The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1905-07-06

"'d: ANC"OuiypOit dilN OtlcI I'LL
portant coast cities. Baltimore and
Philadelphia had not then secured
control of the trade in the great
country south of them. Tobacco was
the chief medium of exchange in
those days and Georgetown merchants
carried on large trade with Europe.
The upper Potomac was a much
larger river a hundred years ago than
it Is today. Both channels of the
river were then open. The Eagle and
the Shannandour sailed regularly
between Georgetown and European
ports during the early years of the
little tobacco town.
Duties collected at the port of
Georgetown between the years 1815-35
amounted to nearly two millions and
the exports had an annual average of
SOB 1855 40. Records are in existence
which show that 5000 vessels arrived
at the port in 1885 and nearly 200, 900
tons of freight were handled. Now
the little water commerce is confined
to the wharfs at the foot of Seventh
street, Washington, and only very
small vessels can pass the Long Bridge
at the south end of the city.
No wonder that Washington ex-
pected the Capital city to develope into
commercial centre, based as these
hopes we're upon the commercial i'm
portance of Georgetown at the time of
his death. In his will he left $4,000
in shares of the G. and o. canal,
which he had surveyed; and this
money was left in trust to the govern
ment to build university.
With the completion of the canal a
large trade developed in coal, wood
and lumber, but New York, Phila-
delphia and Baltimore had sounded
the death knell of Georgetown's COM
mercial supremacy. Its deserted
warehouses fell into ruin, and the
small amount of business conducted
along this once busy river front today
is OF an entirely different character
than that of the past. The canal of
which so much was expected also met
its rival the railroad, but although the
anticipated prosperity was never
realized, it still performs it's part in
the commerce of the city bringing in
much of it's coal and lumber.
! The bell on the little packet
sounded, the boat is clear of its moor
ings at the foot of an old tobacco ware
| house, and we are afloat on this once
Fiamouse canal.
J The packet with it's crew of two
men, -engineer and pilot-and a half
grown boy who assists at the locks,
makes its first stop for passengers at
thh foot of the Aqueduct Bridge
across which the canal boats for the
south once passed into Virginia to
that other dead city, Alexandria, like
wise slain by the rail. After passing
under the bridge we see line of canal
boats tied up to the tow path, unload
ing, or waiting for orders to depart.
These boats are long, narrow and
fiat, and when met face to face in the
narrow canal they have the appearance
of some amphibious creature of the
past swimming sluggishly on its way.
The heavy line of the prov beam
stands out like a nose between the
two small windows on each side, that
seem like eyes, and the water line
makes an expressive mouth, and it
takes but little Imagination to believe
that they make faces at the little steam
packet with its puffs of steam-the
sign of their defeat.
Four mules are taken with each
canal boat, and two rest in their little
stable on board the boat while the
other two tow the boat. The quarters
OF the family are always in the rear.
There in little cabin they cook, eat
and sleep, and in their little hours Of
| rest stretch out on the roof of the
cabin over which an awning is spread,
and under which the children play.
There is an attempt made on most of
these boats towards beautifying the
cabin. The tiny windows are draped
with lace curtains, and much turkey
red cotton is used. The women seem
happy and the children are nearly
always clean. The boats are often
decked with flags and gaily painted,
and the harness of the mules are
trimmed with tinkling bells. The
canal for miles follows close to the
river and for the first three miles is
nearly level with it. 1t is full of
curves, however, and thus affords a
change from the otherwise monotOnous
character of the scenery.
There had been spell Of dry
weather and the waterloo often a
dirty yellow-was as clear as lake.
The tow-path is on the river side OF
the canal. and through the trees and
low Towering shrubs it could be seen
slowly flowing to the sea. On the
Virginia side the hills rise abruptly
from the river, and for a mile or more
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