Mountain Boats on the Missouri
In addition to commercial goods, steamboats carried passengers and their personal belongings out West. Travelling via water, as opposed to land, reduced travel time and fares. Ticket prices could be further reduced if the emigrant selected second-class deck passage, opting out of a cabin and meals, which could be as low as % of a first class ticket (see Corbin 2000). The affordability of steamboat travel made it an appealing and accessible option for a diversity of individuals. Single and married men made the journey in the hope of increasing their prosperity, married women with children traveled to reunite with their husbands, and occassionally single women venture West with independent aspirations. Among the many male Bertrand passengers were at least three women with children and two single sisters.