Otherwise a “Kentucky boat,” or a “flat boat.”
1802. A safe and easy Navigation is made for Arks and Rafts, with any tolerable head of water, from Columbia to Tidewater.—Intelligencer, Feb. 17 (Lancaster, Pa.).
1803. These boats are generally called “Arks;” and are said to have been invented by Mr. Krudger, on the Juniata, about ten years ago.—Thaddeus M. Harris, ‘Journal of a Tour,’ April 14 (Boston, 1805, p. 30–1).
1810. Wheat and other grain can be brought down the [Susquehanna] river, in boats or arks, and landed at the mill-door, from whence flour can be transported in boats or arks to Havre-de-grace and Baltimore.—Advt., Lancaster (Pa.) Journal, March 3.
1817. “Arks,” of which hundreds are on the [Ohio] river.—M. Birkbeck, ‘Journey to America,’ p. 50 (Phila.).
1817. In the course of this day, we passed no fewer than thirteen arks, or Kentucky boats, going with produce to [New] Orleans.—John Bradbury, ‘Travels,’ p. 198.
1817. The usual price is $75. for each, which will accommodate three or four families, as they carry from 25 to 30 tons; and it frequently happens that the ark can be sold for nearly what it cost, six or eight hundred miles lower down.—Id., p. 317.
1820. The River [Ohio] is navigated by Steam Boats, Barges, Keel Boats, Flats Boats or Arks, Skiffs, Pirogues, Rafts, &c.—Western Review, Jan. (Lexington, Ky.).
1821. There is no raft nor ark, that descends the Susquehanna, that can possibly be worked through this canal.—Penna. Intelligencer, June 8 (Harrisburg).
1823. A great quantity of flour and other produce has been carried down [the Susquehanna] in arks and keel-boats.—Lancaster (Pa.) Journal, April 4.
1829. Like Noah, the captain had housed his all in an ark, called in our Western language a flat-boat.—Shields, ‘Life of Prentiss,’ p. 31 (1884).
1855. The returning crews of these leviathan arks of our Western wealth generally follow their leader.—Knick. Mag., xlvi. 592 (Dec.).
