Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-08-13
WABASH RIVER
ONLY A PAST
Days as Highway for Trade by
Stoa1nboat and Pole Craft
Ended. Stream Disappears.
oatcE A COMMERCE ARTERY
Vessels Piled From Lafayette, Ind; to
New Orleans Loaded With
Goods Up to 1870.

Mount Carmel, Ill.-In the early
NRys of Eastern Illinois and Western
indiana the Wabash River played a
VERY important part. II was for many
pears the best way of getting to mar
hBst, and with the early settlers boat
nng became q considerable business.
Produce Of all kinds was sent from
every landing along the river for hun-
Areds Of miles, by flatboat, to New Or.
npans, and with each spring rise an Inn
Regnpe feet of these craft would go
mzt TO the Ohio on the long voyage ia
IN far south.
Nsel boats were used in upstream
Nvekghting and passenger traffic. They
1Vre modelbow boats, propelled BY
bar. pote and sail, or hauled by ropes.
ta6 one would make the trip UP from
eaow Orleans in two to four months.
with the rapid growth of population
Rnd produotiveness Of the country
rHDamboets soon followed. Keel boat.
nng rapidly declined. but the old-fash,
sned flntboat long held its own and
hgaa seen every season, though in slow
diminishing number, as late as 1875
NJ. Since that time f1atboat has
Aesn q rarity on the Wabash.
Navigation of the river in early dayz
Yas q matter of vital interest. It was
ne only practicable outlet to the mar
1sstu for products Of the time, and up
10 tho Civil War New Orleans held the
Au1k of trade from the Wabash Valley,
Soon after 1880 steamboadng rapidly
NC0w to great proportions. For timd
n great obstacle was the grand rapids
omf above this city, which soon led
10 the building Of the dam here by
navigation company. This left the
Grand Chain and Little Chain Rocks
Ni1Uught every bend was thorny with
heavy snags that were a constant
Msnace and were often fatal to tha
1Itoamers.
Large vessels Of heavy tonnage
I0am0 from New Orleans, Louisville
Aamd Cincinnati in high water, going
Eas fav up az Lafayette, and great
tRAt1o was thus conducted for twenty
N1ar1- A steamboat OF 1845 looked
1ztfls R1ke those Of modern times, but
We cid boats were "palatial" inside
would carry great cargoes, and as lonl
'as they did not blow UP or buoh
against q sawyer, made money.
AS the country began to settle NJ
Nhs towns took much freight business
bGR the rfVer. however. and with tho
&anse Of the war. railroads quickly alb
aorb8d the remainder of the traffic. By
NsT0 vary little was left of the steam
Boat era on the Wabash river. though
t9Dr ten yeavs after there was a fan
villa. Now Harmony, GRANVILLE. Moum
Garmel and way landings.
Excitement and glory OF the old Wa
bash steamboat days are gone. Tho
s1Nsr has degenerated to mere deser1
water COURSE. nearly dry, ice blookse
,er in disastrous floods for nine or tan
aoonths of every year.
The lives of the early Wabash VA
Nv people were strenuous, with few
yNzmHsenients, and almost no schools fo1
earg. An occasional house or barn
saasing. log rolling OF quilting froit,
was anticipated with widespread In
mnpest Corn shucking and shooting
ItaRtches were more frequent, but more
hood.
But nothing stirred the country %
keAr and wide as an announcement d
b wedding. That was a momentou
event which drew everyone for TWEEN
W. thirty or forty miles. and cers
Epnouy and carnival would last for sew
fsEa1 days and nights. terminating onlI
Ewtth complete exhaustion and depart
heHe of the guests.