The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-05-04

Flat bottom boats
were used, which a
were pu h d
along by hardy river men, who We'd
lin skill with the famous Volga
boatmen. 1t is said that these men
were bent to one side as they
walked, their bodies growing into
that position from pushing the boats
along.
Various kinds of freight were
transported up and down the river,
between Cumberland and George
town.
It was before 1900 that these boats
navigated the river. 1t was in that
year that the completion of the
White House was being pushed
along. For it, lumber, etc, was
needed. At that time there were
no good highways, canals or rail-
roads. The B. & o. r. r. and the
c. & O. Canal were not begun until
after 1927
For some time the finer grades
of clothing, cutlery, guns, fine hard
ware, dishes, etc. were imported
mainly from England. Lumber,
wheat, whiskey, wool and skins of
animals were the principal products
from Western Maryland Later, iron
and coal were brought down the
river in large quantities. All of
these, except lumber, were trans
ported in the boats described. The
return cargo back up the river was
usually light on account of polling
the boats upstream. Such goods as
sugar, salt, tea, firearms and ammu-
milton composed the up stream
cargo.
While that part of the river be-
low Washington is practically an
arm of the sea, that part extending
from Washington northward to the
rivers headquarters was shallow,
rushing over rocks in places,
through muddy flats, tortuous, some
times so low as to make navigation
difficult or impossible.
However, according to- George
Prather, Clear Spring, the river was
somewhat different from what it is
now. Mr.. Prather says it is believed
that the stream was much more
regular in its flow at the time of the
first settlements than now, never
becoming so low in summer nor so
high at flood periods, as today. This
is explained by the fact that the
country was practically all in forest.
The water of the rains was held
back by the natural barriers of the
forest and fed into the streams much
more regularly than at this time.
Since that time the forests have
been cut away and the whole coun-
try is thoroughly drained. Instead
of easy sailing, the much more la
borious method of polling flat boats
and navigating RATS was required
to bring the peoples produce to
market.
1t is stated that these river men
became experts running the boats.
AT places, when the river was rather
low, it was necessary to steer the
boats and RATS through narrow
channels between rocks in the riv-
er's bed.
Mr.. Prather tells us that much of
the timber required for the building
of Washington and other new towns
along the Potomac was cut along the
upper waters of the river, some Of
it as far west as this county. When
the river was high enough this was
f1oated down stream. Experience
taught the raftsmen when the water
was high enough. The RATS were
rather ingeniously constructed, be-
ing so made that they could accom-
modate themselves to the uneven
flow Of water in the river. They
were put together in sections, which
were tied with hickory withes. Fifty
thousand feet of lumber was con-
sidered good-sized raft. Four or
five men composed crew. Said
Mr.. Prather: when the water in
the river rose high enough to float
the raft it was time to CO. And they
went. 1t mattered not if it was
Sunday, fair or stormy, when the
raft fioated they started on their
journey. Earth was placed on top
and on this rude shack was raised.
This gave the crew some protection,