Post Civil War Days

Steamboat building at once assumed large proportions and unheard-of-profits were said to have been derived from their operation. Some of the early boats returned to their owners net profits equaling two or three times their costs in one year. Huge earnings continued up to the outbreak of the War between the States. Since freight rate regulations were unknown, boat operators were free to make their own rates and the planters were glad to pay the price. The day of the slow, expensive method of handling freight by raft and flatboat was at an end.

In the early 1840's the railroad from Charleston to Atlanta was begun and by 1845 had connected those two cities. In 1851 the line was complete to Chattanooga , thus creating for the Coosa River valley markets in Chattanooga, Atlanta and Savannah. Rome became a great cotton market, and the Coosa River steamboats benefited immeasurably by that city's rail connections.

After the War Between the States the Coosa River Valley, like the rest of the South, was prostrate. Steamboating was recovering slowly, but surely, however.

In 1873 six boats plied the Coosa, bring 30,000 bales of cotton to Rome in a single season. The steamer Undine, arriving at that time, listed as its cargo 357 bales of cotton, 40,000 shingles, 625 pelts, 50 cowhides, 50 baskets of poultry, 200 bushels of corn, 250 bags of wheat, and 27 passengers.

Of the thirty-seven steamboats which plied the Coosa, the finest was the Magnolia. Close behind her was the Sidney P. Smith, Joel Marbable, John J. Seay, Clifford B. Seay and Alabama.

The Leota also was a beautiful boat, but she was a government steamer used only in connection with construction work, building locks and dams and handling dredges for improving channels.

thanks to Dennis Nordmen