Paddle Wheel

by MacMullen

Highly fascinating history of early steamships used in the bays and rivers of California, Arizona and Nevada in the 100 year period from the Gold Rush through WWII, with narrative accounts of firms, personalities, and facilities in the business of transporting passengers and freight in the West A vast deal of important historical data is included in this text. This is a fascinating and romantic lore about the rivers, about the steamers themselves, about the river men, and they were men in those days and is Illustrated by the author. Paddle steamers California. Steam navigation California Sacramento River. Steam navigation California San Joaquin River. "One of the most entertaining and witty examples of historical writing about California to be found." Steamboats of the California Rivers (Listing); California Steamboat Builders; Table of Distances, River Landings; California Ferry Vessels (Listing); and Changes of Name, Ferry Vessels. The steam vessels in California, first hand account. Foreword by Phil Townsend Hanna. Here is a comprehensive history of the inland steamers, gathered from scattered bits of printed material and from personal accounts of the river men. While stressing the steamers of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, the author has not overlooked the Colorado River boats and those which plied the various creeks around San Francisco Bay. Includes a chapter on ferries. List of river steamers and ferries. A paddle steamer is a steamship or boat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans. Modern paddle wheelers may be powered by diesel engines. The paddle wheel is a large wheel, built on a steel framework, upon the outer edge of which are fitted numerous paddle blades

157 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1970