Dakotah, Montana, and Wyoming

Golden Eagle River Museum
Dr. E.B. Trail
Powers Studio

picture

Dakotah (Steamboat)
Montana (Steamboat)
Wyoming (Steamboat)
River steamers
Steamboats

Three separate photographs of the steamboats DAKOTAH, MONTANA, and WYOMING. “Designed by Capt. John Todd, these three great boats were the supreme achievements as big carriers on shallow water. They arrived on the Missouri about 12 years to late to reap the golden harvest in the “Mountain Trade”. On a favorable trip they could have made easily $100,000 on the trip to Fort Benton, Montana. But the lush times in the “Mountain Trade” were gone when the arrived on the Missouri, and they were forced into the low rate trade on the Missouri. The Dakotah brought down the largest cargo to ever come out of the Missouri – 16,756 sacks of wheat, and about 375 other consignments of merchandise. She drew 4.5 feet of water with this load and there was 5 feet of water on the crossings. She never touched bottom all the way out. She had piloting to do this. At one time she transported 600 head of cattle on a short trip on the far upper river. The Montana was a beautiful “spoonbill” model. She drew when light 7” forward – 11” amidship, and 22” astern. She was forced to carry mails for 6 cts per 100 keg from St. Louis to Kansas City, and ever made some money at their ruinous rate. The Wyoming was a little longer than her two sister boats, and was a little greater in towage. The waning trade on the Missouri forced her into hard times, and she was finally dismantled at Kansas City about 1899.”

Items in the UMSL Digital Library are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. The contents of the UMSL Digital Library are made publicly available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Although the nature of archival and manuscript materials sometimes makes it difficult to determine the copyright status of an item, it is the user's responsibility to use them according to all applicable terms. Please contact the contributing partner for additional information regarding copyright status of a particular digital image, text, data set, or sound or video recording.

p25-3-3-47

Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library