in the an
nails of 1859
promise that steam boating on the head
waters of California's longest river shall
not be as IL was in uni ning times"
Prices particularly are to De- taken into
con sideration and river travellers shall not
be subjected TO imposition in the matter of
freigh and fares.
OF much interest In connection with this
subject Is the story of excessive charges
on RIVER steamers between San Francisco
and Sacramento ana BeDicia IN 1S60-61
Davis-street saloon man still treasures
a. a great curiosity framework contain
ing fifty or more of the original meal tick
cts berth checks and pictures OF the river
boats OF bygone days.
Most conspicuous among these relics of
early fresl-water steamboat IS he poster
of the iong-foSgO often steamer G inflence.
Her cabin rate from this city tn the capi- |
tai is quoted at SO. deck rate So, berths 81 |
addit Onal and EN- tire staterooms So
A good meal could be had on board for
81 80 or So 90, and open games were run
in the On bin all night.
Among the followers OF the Confidence |
are mentioned the steamers Boston, vii. |
son q. Hunt, N coIaus. Kate Kearney,
Urilda and Trim dad. 1t was fleet |
worthy of special merton. for ii made the |
lower river boom as IL never b"omed be- |
fore and lent commercial life TO the entire |
country between the capital and the Bay
of San Francisco.
Competition by the river route is what
we want" says Mr.. Geaves of Redding,
land the Government will be looked to to
give it to u.s."