Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/316

299 EARLY RIVEK NAVIGATION. 299 'Just one little incident of this county: In 1837 an Indian mission was built near Highland. This mission grew until a magnificent structure was erect- ed 87x170 feet, three stories and basement. But here is what is desired to record: The lumber to build the mission came from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and made an exact steamer load. Starting from Pitts- burgh, it came down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Alton, and thence up the Missouri to the river bank opposite the mission, where it was discharged. This county originally was occupied by the Indians as a reservation, and in 1842 at this mission an Indian grammar for the loway, Otoe and Missouri Indians was printed, the work containing 152 pages. Is it not marvelously strange that in 1837 a boat- load of building material was transported so long a distance, and now there is nothing of the kind! The query naturally arises, Why not? Just because the railroads of our country have throttled every enter- prise which attempted to use our waterways in com- petition: for such natural highways can be used for heavy freight at one-half the cost that the iron roads charge. Take a look at the map and convince your- self what a trip it was. It cannot be conceived unless the route is traced from Pittsburgh down the Ohio river to its mouth, where it empties into the Missis- sippi at Cairo about 1,200 miles; then up the Missis- sippi to the moulh of the Missouri, which is about twenty miles north of St. Louis, is another 200 mUes: then up the Missouri to Highland, Doniphan county, Kansas, is another 700, or a total of abont 2,000 miles, traversing the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas.