Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from History of the Yards, 1865-1953
Chlcago dld not have a natural harbor and the earhest lake boats had to anchor offshore The lake current was to the south and threw up a sand bar across the mouth of the r1ver so that 1t emptled mto the lake only after swmglng to the south a consxderable dlstance The government dredged across th1s sand bar and constructed breakwaters to keep a chan nel open so that lake vessels could enter the r1ver From then untll after the eastern rallroads entered the c1ty m 1852, Chlcago enjoyed a growmg lake traffic, by sall and steam boats, w1th the lumber camps of the North and the lake ports of the East durmg the open nav1gat10n season Some cattle were shlpped out allve on the Open decks of these boats, but most of the1r benefit was ln prov1d1ng a new outlet for preserved meats and hvestock products and brmglng m supplles Materlals for maklng barrels and t1erces, and salt were brought m by boat and unloaded on the mam stem and both branches of the r1ver where numerous slaughter and pack mg houses were bullt (the term packer IS Stlll used today although 1t has long s1nce lost lts or1g1nal meamng)
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