Page 30 - DesMoinesRiver
P. 30
NAVIGATION ALONG THE DES MOINES RIVER
The Des Moines River was looked to as a “gate- obstruction to the navigation of the Des Moines steamboats Hero and Pavillion traveled all the
way to the West” that would create a trans- in a tolerable stage of water” (Hubler 1968:289). way to Fort Des Moines carrying goods for the
portation link from the Mississippi River to the American Fur Company (Hubler 1968:290; Iowa
fertile “interior regions” between the Mississippi Until 1837 keel boats and canoes provided Pathways). On August 9, 1843, the Ione landed
and the Missouri. It was the first river in Iowa to transportation on the river. These boats allowed troops and supplies at Raccoon Forks, now the
be navigated by steamboats and was navigated to traders to bring their goods to Native American city of Des Moines. The Ione was the first steam-
a greater extent than any other river in the state villages and supplies to early settlers. Then, in boat to ascend so far above the mouth of the
(Hubler 1968:287). 1837, the steamboat S.B. Science commanded by river, and was “hailed with rejoicing by the set-
S.B. Clark brought a load of goods up the Des tlers whom it passed” (Iowa History Project).
As early as the summer of 1835, Lt. Col. Stephen Moines as far as Keosauqua. That same year the
Kearney dispatched Lt. Albert M. Lea of the First Typical Des Moines River steamboat, Class
United States Dragoons down the Des Moines I, from Hussey 1900. Courtesy of the State
to determine the practicability of its naviga- Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City. Published
tion. Lea’s reports were quite enthusiastic. He with permission.
described the stream as “from 150 to 250 yards
[wide] except a few miles about the mouth,
where it is only from 80 to 100 yards wide.”
Lea ended his report by declaring “there is no
30 A River of Unrivaled Advantages—Life Along the Lower Des Moines River
