The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-15

tiers OF the West was built in 1911 at Pitts
burg. TIL Western waters were navigated
by zS steamboats, up 10 the year 1876. N
166 the number then actually on the watel
was 14S. The first to appear on
the Wabash river was called the Florence"
This boat was taken up that river by Capt.
Donne in the spring of the year 1928, and
at Terre Haute an artillery salute vel
coined the Captain and his boat, and Il was
hailed with delight as being the commence
ment OF water m on the Wabash
| river.
The Wabash river. next to the Tennessee.
is the largest branch Of the Ohio. Its
length is $50 miles from its mouth to its
source. This includes, however, its mean
derings. Vincennes is estimated to be
about 80 miles from its mouth, and Terre
Haute ninety miles further UP from Vim
cennes. The only obstruction to navigation
in the river Is fourteen miles Of rapids near
the mouth OF White river. But this OBJ
struction was remedied in the past by a
lock and dam. and the United States gov
eminent has been engaged for many years
In constructing q substantial stone work at
that part of the river
The Wabash rapids has been a source OF
much to the merchants Of In
diana and Illinois who resided in the towns
along the river, and in 1896 the Legislature
of Indiana appropriated the sum OF o 1000.
and the Legislature Of Illinois also appro-
priated a like sum. the combined aggregate
Of $4,000 to be used and expended in i'm
proving the Wabash river ron its mouth
to the town of Vincennes. The main work
was to be done at the rapids. where the
water is shallow. Three years after the
money had been appropriated for such pur-
pose and nothing of Importance having
been done in the way of carrying out the
intention for which the money was appro-
priated. the Western Sun, published at VIM
cennes, came out in a long editorial in its
issue of July 1S. 1889, and began TO open
the question TO inquire and see why the
work was not carried out as it should be.
The paper urged q convention TO be called
at vincennes in October, to be ATTENDED
by delegates from the counties of Illinois
and Indiana bordering on the Wabash, and
to take the matter up. A convention was
accordingly called pursuant to notice. and
delegates from the various towns OF Hi
nois and Indiana met at vincennes on Oct
"a, 1899, and were for several days in con-
vention assembled. They drew up a report
of their proceedings, and the convention
Convention"
BUSINESS WAS GOOD.
From their report / extract some ngures
which give an idea of the extent of the
river traffic in those days at towns on the
Wabash and tributaries above the Grand
rapids as high as steamboats, assembled.
--.4l1 al NfnQnnnnC
to the value of 10000; at Lawrenceville,
ILL.,. $4,000: at Russelville. H., $4,000; at
Carlisle, Ind, $4,000; at Palestine. H.. $780,
600: at Hutsonville, H., $4,000; at York.
ILL.,. $40, 900: at Darwin, Ill, $4,000; at Terre
Haute, Ind, 500, 900; at Clinton, Ind, So
600: at Armiesburg, Ind. $4,000; at Rock
Vile, Ind, $4,000; at Newport, Ind. $4,000;
at Montezuma, Ind, $4,000; at Eugene, Ind,
$50. 900; at Perryville, Ind, $4,000; at Cow
ington. Ind, seo, 900; at Portland. Ind, sl5,-
900: at williamsport. Ind. $4,000; at Attica,
Ind, $4,000; at Lafayette. Ind. 5000. 600; at
Americas. Ind, $4,000; at De.pni, lnd' s~'-
900; total, 81. 10000
By act OF Congress in 1889 Vincennes was
made a port of entry. and by this action
merchants were able to import direct to Vim
cennes and pay the duties there.
10 SHOW SOlIlt app VI AAC
rendered by Robert Fulton to the world in
his application of steam 10 navigation, IL was
proposed to place a contribution box on board
all the boats in the Western waters, in which
any passenger so disposed could deposit the
small mite of 1 cent. the proceeds to be given
to the heirs of Fulton. This was carried out,
and one eambo had a box with the follow
ing inscription on it: One cent box. Let in
dividual gratitude compensate Fulton's heirs
for national neglect"
In the year 1884 a steamboat appeared on
the st. Joseph river at South Bend, and pro-
duced as great a sensation as did the one
which appeared on the Wabash in 1923. a
large crowd OF interested spectators assem-
bled on the banks Of the river and witnessed
the landing OF the new and novel sight.
The introduction of railroads caused. in a
great measure, as 1 have already said. the
decline of the steamboat, and as the use OF
the steam engine on land increased and tracks
extended, the steamboat began to disappear
from a good many OF the Western waters.
The old river days of Indiana have long
since passed away and been entirely forgot
ten. The memory of them Sc 0nly revived
now and then, when some old an happens
to recall the time when steam ag vas in
its prime, and when sixty year, d not been
added to the worlds history, with its many
startling inventions and improvements on the
methods OF the past. Our ancestors traf-
licked by water and We by land.
HENRY S. CAUTHORN, JR.
vincennes, Ind.