tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post8067870437328764066..comments2024-03-09T13:49:36.566-06:00Comments on Prairie Bluestem: Boats on Little RiverGenevieve Netzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004780820713448880noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-73654460618297191072010-02-07T23:08:42.193-06:002010-02-07T23:08:42.193-06:00We often say that Little River runs through Hopkin...We often say that Little River runs through Hopkinsville, but that's only partly true. The North Fork of Little River goes through downtown Hopkinsville and Millbrooke. The South Fork of Little River runs through Trail of Tears Park and along Woodmill Road. (Greatly simplifying their routes, here.)<br /><br />When the North Fork and South Fork converge, they become Little River. That doesn't happen until the forks are a few miles southwest of Hopkinsville, near the intersection of Lafayette Road and Gary Lane.<br /><br />I think that during periods of high water, there would have been plenty of water to float a flatboat from the point where the two forks join -- and probably even from some points above. The flood levels in the North and South Forks weren't moderated by watershed lakes (as they are now.) A flatboat <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=NpDtAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA284#v=onepage&q=&f=false" rel="nofollow">only needed a few feet of water</a> anyway, even when loaded. River bends, low branches, and blockages were probably the greatest dangers, not running aground.<br /><br />I found quite a number of books with info about flatbook shipping. This book mentions <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=WtRUJZ6r58UC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64#v=onepage&q=&f=false%22" rel="nofollow">waiting for a flood</a> -- first full paragraph, right column. Here are more examples of <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=JzLN2GACaIYC&pg=PA57#v=onepage&q=&f=false" rel="nofollow">flatboats on small tributaries</a> and <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=uwdUAUB2WDMC&pg=PA213#v=onepage&q=&f=false" rel="nofollow">waiting for high water</a>. I also read (didn't keep the URL, sorry) that it was common to have community work days for clearing the rivers.Genevieve Netzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004780820713448880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-87445492607822639382010-02-07T17:32:40.245-06:002010-02-07T17:32:40.245-06:00With the amount of water in the river normally, i ...With the amount of water in the river normally, i find it hard to believe that it was used to move freight. Maybe closer to cadiz, but if you went by the water level at the park downtown, there would be a lot of getting out and pushing!!!<br /><br />JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-16465657685488328522010-02-07T09:00:55.360-06:002010-02-07T09:00:55.360-06:00Interesting article on the use of flatboats for mo...Interesting article on the use of flatboats for moving freight. The whole of the river systems in Kentucky is one that I would like to explore. Thanks -- barbaraFolkways Note Bookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07168881905408345126noreply@blogger.com