The history of the flat-boat comes down within the present generation, for as late as the beginning of the Civil War flat-boating was common on the Ohio River. In the early day the flat-boat was the sign of immigration; not so in the later day. The flat-boats of the fifties bore cargoes to the southern ports, or cargoes to be retailed along the Mississippi River plantations. Any enterprising man who owned or could build a "flat," bought up the crops of his neighborhood, put them aboard, and was ready to start on the "fall rise." Flat-boats were loaded at the bow--sometimes through trapdoors in the roof--the cargo stored away in the hold. For through freight, apples and potatoes were the staples. If it was intended to "coast" (peddle the cargo to the plantations) the freight also included cider, cheese, pork, bacon, and even cabbage. Apple and peach brandy was a most profitable investment; especially if apple brandy, with a few peaches in it, could be palmed off on the thirsty darkies as peach brandy. A yellow page of an old account-book of 1858 leaves record that the proprietor of one "flat" purchased the entire product of a neighboring farm and took it south that fall. The items and their cost price on shore is interesting: 350 bu. wheat @ $1.05 per bu. $367.50 208 bbls potatoes @ 2.05 per bbl. 426.40 17 bbls seed potatoes @ 1.2 5 per bbl 21.25 20 hogs, 6086 lbs. @ 4.33 per hundred 263.52 5 bbls beans 15.25 9 bbls & 13-1/2 lbs. sauer-Kraut 66.87 Portion of a flat boat 70.00 --------- $1,230.79 A yearly cash income of $1,230.79 would make many a farmer of our day contented. The proprietor of the flat-boat left on his three thousand mile trip taking only a couple of farm hands with him as crew. They lived in the stern of the boat under the same roof that sheltered the cargo, but separated by a partition. It was all clear sailing, night and day. Almost the only work was to keep the craft in the current. Several miles above the "falls" at Louisville, pilots would be found in skiffs ready to climb aboard and steer the "flat" down the rapids for ten dollars or less. If the cargo was intended for the coasting trade, business began at the first large plantations. This was in the day of overseers who liberally patronized these "coasters," giving in payment drafts on New Orleans. The darkies were, in some cases, allowed to make their own purchases; they did not neglect the liquor, often exchanging molasses for brandy even, gallon for gallon. Upon arriving at his destination, the proprietor sold his remaining stock and boat, invested his money in sugar and molasses, and embarked with his freight on a packet for home. Thus two profits were cleared.