Gunnison Gazette | 1916-12-29 | Page 1 | First Lake Steamships

First Lake Steamships. The first steamboats on the Great Lakes were launched a century ago, in 1816, on Lake Ontario. The craft operated by steam were constructed In that year on the shores of Lake Ontario On-tario the Ontario, built at Sacketfs Harbor, N. Y., and the Frontenac, wbjclj was launched at Ernesttown, Canada. The Frontenac was one of the finest steamboats afloat at that period. It cost $75,000 and was 700 tons burden, Its length of dock being 170 feet. Tho Frontenac was placed in operation in 1817, making three round trips each month from Kingston to York and Niagara. Ni-agara. Capt. James McKenzle, who had had experience in the British navy, was placed in command. The Frontenac Fronte-nac was in service on Lake Ontario for ten years, and soon had several rivals for the lake trade. A fare of $15 was charged from Kingston to Niagara for first-class passengers, but deck passen-. gers were carried for $3.75 a head. Tho freight rate was 'four shillings per bar-rel bar-rel bulk." The first steamboat on Lake Erie was the Walk-in-the-Water, which was launched at Black Rock, near Buffalo, in 1818.