Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-25
were 3otted down for the compilation

were 3otted down for the compilation
of his report.
The interest in the Journey Of the
Hornet" was shown at every stop.
The villagers gathered on the banks
and thronged the bridges. They were
present in numbers at every stopping
place and gave much valuable infor-
nation for the guidance. Of the craft
Early recollections and names Of
steamers which travelled were given.
Some erroneous directions were indi-
Gated. as we'll. The taking Of the
wrong channel just above Harvey
caused considerable anxiety for a time.
AT this point the river is divided. A
CUTOFF branches off from the main
channel which the boat was advised
to take. After entering this cutoff
for distance Of a few hundred yards.
the boat was found to be on q sand
bar. After great deal of work, the
Hornet" was dislodged. and returned
p-stream. A consultation was now
had. It was o'clock at night.
At Harvey.
The town Of Harvey was two miles
over the bluff, on the other side Of the
stream. The boat was finally tied up
for the night and the baggage left at
a small farm house on the bank. A
small skiff transported the party
across the river over the sand bar
which caused the delay. and soon the
party reached Harvey. where the night
was returned to the main channel and
the journey continued. The river is
very little used and knowledge of the
river bed Is either too old for correct
ress or misunderstood.
| The most recent important use
| which has been made of the Des
Moines river was several years ago
I'VE troy fa1
down the river. 1t took the army
eleven days to reach the Mississippi
river, Actual running, time. the "FIor-
| net made the trip in about four days.
| The earliest navigation of the river
was in the fifties, and the last trips
We're made In the eighties. The names
of some of the steamers, which are
remembered were Flora Temple, Col
onel Helms, Defiance, J. H. Wilson, and
the Badger State.
Early Steamboat Days.
Evidences of the early steamboat
days are still in the pretentious houses
which were erected at the time. Red
Rock is a typical river town. and even
Keokuk shows the influence Of the
river triffic. One can imagine that the
| steamboats, gave the villages the all
of boom towns, such as one would find
at a scene of the discovery of gold
Keosauqua was no doubt lively place
during the early days. The hotel
even now. is on the river bank. Bona
parties principal industry depended
upon the river for it's power. Everyone
| has heard of the wooden mills which
were built by the Meeks and which are
now idle. The dam has been washed
ou,.
There was no dam to interfere with
the progress of the Hornet" with the
exception of that at Ottumwa. Here
the boat was put upon it's skids and
shipped around the dam. Remnants of
former dams are found at several
points. There is an old stone mill and
lock still standing at Keosauqua.
If steamers could travel from Des
Moines to I.eokuk with as little trouble
as the Hornet experienced. there is
no doubt but what the river could
again be made navigable for small
steamboats, or tugs. Everyone will
await with interest the engineers re-
port and the final decision of the gov
eminent as to the availability of the
Des Mones river. In the meantime
| life will go on as before. Floods will
come and go. The summer drouths
will come and the residents of the
pes Moines valley will dream that they
hear the whistle Of the steamer on the
bend.