The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-17

waters of Lake St. Croix and river
was the Palmyra, Capt. Middleton of
Hannibal Mo. This boat landed at
Taylors Falls in July, 1888. The Sec
ond boat was the Gypsy, which landed
at saltwater in November, 1888. This
boat brought up the supplies and
money used in paying the Chippewa
Indians, pursuant to the treaty made
July 29, 1887, between the Indians and
the United States government. The
third boat to navigate the st. CrOix
was probably the Fayette, in the early
summer of 1889, bringing supplies and
sawmill machinery for the Marine
Lumber" company, which was landed
at Marine.
The writer came on the Senator. 1t
was nine days in making the trip from
Galena to st. Paul and could not as
cend Lake st. Croix on account of ice.
The passengers were landed at st.
Paul and walked to Saltwater, arriv-
ing there April Z, 1S48. In 1849 and
1850 Minnesota had been admitted as
a territory, treaties with the Indians
had opened a large area and immigra-
ton began in earnest. saltwater had
then assumed a prominent place in the
new territory
In 1850 the Anthony WAYNE came to
Saltwater and landed her passengers
on the platform of the Minnesota
house, where the old fort now stands,
fully 200 yards from the present shore
line Of the lake.
In 1852 line Of steamboats, was es-
tablished to ply between st. Louis, Still
water and st. Paul and intermediate
points. This temporary organization was
supplemented by the formation of the
Northern Line Packet company, own
ing boats of large tonnage and superior
passenger accommodations. Nearly all
the boats of this line made saltwater
their terminal on their trips for many
years during the continuance of the
organization.
In 1856 the st. Croix lake and river
passenger and freight traffic was in
augurated by the advent of the com
plete little steamer Eolian, the first
regular boat to enter the trade be-
tween Prescott, Saltwater and Taylors
Falls. Capt. S. L. COwan was the mas
ter and David Bronson the clerk
important to ST. Paul.
Possibly one of the most important
adjuncts to the city of ST. Paul was
the st. CrOix valley. The writer can
testify that the foundation stones Of
many of the large commercial houses in
that city were assisted to their pres
ent eminence in the commercial affairs
of the state by the trade Of the ST.
CrOix valley, and their owners owe
very much to the people of the ST.
Croix valley for the large competen-
cfes they have acquired and their pres
ent high standing in the commercial
world An examination of the Still
water banks show that for many years
the St. Croix valley paid to St. Paul
merchants from one to one and a half
million dollars annually.
Apropos to steamboat and navigation.
L wish to correct an erroneous impress
sion that has gained some credence
that the water supply of our streams
has been gradually falling. In 1858 1
had charge of a small stern wheel boat
called the Alone. Where the Missis-
sippi river enters the head of Lake
Pepin I was annoyed and delayed by
cattle feeding on the water grass that
grew above the surface and was
obliged to have my crew stand on the
lower deck of the boat to drive the cat
tie away in order to prevent them
from being run over
The Giant ST. Croix Boom.
This concern has been and will con-
tinue to be an important factor in the
lumber interest of the st. Croix district
until the last log has passed the ordeal
OF Its predecessors. Until 1850 the
logs came down the ST. CroiX and were
caught and held In the various Sloughs
where they were RATED for market or
sorted for the local sawmills. In 1850
boom was constructed two miles
above Osceola, where logs were sorted
for some years. In 1856 a boom corpo-
ration was organized, and in 1889
new company was formed which effect
ed lease Of the entire boom property.
The new management still continues.
Rail Shipments.
A vast number of logs have been
brought to Saltwater by rail, ship
ments of that kind up to the present
season amounting to 15S,446, 900 feet.
RecapituIation.
A recapitulation of rail shipments,
logs that came through the boom and
lumber sawed at mills on headwaters
of the st. Croix, is as follows:
Feet Of logs sorted at boom. II 2SS 1886. 100
Feet of logs railroaded to
Saltwater .................. 15S 446, 900
Feet of logs sawed at mills
on headwaters of st. Croix. 1897 600, 600
Grand total feet. Ii, 6S3, ISL, 720