The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-28
The RACING KAW.
When the River Was Navigable
to Topeka.
ChOuteaus Were the Pioneer
RiVermen.
KEELBOATS ON KANSAS
Landed at Wharf Here-Trading
Post on Mission Creek.
Persistent and Costly Efforts
KEELBOATS ON KANSAS
Persistent and Costly Efforts
That Ended in Failure.

Junction City, Kan, Nov. 2s.-The
arrival OF the Della at Lawrence from
Kansas City on June IL, with % mem
bers of the Kaw Valley Commercial
club aboard and the favorable report of
the passengers as to the stage of the
water encountered on the trip. has re-
vived the much mooted question of the
navigability of the Kaw and has arous-
ed considerable interest out over the
state in the history of early steam
boating in the Kansas river.
Time was when the Kaw and its
tributaries were the great natural high
way OF commerce and transportation to
the young and scattered settlements of
an infant state. The possibilities and
advantages of Kaw navigation explain
the location OF many early and thriving
communities along its course. The pio-
neers of Lawrence, Topeka and Man
haitian dreamed of the days when ma
Ject1c fleets of graceful steamers would
breast the current of the Kaw and
tread its tortuous channels. The story
of the undaunted boatmen and their at
tempts to establish the navigabilit of
Kansas rivers is seldom told. 1t is a
story of disaster, encouragement, in
forts.
+ The earliest boats that navigated the
waters of the kaw, aside from the pri-
mitive craft employed by the Indians,
the Chouteaus in 1928. Fred Chouteau,
one of the famous family of pioneer
traders and trappers, established a
trading post in 1880 among the KaWS
of Mission creek, small tributary of
the kaw in the vicinity of the modern
city of Topeka. He secured his sup
plies from his brothers establishment
at the mouth of the Kaw and brought
them up the river in these keel boats
some time in August and returned the
next spring loaded with peltries which
he forwarded to st. Louis by steam
boat The keel boat was a rib-made
craft, shaped like the hull of a steam
boat and decked over. The dimensions
across the deck were usually eight to
ten feet with an average depth be-
low of five feet or somewhat larger
than the Della. They We're rugged with
one mast and propelled by eight large
oars. Such an oar was found in 1897
in excavating east of the Melan arch
bridge at Topeka. 1t was imbedded in
the sand ten feet below huge tree
trunk. The oar which is IL feet long
has the rusted iron oar-lock attached
and is now in. the possession of the
state historical society.
River navigation, it was thought,
would invite early and large settle
ment to the interior of the territory.
This accounts for the projection and To-
cation of the first territorial capital at
Pawnee by the friends of Governor
Reeder Fort Riley had been estab-
the head of navigation. In accordance
with orders from Major E. A. Ogden
the commandant at Fort Riley, Lieu
tenant J. T. Tidball of the Sixth in
fantry made survey of the Kansas
in the month of August, 1853 The
principal object he says, was to deter
mine the practica ability of navigating
the river by steamers or keel boats and
his report is very vague and uncer-
tain 1t seems quite clear, however,
that he thought there was little chance
of improving the river beyond removing
the snags. In this connection it is quite
to consider the opinions of
those who had great faith in the fu-
ture of the Kaw.
Governor John w. Geary, in his first
message to the territorial legislature of
1857 says: THE Kansas river the nat
ural channel to the west, draining
a valley of unparalleled fertility, can
be made navigable as far as Fort Riley,
a distance of over 100 miles, and con-
gress should be petitioned for aid to
accomplish this laudable purpose. Fort
Riley has been built at an expense ex-
ceeding 100000 with the expectation
that the river was navigable to that |
place, and doubtless the general gov
eminent will readily unite with the
territory to secure this object. Acting
,,non which suggestion the later franz |
ers of the Wyandotte constitution, Re |
solved That congress is further re- |
ouested to pass an act apprOpriating |
so 600 acres of land for the improve |
ment of the Kansas river from Its |
mouth to Fort Riley.
The pioneers of steamboating on the |
Kaw were Captain Baker and G. A. |