A canal boat from the era of the Canal Company. The boat is probably on its return journey since it is not very low in the water. There are sacks piled on the hatch covers.
This picture is of a loaded canal boat on its way to Georgetown to unload its cargo of coal. In the early years of the canal agricultural shipments dominated the canal but after 1850 when the canal reached Cumberland and the coal mines of western Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, coal would dominate the waterways.
Occasionally when the boat was loaded the boatman used a tow pole to keep the tow line higher. Notice the pole at the front of the boat (Hooper Wolfe)
This picture is of two empty, or “light”, boats. On the berm side is one of the small passenger boats that carried vacationers wishing to enjoy the water and wilderness of the canal. It was fairly frequent to have two boats traveling together for companionship between families or possibly very large families that ran two boats during the Canal Towage Company years.
Hebb's boat #6 in Big Slackwater.
Canal Boat 8
Alexandria, Feb 11, 1852
Mr. Stephen P. Grove
Dear Sir
Your letter of Feb 9th 1852 we recd this morning. We will take for one of our boats $900 - $300 Cash- balance paid in 6 & 9 mos. bearing[?] interest with security. This is the best we can do. We have been offered not far from that amt already - We apprehend no difficulty in getting that price.
Yrs Respy
Waters & Zimmerman
Alexandria, Feby 6, 1852
Mr. S. P. Grove
Dear Sir
Large loads
Two of the largest loads received by Canal Boats at Georgetown, were brought upon the "Jacob Snively" and the "H. Allen", the former loaded with 981 barrels and the latter with 850.
Copy
See Register of Canal Boats, C&O Canal, 1873-1876 and 1878 for the transcripts of these registers created by William Bauman.