The barges, but rarely using sails, and receiving only an occasional impulse from their oars, descended the stream with a speed but little superior to that of the current. About the year 1795, seventy or eighty days were consumed in making the long and monotonous voyage from Pittsburg to New Orleans,[6] while in 1802, Michaux says that "the barges, in the Spring, usually take forty or fifty days to make the passage, which two or three persons in a pirogue make in twenty-five days."[7] The return voyage was not effected in less than four months.[8] The heavily laden boats were propelled against the strong current by poles, or where the stream was too deep to admit the use of those, drawn by ropes. The former process required the exertion of great strength and activity, but the latter was even more difficult and discouraging.[9] The first improvement in the navigation of the West, and in her commercial operations, was the introduction of barges moved by sails, when the wind permitted, and at other times, by oars, and setting poles, as the state of the water might require.[10] These vessels were constructed to carry from fifty to one hundred tons. In wet seasons, if properly manned, they could make two trips, between Cincinnati and New Orleans in a year. The increased quantity of cargo they carried, reduced the price of freight, and enabled them to transport from New Orleans to Cincinnati at from five to six dollars per hundred, which was below the average charge of carriage across the mountains.[11] From that time most of the groceries and other imported articles used in the Territory were brought up the river by those barges, and as the price of freight was reduced, the quantity of produce shipped was proportionately increased. The project was suggested and carried into operation, by two commercial houses in Cincinnati. The vessels continued in use until about the year 1817.[12] Previous to this year, the whole commerce from New Orleans to the "upper country" was carried on in about twenty barges, averaging one hundred tons each, and making but one trip in the year.[13] In 1811, the barge Cincinnati, arrived at Cincinnati. This was the first rigged vessel that ever arrived at this town from below. "She is 100 feet keel, 16 feet beam, rigged sloop fashion, and burthen 64 tons. She was warped over the falls by eighteen men in half a day."[14] At this time, 50 days in ascending to the mouth of the Ohio was considered a good voyage.[15]