The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-05-31

attempt to apply steam power to the propell-
ing of vessels BY Fulton in 1903 nearly Mree-
fourths Of century ago I Let the sceptic
stand upon the banks of the Hudson now,
and see the superb and swift palace of motion
shoot past one after the other like gay and
chasing meteors, and then read poor Fulton's
account of his first experiment and never
throw discouragement on the kindling fire Of
genius.
when was building my first steamboat,
said he to Judge Story, "the project was
viewed by the public at New York either with
indifference to contempt as visionary
scheme. Ny friends, indeed, were civil, but
they were shy. They listened with patience
to my explanations, but with settled cast of
occasion to pass daily to and from the build
ing yard while the boat was in progress, I
often loitered, unknown, near the idle groups
of strangers gathered in little circles, and
heard various inquiries as to the object Of this
new vehicle. The language was uniformly
that of scorn, or ridicule. The loud laugh
rose at my expense tile dry jest, the wise
calculation of loses and expenditure, the dull
but endless repetition of The Fulton Folly
Never did a single encouraging remark, a
bright hope, or a warm wish, cross my path"
AT length the boat was finished, and the
day arrived, when the trial was to be made.
To me it was most trying and interesting
occasion. invited many friends to go on
board and witness the first. successful trip
Many Of them did me the hon,r to attend, as
a matter of personal respect but it was mani
fest they did it with reluctance, feignipg to be
partners Of my modification, and not of my
triumph. | was well aware that, in many
cases, there were many reasons to doubt my
success. The machinery was new, and i'll
made, and many parts Of it were constructed
by mechanics nnacquainted with such work.,
and unexpected difficulties might reasonably
be presumed to present themselves from other
causes. The moment arrived in which the
word was to be given for the vessel to move.
My friends stood. in groups on the deck. /
read in their looks nothing but disaster. and
almost repented of my efforts. The signal
was given, and the boat moved on short dis
tance, and then stopped and became imnov-
able.
To the silence Of the preceding moment,
now succeeded murmurs Of discomfort and
agitation, whispers, and shrugs. | elevated
myself on platform, and stated 1 knew not
what was the matter, but if they would be
quiet, and indulge me for half an hour,
would either go on, or abandon the voyage.
went below, and at once discovered that a
slight-mal. adjustment was the cause of the
stopping. 1t was obyiated, and the boat went
on we left New York we passed through
the highlands we reached Albany. Yet,
even then, Imagination superseded the force
of fact. II aods doubted IF IL could be done
again or if it could be made, in any case, of
any great udIue.'
What an affecting picture Of the struggles
of great mind, and what vivid lesson Of
encouragement to genius, are contained in
this simple narrative If Fulton and his then
doubling friends could witness non, tue
triumphs of steam on the Hudson and the
Mississippi, the Ganges, the Indus, the
Thames, the Tigeris; the Nile, and across the
broad bosoms of the two great oceans, how
different would be the sensations of both from
those by which they were animated on the
first experimental voyage
The shores Of the Hudson are decked with
many fiourishing cities and towns, some of
which marks the spot Of remarkable event
that occurred in the time Of the Revolution.
New York, located at its terminus, on the
Island of Manhattan, and the metropolis Of
America, is naturally place to which the at
tention of strangers Is strongly directed. A
visit to New York is among the things that
every person in the country ought to accom-
pish at least once in life time Travellers
from other countries are every year on in
creasing tendency to become acquainted with
the Empire City Of the Republic.
What London is to England, or Paris to
France, New York is to America. From this
great centre radiate, by telegraph, by streams,
and railroads. new fashions and follies, daily,
to the extremities of the Union and what is
said or done is sought after with eagerness by
the fourty millions of freemen. No CITY in
the world possesses greater advantages for
foreign commerce and inland trade. In addi-
tion to the main sea approach through the
udrrOWS 10 Tie udfDOE, LIE cnduueI through
East River TO Long Island Sound, and the
Hudson River, two long lines of canals have
increased its advantages, and connected it
with the remote west, and have rendered it
the great mart of vast region, now occupied
by industrious millions, while it's railroad
facilities of communications with every quart
er have made it the great mercantile centre of
Che nation. Its progress in population, trade,
and wealth, has probably never been equaled.
In 1900, the population was but 10000 !;
present population about 100000.
Manhattan Island is about fourteen miles
in length, and averages, perhaps, one and a
half miles in breadth. Its greatest breadth is
at Eighty-Sixth street, where it is two miles
and aquarter. Hudson River bounds It ON the
west, East River on the east, while on the
north it is separated from the main land by
Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvel Creek. In
its natural state the surface was somewhat
billy and marshy, but these inequalities have
been reduced to an almost complete level in
that portion occupied by the city, the ground
having merely gentle slope on each side
t.<x, DE- n. ~