Steamboats Impractical in an Age of Railroads

Steamboat Red Cloud, 1873-1882. NSHS RG4997-69

The “Golden Age” of steamboating on the Missouri River was between 1850 and 1860. The outbreak of the Civil War slowed steamboat traffic on the lower Missouri. Although it resumed after the war, it was becoming clear by the 1880s that the days of the steamboat were numbered due partly to competition from the expanding rail network. In 1890 high railroad freight rates caused some to propose a revival of steamboat traffic. The Omaha Bee on April 24, 1890, interviewed several men who had been associated with early steamboating on the Missouri. Most expressed the opinion that steamboats could not compete with railroads in freight rates. The Bee said:

“Charles B. Rustin, Captain Marsh, G. W. Copeland, [and] Harry Deuel, who were in the early days engaged in this packet business on the raging Missouri, tell great stories of the troublesome times they had. They think that the changed condition of things would make it [moving freight by steamer] much more difficult sailing now.” Copeland believed “there is no use talking of river navigation nowadays above St. Louis. You can’t make it pay. . . . Missouri river navigation is very dangerous, and expensive. The channel is there for light traffic, but I have seen the best boats we had get badly stuck trying to pull two barges up stream Very often we were compelled to go ashore and tie up for three and four hours at a time.”

This steamboat has run aground and broken up. From Hiram Martin Chittenden, History of Early Steamboat Navigation on the Missouri River (New York, 1903). NSHS RG2593.PHO

Rustin also believed that restoring steamboat traffic to compete with railroads would be prohibitively expensive. Harry Deuel considered it a “reckless undertaking” and said: “I ran on the river six years and know something about its condition. There might be three months in the year that it would be navigable.Then, what are you going to do the balance of the time? Boats can’t go up or down when there is ice to contend with and there is no use trying to make it appear that there are no sand bars. Get stuck on them as often as I have been and you’l[l] find out.”

The veteran steamboat men nevertheless had some favorable memories of their glory days. Copeland recalled the “enormous rates” received for moving freight and passengers, with pilots paid from $800 to $1,000 a month.

More recollections of life on the Missouri, by steamboat captain David L. Keiser, who began his career in 1856, are online at the Nebraska State Historical Society’s website, along with other articles from past issues of Nebraska History magazine. – Patricia C. Gaster, Assistant Editor / Publications

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

Yutan Tornado – March 23, 1913

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.