The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1932-04-28
Minnesota RiUer, Torrent in 10,
Has Meek Spring After Dry Summer
Renville Man Reviews History
of River Traffic; Was
Avenue of Trade

The ups and downs of the Mime
sofa river which this year is meek
as lamb" compared with several
spring seasons, are accurately retold
in an article for the Renville Star
Farmer, written by A. A. Davidson.
Mr.. Davidson's observations fol-
low:
Using the Minnesota historical
books as resource we find the old
stream has had quite career the
Ito years they have kept record of
its action. We find that navigation
has opened as early as March "a and
as late as April 20. The highest stage
of water on record was 1862, the
year of the Indian outbreak, next
was the high water of 1881, quite a
few remember this but records say it
was at least four feet higher in 1862.
'sNot until 1897 did it go on any
rampage worth mentioning. 1t high
est point then was about four feet
lower than in 1881. During 1888
it was somewhat of torrent rising
about Is feet above usual low mark.
The year 1881 it chose not to run at
all, an event not before recorded.
"For over century, it was our
only bond free highway and much
used. 1t played an important part in
selling the Northwest and especially
our county.
''The first white men on record to
navigate its waters in Minnesota were
LeSueur and party, who in TOO came
in three keel boats as far as the
mouth of the Blue Earth looking for
copper. That expedition was fail
ure. About 70 years later John Car
yer came up as far as New Ulm.
Some fur traders and trappers pad
died up and down but, not till 1920
do we find any white man at the helm
of a boat.
"That year departure of the Lord
Selkirks Scotch settlement from near
Winnipeg went down the river as far
as Prairie du Chen where they pur-
chased 200 bushels of wheat to be
used for seed, loading it onto three
boats they rowed and poled their way
back, distance of about 700 miles,
the trip taking two months. 1t has
been said that after leaving Pete
Parents grog shop located on Pigs
Eye Island now called ST. Paul these
Scotchmen never spent another nickel
on the whole trip.
"This year we find recorded, the
fur trader Haen Moore coming down
from Lake Travers with a cargo of
furs loaded in three canoes, tipped his
cargo at Peterson's rapids located in
Renville county. His cargo was
valued at $4,000 most of the furs
were recovered. Nicollet, Beltrami,
Stephen Long and j. G. Fremont
who that year was the Republican
nominee for President explored the
river to its source during 1924. DR..
Thomas of Williams, noted mission
airy in 1885 made trip on a mack
inaw boat as far as Lac qui Parle,
the boat was so feet long and feet
wide, could carry tons. 1t was
joled and rowed by a crew of five
or six men. 1t took Is days to make
the trip up stream.
"The first steamboat to muddle its
waters for any distance was the
Anthony Wayne which in 1850 came
as far as Mankato that being the
furthest west white men had any
towns to go to. But, in 1854 the
West Newton brought a large cargo
of goods and materials to Fort Ridg-
ley, this was large boat measuring
$50 feet long, the water remained
high that year.
"The Tiger year later went as far
as Upper Agency or the mouth of the
Yellow Medicine river on its last trip
it took the wrong channel, ran
around east of North Redwood and
had to be abandoned, that slough is
called Tiger Lake to this day.
During 1855 the shores of our
county were regularly used by the
swash of the steam 'wheelers.' The
Globe owned by Captain Harris MAX
ing several trips to the Upper
Agency.
another speed boat called "Time
and Tide" made schedule of four
days to Yellow Medicine, timetable
gave distance 446 miles. In 1886
The Pioneer came to North Redwood
with cargoes of lumber for d. L.
Bingham"