Polynesian., 1858-05-22
Gbe 1Dolpnesian.
Steamboats, half a Century ago.

Steamboats, half a Century ago.
Familiar as most of us have been from infancy
with steam navigation, it is hard for US to realize
that less than fifty years ago, successful steam
boat had never been seen, and its projectors were
regarded and treated as lunatics.
In a report recorded in the Transactions of the
American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia,
dated May %, 1903. We are told that
During the general lassitude of mechanical
exertion, which succeeded the American Revolu-
ton, the utility Of steam engines appears to have
been forgotten, but the subject afterward started
into very general notice, in form in which it
could not possibly be attended to with much sue
cess. A sort of mania began to prevail, which in
deed has not yet entirely subslded, for impelling
boats by steam engines.
"There are indeed, general objections to the use
of the steam engine for impelling boats, from
which no particular mode Of application can be
free. These are:
First-The weight of engine and fuel.
Second-The large space it occupies.
Third-The tendency OF its action to rack the
vessel, and render it leaky.
=" Fourth-The expense of maintenance.
Fifth-the irreguarity of its motion, and the
motion of the water in the boiler and cistern, and
Of the fuel vessel in rough water.
Sixth-the difficulty arising from the liabilities
Of the paddles or oars TO break if light, and from
the weight if made strong
The New York Legislature, in March, 1898, pass
ed an act vesting Mr.. Livingston with the exclusive
right for twenty years of navigating all kinds of
fire or steamboats, on all the waters within the ju-
risdiction of the State of New York, on condition
that he should within one year build such a boat,
the average of whose progress should not be less
than four miles an hour.
Dr. Mitchell, of New York City, who introduced
this bill, writes to a friend: Upon this question
the wags and the lawyers in the house were gen.
orally opposed to my bill. l had to encounter all
their Jokes and the whole of their logic. One
main ground of their objection was, that it was an
idle and whimsical project unworthy of Legislative
attention"
Senator L'Hommidin states also that Mr.. Liv-
ingston's application a standing subject of rid
icule throughout the session, and whenever there
was disposition in any of the younger members
to indulge little levity, they would call up the
steamboat bil'' that they might divert themselves
at the expense of the project and its advocates.
In the spring of 1907, the first Fulton boat built
in this country, was launched from the ship yards
of Charles Brown, on the East River. The engine
from England was put on board of her; in August
she was completed, and was moved by her machin-
ery from her birthplace to the Jersey shore.
This boat, which was called the C2ermOnt, soon
after sailed from dock near the State Prison,
for Albany. 1t is announced in the papers of that
date that the boat built by Messrs. Livingston and
Fulton, with view 20 the navigation OF the Mis-
sissippi River, would depart for Albany in the
afternoon. 1t was not then conceived that steam
boats could be proftably employed as packet boats
between New York and Albany.
In letter to his friend Mr.. Barlow, giving an
account of his first voyage, Fulton says
"My steamboat voyage to Albany and back, has
turned out rather moro favorable than l expected.
The distance from New York to Albany is one hun
dred and fifty miles. l ran it up in thrty-two
hours and down in twenty. | had light breeze
against me the whole way, hOth going and coming,
and we overlook many sloops and schooners beat
ing to windward and parted with them as if they
had been at anchor.
:" The morning left New York, there were not
perhaps thirty persons in the city who believed
that the boat would even move mile per hour,
and while We were putting off from the wharf, |
heard number of sarcastic remarks.
" Although the prospect of personal emolument
has been some inducement to me, yet feel Infinite
ly more pleasure in rejecting on the immense ad-
vantage that my country will derive from the in
ventiOn."
How little did he dream that Z" the only patri-
money of his children would be that load of debt
which their parent contracted in pursuits that
ought to command the gratitude as they do the ad-
miratiOn of mankind
How little did he forsee that in less than half a
century, hundreds of vessels. some of them meas
uring thousands of tons, would be propelled by
his invention, at race horse speed, across every
ocean, well along every navigdbe river in the
world.
"So cities claimed the Homer dead,
Thro' which the living Homer begged his bread"
Albany Statesman.