Montana "high water" at St. Charles Bridge, 1880. Comments on photo by Dr. E.B. Trail. Designed by Captain John Todd for the mountain trade (Fort Benton, Montana). These three great boats were the supreme achievement as great carriers on shallow water. Had they been on the Missouri about 1866, each could easily have made $100,000 clear on a favorable trip to Fort Benton. They arrived about a dozen years too late to reap the "Golden Harvest" in the long runs in the mountain trade to Fort Benton - Written by E.B. Trail - Dr. E.B. Trail (Steamboat) Collection
