Page 29 - DesMoinesRiver

a slow, laborious process. Steamboats were was found for two hundred miles on the Des for fueling settlement, building industry and agri-
limited to navigable waterways and, even then, Moines, and, from indications, heavy deposits of culture, and developing towns and cities.
only when water levels were neither too high iron ore are believed to exist.” They also indicat-
nor too low. Nevertheless, between the late- ed that “gypsum in abundance, forming cliffs for The Des Moines River was essential for trade
1830s and the early-1850s the steamboat was miles, were encountered” and “limestone suit- and transportation. Steamboats and flatboats
the best means of transportation to and from able for lime, clay suitable for brick, rock suitable carried settlers into the state, brought them
the new territory (Conrad and Cunning 1990:5). for polishing, for grindstones, whetstones, and supplies, and transported their produce and
Rivers, including the Des Moines, were looked at for building purposes, some of superior quality, products to market. Coal, gypsum, limestone,
to become the main arteries for commerce and are found in abundance along the Des Moines.” and clay were mined along its banks. The pro-
development. The report concluded that “no country can duction of ceramics and grain milling grew into
afford like accommodations to manufactures” major industries. As many as 108 potteries may
The use of steamboats became the great ab- and “no country can produce more agricultural have flourished along the Des Moines from 1840
sorbing idea. Within a year of becoming a state, wealth than that within sixty miles on either side through the end of the century. Eighty mills for
the Geological Survey was sent to explore the of this river” (Annals of Iowa 1873:482). The grinding grain were built along its banks making
resources of the Des Moines River. In 1847 they new state of Iowa had the resources necessary Iowa a leading wheat-producing state in the first
returned a report that was enthusiastic, “coal half of the 19th century (Schmidt 1920:401).

Des Moines River near Farmington, Iowa.

The University of Iowa Off ice of the State Archaeologist 29