The Mighty Mississippi River has been important to commerce for a long time. A hundred years ago we shipped our apples to St. Louis on them. Many meat products were packed with salt and shipped by riverboat as well. Also coal, sacks of grain, flour, salt, lumber and even machinery. I cannot tell what the cargo is in this picture. This photo was taken near our farm as the riverboat headed upstream with at least three barges.

This must have been one of the earliest combines used to harvest small grains such as wheat and oats. Notice that this is towed by a very old tractor.

In 1923, steam powered theshing machines were the only way to harvest wheat, oats, rye and other small grains. Obviously it was a hot dirty job. Now we sit in air conditioned comfort!