Part 86 (1/2)

In 1859 he added the aeolian, Favorite and Winona In 1860 he organized the La Crosse & Minnesota Packet Company, with the five above named steamers in the line In 1862 the Keokuk and Northern Belle were added

In 1864 the La Crosse & Minnesota and the Northern Line Packet companies were consolidated under the name of the Northwestern Union Packet Co steamers: The Moses McLellan, Ocean Wave, Itasca, Key City, Milwaukee City, Belle, War Eagle, Phil Sheridan, S S Merrill, Alex Mitchell, City of St Paul, Tom Jasper, Belle of La Crosse, City of Quincy, and John Kyle This line controlled the general trade until 1874

There were upon the river and its tributaries during the period naht boats: The Julia, Mollie Mohler, Cutter, Chippewa Falls, Mankato, Albany, Ariel, Stella Whipple, Isaac Gray, Morning Star, Antelope, Clara Hine, Geo S Weeks, Dexter, Damsel, Addie Johnson, Annie Johnson, G H Wilson, Flora, and Hudson

LATER NAVIGATION ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI

The Northwestern Union Packet Company, more familiarly known as the ”White Collar Line,” from the white band painted around the upper part of the smokestacks, and the Keokuk Packet Company, sold their steamers to the Keokuk Northern Line Packet Company, which continued until 1882, when the St Louis & St Paul Packet Co, Minnesota, Dubuque, Rock Island, Lake Superior, Muscatine, Clinton, Chas Cheever, Dan Hine, Andy Johnson, Harry Johnson, Rob Roy, Lucy Bertrale, and Flying Eagle

STEAMBOATING ON THE ST CROIX

The steamer Palmyra was the first boat to disturb the solitude of the St Croix In June, 1838, it passed up the St Croix lake and river as far as the Dalles The steamer Ariel, the second boat, came as far as Marine in 1839 In the fall of 1843, the stea, landed at Stillwater The steamer Otter was laden with irons and machinery for the first mill in Stillwater Up to 1845 nearly every boat that ascended the Mississippi also ascended the St

Croix, but in later years, as larger boats were introduced, its navigation was restricted to smaller craft, and eventually to stea the St Croix

Quite a number of these were built at Osceola, Franconia and Taylor's Falls The following is a list of boats navigating the St Croix from the year 1852 to the present time: Humboldt, 1852; Enterprise, 1853; Pioneer, 1854; Osceola, 1854; H S Allen, 1857; fanny Thornton, 1862; Viola, 1864; Dalles, 1866; Nellie Kent, 1867; G B Knapp, 1866; Minnie Will, 1867; Wyie Reany, 1870; Jennie Hays, 1870; Cleon, 1870

A number of raft steamers, built at South Stillwater and elsewhere, have plied the river within the last ten years A nues were built at South Stillwater, Osceola and Taylor's Falls

The passenger travel on the St Croix has decreased since the completion of the railroad to Taylor's Falls and St Croix Falls

An interesting chapter of anecdotes and incidentsthe early steamboat life on the St Croix We find in ”Bond's Minnesota” a notice of one of the first boats in the regular trade, which will throw soht on the subject of early travel on the river It describes the Humboldt, which made its first appearance in 1852:

”In addition, soenius on a small scale, down about Oquaka, Illinois, last year conceived the good idea of procuring a steamboat suitable to perform the duties of a tri-weekly packet between Stillwater and Taylor's Falls, the extreation up the St Croix It is true he did not appear to have a very correct idea of the kind of craft the people really wanted and would well support in that trade, but such as he thought and planned he late last season, brought forthIndeed, the little Hureat accommodation to the people of the St Croix She stops anywhere along the river, to do any and all kinds of business that er ride, so far as _time_ is concerned, for a dollar, than any other craft we ever traveled upon

She is also, to outward appearances, a te or table utensils She stops at the 'Marine,' going and returning, to allow the people aboard to feed upon a good, substantial dinner; and the passengers are allowed, if they feel so disposed, to carry 'bars' in their side pockets and 'bricks' in their hats A very acco craft is the Humboldt, and a convenience that is already set down on the St Croix as one indispensable”

The Diamond Jo line of steamers was established in 1867 Jo Reynolds was president of the coeneral supervision the company has been quite successful The business has required an average of six steamers yearly In 1888 the line consists of the boats the Sidney, Pittsburgh and Mary Morton

The St Louis & St Paul Packet Company, successors of the various old transportation co three steamers There are but few transient boats now on the river

ICE BOATS

Several atte the winter months by means of ice boats, but the efforts have uniformly failed Of these attempts we mention the two most notable:

Noman Wiard, an inventor of some celebrity, made an ice boat in 1856 and placed it on the river at Prairie du Chien, intending to run between that point and St Paul It was elaborately planned and elegantly finished, and resembled somewhat a palace car hness of the ice, never le trip It, however, proved somewhat remunerative as a show, and was for some time on exhibition within an inclosure at Prairie du Chien

Martin Mower, of Osceola, Minnesota, invented a boat to run on the ice between Stillwater and Taylor's Falls, in the winter of 1868-9 It ht The rough ice prevented regular trips and the project was abandoned

STEAMBOAT LIFE--1846

James W Mullen, of Taylor's Falls, spent much of his early and middle life on the river, and cherishes many pleasant recollections of the early days We have been favored with a few of these, which will give the reader a vivid idea of the scenes depicted:

”A D 1816 found le at the St Louis levee, with sign board up for Stillwater and Fort Snelling The levee was a wonder to behold It was thronged with teaht were awaiting shi+p the levee were discharging and receiving freight; passengers were rushi+ng frantically to and fro; bells were ringing, and boats leaving for the cumberland, Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois rivers; and New Orleans, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Keokuk, Galena, Stillwater, and Fort Snelling

”It was a delightful June day on which we pulled out froe to the far off north land, then known as Wisconsin Territory Capt Save the last tap of the bell; the lines were loosened; the wheels of the War Eagle revolved slowly at first, and ere soon on the broad boso northward in the wake and black smoke of the steamers Ocean Wave, Tobacco Plant and Western Belle The Luella, the Alton packet, followed us closely, racing with us All was enjoyment

We pass the steanificent Mor files of Mor ard We passtowns, a them Rock Island and Davenport, the latter the home of Antoine Le Clair, a half-breed Indian trader and heavyweight, tipping the beam at three hundred and fifty pounds avoirdupois He lives there in sues, or tepees, of Sac and Fox Indians are seen along the shores; their bark canoes glide silently over the waters Further on we ascend for seven ish and narrow channel of Fever river, and find ourselves at Galena, the home of the Harrises, river captains