Steamboats on the Apalachicola River

Steamboats on the Apalachicola River. . Steamboat travel began on the Apalachicola River in 1827 with the arrival of the steamboat Fannie. For the next 120 years, hundreds of boats would ply the Apalachicola-Flint-Chattachoochee River system (ACF) transporting people and goods between Apalachicola and Columbus, Georgia and profoundly influencing the growth and development of the entire region. , , Steamboat travel was initially driven by the thriving cotton boom. In 1828, 496 bales of cotton were shipped on the Apalachicola and by 1830, more than 5,000 bales were being shipped by steamboat. (Bass, When Steamboats Reigned in Florida ) , , Between 1829 and 1930, there were reportedly more than 200 riverboats operating on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, Flint River system (ACF). During that time, sixty four steamboats listed Apalachicola as their home port. Eight vessels were built in Apalachicola but most were built on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. (Rogers, At the Waters' Edge ) , , The steamboats were designed for both freight and passengers. Most were side-wheelers because they were more powerful and maneuverable than stern-wheelers and could be docked more easily. , , Steamboats on the Apalachicola transported a variety of cargo on her trips between Columbus and Apalachicola including cotton, lumber, furniture, dry goods, tools, business supplies, salt and seafood. , , From its inception, steamboat commerce provided a link to the outside world for all those who lived along or near the river. In Apalachicola, commercial river shipping was multi-faceted and consisted of receiving goods from upriver producers, shipping goods upriver to merchants and individuals, exporting and importing in the coastal trade and exporting and importing in the international trade. , , Unfortunately, Apalachicola's river shipping industry was not destined to last. By 1860, Apalachicola's shipping numbers had dwindled due to low river water levels caused by a lack of rain, inadequate vessel maintenance and removal of snags and obstructions. Limited funding to dredge the harbor and increasing competition from railroads also contributed to a decrease in the river shipping industry as did competition from the railroads leading from west Georgia to Savannah. , , Anatomy of a Steamboat , Steamboats navigated the river by means of a paddlewheel located at the stern or side. Steamboats featured flat shallow-draft hulls that enabled them to navigate the river even during times of low water. Hulls were usually made of oak or other water-resistant materials. , , Paddlewheelers featured wooden paddles that propelled the vessel through the water. The pilot steered the boat from the pilot house which was located high atop the boat for the best view of the river. , , Steamboat chimneys carried away smoke and soot and created a draft of air that caused the fire in the furnace to burn at a high temperature. Operating steamboats was an inexact science that demanded experience and nerves of steel. Maintaining appropriate water levels and steam pressure were critical. A sudden increase in pressure could, and often did, lead to catastrophic explosions. , , Many of the steamboats that operated on the Apalachicola River featured several decks each with its own purpose. The main deck carried cargo and the ship's machinery; the boiler deck contained passenger cabins and a central dining room; the Texas deck contained cabins for crew and the hurricane deck was the open deck where passengers could stroll and relax. , (captions) , Steamboat Queen City, Courtesy Florida State Archives , , Pictured above: Cotton was one of the first commodities shipped by steamboat on the Apalachicola River. Cotton, lumber and seafood exported from the steamboats like the the Shamrock. Courtesy Florida State Archives. , , Above: Steamboat W.C. Beadsley; Below: Steamboat George W. Miller. Courtesy, Florida State Archives. , , Scan the code to link to more Apalachicola history at www.Cityofapalachicola.com