"GROWTH OF THE STEAMBOATING BUSINESS THE SEASON OF 1856.
About ten years after the first successful attempt at steamboat
navigation on the Ohio River, the first steamboat that ever ascended
the Upper Mississippi River to Fort Snelling, arrived at that post.
This was the 'Virginia,' a stern-wheel boat, which arrived at the Port
in the early part of May, 1823. From 1823 to 1844 there were but few
arrivals each year sometimes not more than two or three. The
steamers running on the Upper Mississippi, at that time, were used
altogether to transport supplies for the Indian traders and the troops
stationed at Fort Snelling. Previous to the arrival of the Virginia,
keel boats were used for this purpose, and sixty days' time, from St.
Louis to the Fort, was considered a good trip.
"By a reference to our files, we are enabled to present, at a glance,
the astonishing increase in steamboating business since 1844. The
first boat to arrive that year, was the Otter, commanded by Captain
Harris. The following table presents the number of arrivals since that
time:
Year
First Boat
No. of Arrivals
River Closed
1844
April 6
41
Nov. 23
1845
April 6
48
Nov. 26
1846
March 31
24
Dec. 5
1847
April 7
47
Nov. 29
1848
April 7
63
Dec. 4
1849
April 9
85
Dec. 7
1850
April 9
104
Dec. 4
1851
April 4
119
Nov. 28
1852
April 16
171
Nov. 18
1853
April 11
200
Nov. 30
1854
April 8
245
Nov. 27
1855
April 17
560
Nov. 20
1856
April 18
837
Nov. 10
"In 1851, three boats went up the Minnesota River, and in 1852, one
boat ran regularly up that stream during the season. In 1853, the
business required an average of one boat per day. In 1854, the
business had largely increased, and in 1855, the arrivals of steamers
from the Minnesota, amounted to 119.
"The present season, on the Mississippi, has been a very prosperous
one, and the arrivals at St. Paul exhibit a gratifying increase over
any preceding year, notwithstanding the season of navigation has been
two weeks shorter than last season. Owing to the unusually early gorge
in the river at Hastings, upwards of fifty steamers bound for this
port, and heavily laden with merchandise and produce, were compelled
to discharge their cargoes at Hastings and Stillwater.
"Navigation this season opened on the 18th of April. The Lady Franklin
arrived on the evening of that day from Galena. Previous to her
arrival, there had been eighteen arrivals at our landing from the head
of Lake Pepin, and twelve arrivals at the foot of the lake, from
Galena and Dubuque.
"During the present season, seventy-eight different steamers have
arrived at our wharf, from the points mentioned in the following
table. This table we draw mainly from the books of the City Marshal,
and by reference to our files.
FROM ST. LOUIS.
Boats
No. of Trips.
Ben Coursin
19
A. G. Mason
8
Metropolitan
13
Audubon
5
Golden State
8
Laclede
11
Luella
8
Cheviot
1
James Lyon
7
Vienna
5
New York
1
Delegate
1
Mansfield
7
Forest Rose
1
Ben Bolt
2
J. P. Tweed
1
Fire Canoe
2
Carrier
1
Julia Dean
1
Resolute
2
Gossamer
4
Thomas Scott
6
Gipsey
2
W. G. Woodside
1
York State
5
Mattie Wayne
4
Brazil
4
Dan Convers
1
Henrietta
4
Editor
5
Minnesota Belle
8
Rochester
2
Oakland
7
Grace Darling
4
Montauk
3
Fairy Queen
1
Saint Louis
1
Americus
2
Atlanta
1
Jacob Traber
6
White Bluffs
1
Arcola
8
Conewago
10
Lucie May
8
Badger State
5
Sam Young
4
Violet
1
Total arrivals from St. Louis,
212
FROM FULTON CITY.
Falls City
11
Diamond
1
H. T. Yeatman
11
Time and Tide
5
Total from Fulton City,
28
FROM GALENA AND DUNLEITH.
Lady Franklin
23
Galena
30
Alhambra
21
Royal Arch
6
Northern Belle
28
Banjo
1
War Eagle
17
City Belle
30
Golden Era
29
Ocean Wave
28
Granite State
12
Greek Slave
3
Total from Galena and Dunleith,
228
FROM DUBUQUE.
Excelsior
23
Kate Cassel
29
Clarion
11
Tishimingo
3
Fanny Harris
28
Flora
29
Hamburg
12
Total from Dubuque,
135
FROM MINNESOTA RIVER.
H. T. Yeatman
4
Globe
34
Clarion
12
Reveille
40
H. S. Allen
10
Time and Tide
11
Wave
29
Equator
46
Minnesota Valley
20
Berlin
10
Total from Minnesota River,
216
RECAPITULATION.
Number of arrivals from
St. Louis
212
Fulton City
28
Galena and Dunleith
228
Dubuque
135
Minnesota River
216
head of Lake Pepin
18
Whole number of boats, 78.
Whole number of arrivals, 837
"It will be seen from the above, that ten more steamers have been
engaged in this trade during the present year than last; while in the
whole number of arrivals the increase has been two hundred and
sixty-seven.
"The business on the Minnesota has greatly increased this year. This
was to have been expected, considering the great increase in the
population of that flourishing portion of our Territory.
"A thriving trade has sprung up between the southern counties of
Minnesota, and Galena and Dubuque. During the greater portion of the
summer, the War Eagle and Tishimingo run regularly to Winona.
"On the Upper Mississippi there are now three steamers, the Gov.
Ramsay, H. M. Rice, and North Star (new). Daring the season these
boats ran between St. Anthony and Sauk Rapids."]
It may be well to pause here a moment and inquire into the causes
which contribute so wonderfully to build up empire in our
north-western domain. The territorial system of the United States has
some analogy, it is true, to the colonial system of Great Britain
not the colonial system which existed in the days of the stamp act
but that which a wiser statesmanship has more recently inaugurated.
The relation between the general government and our territories is
like that of guardian and ward the relation of a protector, not that
of a master.
