Steamboats

I find it interesting that the government did not undertake the project of trying to keep the Mississippi River clear of snags prior to Shreve's involvement. It didn't even have any interest in improving river navigation. That suprised me because of the dangerous nature of the river before clearing efforts began in earnest by Shreve. I am not sure whether it was too expensive a project for the federal government to undertake at the time, but the effects of Shreve's efforts were dramatic