Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-15
SEES RETURN or
STEAMBOAT DAYS
OLD CITIZEN AT DIES MONIES
DECLARES THAT RIVER is
MANAGEABLE.

Des Moines, June IA. - AS the time
draws near when the decision of the
United States corps of engineers will
be announced regarding the survey Of
the Des Moines river to determine
whether it is navigable, considerable
interest in the project and it's success
is being manifested by the business
men of the city. Old residents of Des
Moines who remember the days when
large steamers piled between Des
Moines and st. Louis and other Mis-
sissippi river points are practically
one in the opinion that the Des Moines
river is still as navigable as it was
from 1887 to 1862.
There seems to be little doubt that
the statistics and river history now
being compiled by A. G. Miller, mem
Der Of the national waterways, drain
age and conservation commission, will
be of sufficient weight to induce the
United States engineers to see the
Importance of making a survey OF
the river, and If the survey is made,
that the present conditions Of the
stream will warrant it's improvement
to be made. navigable.
Congress Lacked Foresight.
ri believe" said the Hon. Isaac
Brandt, 'that the Des Moines river
is in better condition for navigation
right now than it was in the old days.
Had the assembled congress of 1916
been imbued with sufficient prophetic
vision to see the great future in store
for the state of Iowa, Des Moines
would now be city Of 10000 or
more and the business now conducted
here would be more than doubled. The
damper placed on the improvement of
Des Moines river for navigation pur-
poses was what finally led to it's aban-
donment in 1862.
Between the years 1887 and 1862
forty steamboats, piled the Des Moines
river and carried on practically all the
! freight business of the city. These
steamers were not little, flat-bottomed
canal boats; they were big keeled
steamers, carrying more freight than
a modern box car of the largest type.
zone incident of the boating days
which happened in the year 1862 on
| April 5, Is heard with feeling OF
doubt ever time relate 1t, but it is
nevertheless true. At that time
owned general store in the old Grit
|
| now located, just east Of the North
western passenger depot. The Little
Morgan, a steamer of the stern wheel
er type, carried a large cargo of goods
consigned to me. On account of the
high stage of the river at that time
there was no communication with the
west side of thesriver by wagon, and i
was a query with the captain of The
boat as to how the heavy consignment
of oueensware, salt and glassware, di
rect from st. Louis, was to be deliv
cred.
UnIoads Cargo in Store.
"The saucy Little Morgan was
equal to the occasion, however. She
cruised down the river little way and
striking just the right place in the
overlooked bottoms. nosed her way
up to my store, which stood on the
| second ledge or bank The boat tiet
up almost at the door, threw out hel
gang planks and unloaded the goods
inside the building as if it were al
everyday occurrence. A large crowt
collected to see the sight, which, 81
far as known, was never witnessed
before nor since. There being too little
room to turn around. the Little Nor
gan backed gracefully out, found thu
channel mile or so below, and wa
soon on her way to the lower parts.
''There was no more water in thu
river at that time than there is now
but the levies that now protect thu
city on the northeast were not in ex
/ istence and the water swept acros
the lower part of the city unconfined.