The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-02
"a BIZ oF HISTORY.
Virgins Ferry Was Established in
1776

St Louis, May 2. The Virgins Ferry
company, which is now commanding
so large a share of public attention, is
one of the Oldest institutions OF TINS
city. It had its origin coincident with
the birth of the republic in June, lfI6,
when the first systematic communlca-
ton between St. Louis and the Illinois
shore began. At that time ferry was
established north of the existing ferries
which crossed the river below this city
by a man named Gamasche, who piled
a boat for occasional passengers. The
passengers We're few and far between.
and the ferry rested only on the right
of readiness. There was no charter be-
hind it. Indeed, the traffic east and
west at that time had not begun st.
Louis was a French trading post and
business was up and down the river
with New Orleans or Montreal The
land across the river was foreign soil.
1t was part of the English domain.
When one wished to cross he went to
the shore, near the present foot OF Mar
ket street, where the river was narrow
est, and, attracting the attention or
Gamasche, was transferred in a row.
boat.
If 1897 the haphazard ferry service
was supplanted by a chartered ferry.
Capt James S. PiggOtt, a war veteran.
who had built a dock near the mouth OF
Cahokia creek and a bridge across the
creek, on the Illinois side, opposite Mar
ket street, secured permission from Gov.
William Henry Harrison to operate
ferry between Cahokia and St. Louis He
petitioned the Spanish governor on this
side, Commander Zenon Trudeau, for
the exclusive privilege A considerable
opposition mad arisen IN the Terry DuSl-
ness. and Capt. Piggott wanted his
rights protected. He offered to establish
a fixed schedule Of prices and to allow
the free use of his dock and road on the
eastern shore to passengers crossing IN
their own craft. The Spanish governor
avoided the granting of a charter by
permitting Piggott to use the dock at
Market street. Capt P1ggott built
ferry house there, and maintained his
ferry until his death. He used row.
boat for passengers and a f1atboat, with
failing, for teams. The hatbOat was
poled across Rates OF fare were as fol-
lows; Passengers, Is cents; horses and
cattle, so cents: vehicles, so cents; lum-
Der. per hundredweight, 121z cents.
The Piggott ferry proved so popular
that all opposition ceased, and for many
years there was no rival in the bust
ness. The same old call Of "O-ver,
over was used to call the ferry. Capt.
Piggott died February 20. 1893, and his
widow leased the ferry privilege to Dr.
Willis for 1S0O-1S02 and then to a Mr.
Adams from 1902 to 1905. In 1905 she
made a ten-year lease to John Camp
bell, who made great improvements and
gave the name of "CampbelPs ferry" to
the franchise. He secured license III
his own name, but Piggott's heirs at
tached the license. and succeeded in
having it OverthrOwn in the courts. AT
the expiration OF the Campbell lease the
PiggOtt heirs 1eaSed the ferry to Nc
Knight & Brady, who afterward bought
the rights of part of the heirs, and ran
the ferry for several years. A number
of rival ferries began to spring into OPP
position about this time, but they were
purchased by the owner of the Piggott
ferry as they appeared. In 1917 there
were two landing places on the St.Lou1s
side one al the foot of Market street
and the other at the foot OF Morgan
In 1910 the heirs of Pig
gott was operating a horse power fer
ryboat between the TWO cities This
boat together with all the rights of
the Piggott heirs, was purchased in
1919 by Samuel Virgins, a merchant OF
this city
Samuel Virgins at once put the Mis-
sissippi ferry business on a firm basis.
St. Louis was then a city Of 1000 popu-
lation, and overland business was de-
veIoping He maintained boats of ca
pacity to take care of the rapidly grow
ing trade. He used the horse propeller.
which was a stern-wheel boat operated
by a tread mill engine with one horse.
1t was a great day in St. Louis in 1924,
when the Sea serpent, fine one
horse power boat, was launche'. fiom
Virgins wharf. Other boats followed
of the same style-the ReirCLeros and
the Antelope. These We're primitive
craft, however, and they gave place 10
the first steamboat in 1928 when the st.
Clair was launched. The ST. Clair made
daily trips from Morgan street, stop
ping at Market street. and thance to
Cahokia.
Samuel Virgins incorporated the
Virgins Ferry company ac'l sold The
franchise in 1892 to Bernard s'rltJe. Jno.
O'Fanon, John H. Cay, Charles Multi
ken Andrew Christy, Samuel :. Chlisty,
Adam l. Mills and William =. Wig
gins. In time the control Of the COM
pany passed into the hands Of Andrew
Christy and a number OF steamboats,
were added to the service The ozark
was built in 1892, and later the Nindi-
Gator and the Icelander TIE 1celander
burned in 1914 and other boats Wee
built In 184S the st. Louis exploded
her boiler opposite the foot of Spruce
street. causing the death + ID persons.
Other boats added to the service were the
Illinois the John Hruedly, the Illinois No
2 the American and the New Era The
New Era under the name of the Essex,
figured as the flagship OF admiral Foote
in the civil war. Winters interfered with
the boats on the river at first, but as the
business grew large lron-shod lceboat
was built for the Virgins Ferry company
This was a boat 100 feet long and OF 40
tons capacity. 1t was launched in 1899.
company expired by limitation. and the
owners went to the legislature for a
neWal. A good deal of opposition developed
from rival companies, but the charter was
renewed on a perpetual basis With this
charter the company was reorganlzed and
INCORPORATED with capital of $1.O00,000.
This charter IS the basis OF the present
company. As is well known the COM
pany has extended its operations SO that
I from the small passenger traffic of 1877.
il now handles a wagon business and a
Last year the company made $1,000 wagon
! CROSSINGS carrying ]. 000. 800 tons of freight
| and / $4,000 cars. In addition the ton
l mage OF freight for cars was z,l46,s60