134 NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 



to port ; and the Philadelphia, of 300 tons, made the passage in 9 days 9^ 

 hours, the computed distance being 1650 miles. These are the quickest 

 trips made. There are now in operation on the waters west of the Al- 

 leghany Mountains 140 or 145 boats. We had last spring (1826), a very 

 high freshet, which came 4^ feet deep in the counting-room. The rise was 

 57 feet 3 inches perpendicular." 



The whole of the steam-boats of which you have an account did not 

 perform voyages to New Orleans only, but to all points on the Missis- 

 sippi, and other rivers which fall into it. I am certain that since the 

 above date the number has increased, but to what extent I cannot at 

 present say. 



When steam-boats first pUed between Shippingport and New Orleans, 

 the cabin passage was a hundred dollars, and a hundred and fifty dollars 

 on the upward voyage. In 1829, I went down to Natchez from Shipping- 

 port for twenty-five dollars, and ascended from New Orleans on board 

 the Philadelphia, in the beginning of January 1830, for sixty dollars, 

 having taken two state-rooms for my wife and myself. On that voyage 

 we met with a trifling accident, which protracted it to fourteen days ; 

 the computed distance being, as mentioned above, 1650 miles, although 

 the real distance is probably less. I do not remember to have spent a 

 day without meeting with a steam-boat, and some days we met several. I 

 might here be tempted to give you a description of one of these steamers 

 of the western waters, but the picture having been often drawn by abler 

 hands, I shall desist. 



