The First Use of a Steamboat to push 

 and handle a Rait 



There has been much discussion over this matter. I 

 have heard all the witnesses and it is plain in the evi- 

 dence that they agree on these facts, viz. : 



First. That several steamboats, some of them quite 

 large, like the "Kentucky II," the "Minnesota," and 

 others, had shoved rafts through the Saint Croix and 

 Pepin lakes for years, even prior to i860. 



But these boats were made fast to the raft usually by 

 spreading the strings at the stern to let the boat one-half 

 or two-thirds her length down into the raft so she could 

 be held there. 



She could push a large raft or sometimes several 

 rafts through either lake in ten or twelve hours. She 

 could back, kill its headway and land the raft where 

 there was current. But the oars manned by a strong 

 crew, especially on the bow, were depended on to direct 

 the course ; and the boat was always let go at the foot of 

 Lake Pepin. 



Second. That the first effort or trial to use a steam- 

 boat to tow and direct a raft below Lake Pepin was 

 made by Captain George Winans when in September, 

 1863, he chartered the little side-wheel Chippewa river 

 packet "Union" for seven dollars a day; hitched her 

 into a lumber raft at Reads Landing and started for 

 Hannibal, Missouri. Fortunately he had secured a full 

 crew of raftmen to man all the oars for he soon needed 

 them. 



