Interview with Carlton Morrison, February 7, 2014

Partial Transcript: We're here today, talking with Carlton Morrison...

Segment Synopsis: Morrison shares the history of steam boating along the Ocmulgee River. He describes the competition between steamboats and poleboats along the Ocmulgee River.

Keywords: Altamaha, River; Macon, Georgia; Ocmulgee River; Poleboats; Running the River: Poleboats, Steamboats & Timber Rafts on the Altamaha, Ocmulgee, Oconee & Ohoopee; The North Carolina; The Pioneer

Partial Transcript: How heavy a load could a poleboat take...

Segment Synopsis: Morrison talks about the mechanical limitations of the poleboat. He shares how the emergence of railroads in the 1840's proved to be the end of steamboat transportation.

Keywords: Georgia Central Railway; Hawkinsville, Georgia; poleboat; steamboats

Partial Transcript: The early steamboats were very susceptible to explosions...

Segment Synopsis: Morrison discusses the susceptibility of steamboats to explosions. He describes the explosion of the steamboat, The Charles Hartidge. Morrison lists steamboats that ran on along the Ocmulgee River and Altamaha River. He talks about Hawkinsville's ownership of the Mary Fisher, a steamboat that ran routes along the Ocmulgee River.

Keywords: Daisy; J.C. Stewart; Mary Fisher; Silver Springs; The Charles Hartridge; explosions

Partial Transcript: Another thing to discuss in recording steamboat...

Segment Synopsis: Morrison talks about the use of steamboats for leisure excursions in the 1800's along the Ocmulgee. He then describes the history of toll boats on the river. Morrison shares the timeline of steamboat use along the Ocmulgee and talks about the use of steamboats by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Keywords: Army Corps of Engineers; Ocmulgee River; excursion; toll boat

Partial Transcript: By the way, those are...

Segment Synopsis: Morrison describes images of the boats utilized by the Army Corps of Engineers to create channels along the Ocmulgee River. He then shares the reason behind channel construction projects along the Ocmulgee and Altamaha.

Keywords: US Army Corps of Engineers; channel construction; railroads; railway

Partial Transcript: In 1896, a spokesman for the plant railroad system...

Segment Synopsis: Morrison describes the effect of river channel construction on railroad transportation. He then shares the history of steamboat captain John L. Day and lists major boat stops along the Ocmulgee River.

Keywords: Doctortown, Georgia; Hawkinsville Deepwater Boat Lines; Hawkinsville, Georgia; John L. Day; Lumber City, Georgia; Macon, Georgia

Partial Transcript: In the steamboat days...

Segment Synopsis: Morrison talks about the additional development that came with the emergence of port cities. He then shares an excerpt from his book summarizing steamboat history. Morrison recalls how he became interested in steamboat history through his father's work as a timber raftsman.

Keywords: Hawkinsville, Georgia; Raftsmen of the Altamaha; farming; timber rafting

Partial Transcript: How would they form the timber into the rafts...

Segment Synopsis: Morrison describes the details of timber rafting and compares the rafts created by different companies along the Ocmulgee. He then talks about the murder of John C. Forsyth after land disputes fueled by Dodge's Land Company. Morrison explains the lack of steamboat traffic control along the Ocmulgee.

Keywords: Dodge County, Georgia; Dodge's Land Company; John C. Forsyth; timber rafting

Partial Transcript: There was a boat collision...

Segment Synopsis: Morrison lists the names of Poleboats along the Ocmulgee. He then shares a newspaper excerpt that discusses the demise of steamboats used in Hawkinsville, Georgia in the late 1800's.

Keywords: Hawkinsville, Georgia; transportation; trucks