American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-20
America and the old world.

richly merits.
America and the Old World.
We should scarcely be excused by our read
ers, and should certainly not be excusable to
ourselves, if we omitted to mention some other
evidences that our countrymen possess ga de-
cisive talent for one art or science in particu-
lar" To enumerate very great part of these
evidences would lead us through the whole cir
Gle of patented inventions in our country, and
require the labor Of lifetime. But we ought
not to omit the vastly important invention OF
steamboats,, for which the world is indebted to
Robert Fulton, native of Pennsylvania, and
citizen of the United States of North America.
This invention was as great stride OF improve
ment 1--WE mean also as difficulty as Watts
Improvement on the steam-engines OF the Mar
quis of Worcester, Slavery, and Newcomer. The
idea of forward propulsion, in continuity, by
means Of steam-power, was as difficult to real
ize after Watts Improvement, as his improve
ment after the inventions Of the others. The
genius Of Fulton was adequate to this; and
amidst multitude of discouragements, and
very general incredulity, he was successful in
putting his scheme into operation on the Hud-
son river in 1907. In Niles's Register of that
year may be found most interesting account
Of this first application of the power Of steam
in propelling steamboats, at least the first ap
plication in which the steamboat was endued
with powers Of practical utility. We know Of
noindiyidual Of the Old World who has contested
Fulton's claim to this invention; certainly none
has done it successfully. In this very useful
invention, therefore, an American has shown
81 decisive talent for science in particular. !"
From the propulsion of boats by steam on
the smooth surface of water, the transition was
easy to the idea of propelling wagon, or
some vehicle bearing strong likeness to
wagon, by land. To produce a surface suffi-
GENTLY smooth to allow the propulsive power of
steam to take effect was now the great desider-
alum. But this was, in the actual advanced
state of physical science, not near SO difficult
rs to invent the steamboat. The locomotive
followed therefore, naturally, the invention Of
the steamboat Mr.. Stevenson, an Englishman,
has, we believe, the honor Of this invention.
Railroads win never supersede steamboats,, but
they viii appropriate large part, probably
more than half, of the inland transportation to
themselves.
And in the construction of steamboats, and
locomotives, the Americans have shown "a de-
cisiye talent for these arts in particular" Their
artizans construct both the one and the other
with as much skill as any artizans on the globe.
Who have built that feet of steamers that now
stem so magnifcently the waters of the Pacific
Who have done this in time almost as brief as
lovers wishes call for american artizans
Who have planned and constructed the railways
themselves of the United States, by far the
greatest in extent in the world? American
men of science have planned and superintendent,
and American artizans have constructed them.
An enlightened Emperor called the American
Whistler to the northernmost corner Of Europe
to construct his great railroad from st. Peters.
burg to Moscow, and when he died, Brown
another American, receives and accepts magni.
fcent (but not too great emoluments to fill
his place. The genius of Peter the Great SUBJ
mitted to toll under the tuition of the artizans
of Zaandam, that he might introduce the use
full arts into his country the sagacity and pru-
dence of the present Emperor employ an Amer
lean engineer to construct q highway for the
commerce Of his country, and the world APP
proves the wisdom of the measure adopted by
each.
We may confidently ask, who excel the Ameri
cans in the art of building steamerss WIZ
mrpasses their constructors and artizans il
bodybuilding? Whence come those swift clip
pers that approach steam on many occasions il
the rapidity of their voyages? Americans, BY
applying their genius to ga particular art OF
SCIENCE" that Of misunderstanding, that o
steamship building, or that Of building ships un
der canvas, respectively, have achieved all thes
things; and it is not probable, by any means
that they win soon lose the genius and skill the
possess in these departments of knowledge
There is no way, even, by which it can be prac
tically diminished but by our yielding unde
the impulses Of the mad ambition of individual
10 the syren arts Of European Governments
who would divide and conquer US, by inducin
M to initiate their policy Of frequent wars an
oppressive taxes, or by splitting up into mum
ber Of petty principalities and powers, like tn
small sovereignties of Italy or Germany.
with Union, under the compromise spirit {
our fathers, and of our good and wise men sinc'
our movement is onpard and nppard--both o
land and ocean ; on land, to subdue the wilde,
ness, to spread a network Of internal improve
ments, to exalt education, to equalize and dis
tribute the blessings Of life by wise laws justl
administered, by forbearanoe, by kindness, b
patience TO redress in q good degree the evil
which general laws cannot wholly remove; OF
the ocean, 70 send forth ships, whether moved
BY steam or canvas, frcighted with the products
Of industry TO make friendly commercial ex
changes and cherish the good win Of nation !,
ustion--to maintain the honor Of that Gag who's
UniteJ stars and stripes have been the emblem .