Fifty years on the Mississippi; or, Gould's history of river navigation : Containing a history of the introduction of steam as a propelling power on ocean, lakes and rivers--the first steamboats on the Hudson, the Delaware, and the Ohio rivers--navigation of western rivers before the introduction of steam--character of the early navigators--description of first steamboats--steamboat New Orleans in 1811, and sixty consecutive boats, when and where built--their effect upon the settlement of the valley of the Mississippi--character and speed of boats at different periods--appropriations by Congress for the improvement of western water ways-- floods in the Mississippi valley for 150 years--Mississippi river commission and its work. Rapid increase and decline of river transportation. Causes of the decline--destruction of steamboats on western waters--biographies of prominent steamboatmen--illustrated by photographs and cuts of steamboats at different periods