New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-27

The gate at New-Orleans was scarcely ajar, ai,e'
the Louisiana Purchase i'm 1908. when the 9alssiS-
sippi Valley became problem too ueHie"u
be solved by the picturesque fatboatu'ah win N'7
pole alone The progues OF the Canadian Voy"se"iS'
with their Latin TIE Deums and French cna.,so '
had been replaced by keelbOats barges oatteaus
and broadhorn fatboats OF the Anglo-SaNoh Set'lei
OF the great valley. These craft toateo GOV" "''''
the currents. coming in many instances I'm IN, So
headwaters OF the Ohio. all laden Win inc MS
promises OF the great Central West Besides tue
valuable products of the Ohio region. the rapidiy
increasing cotton crops OF the Mississippi
we're alone becoming strenuous matters w" -
nonopov Of TRANSPORTATION in the hands OF the long
,oiaD,,p All unconscious of his undertaking as
ths cargo grew heavier the magnitude OF us I'M
portance more overwhelming. re simply toushe,'7V
his shoulder against his pole and pushed the haiuv'
r,bancelIor Livingston. of New-York. with ROBERT
I-rI,or had done a little experimenting with steam
navigation on the Seine when Mr. Livingston was
Minister to France and thew had afterwaro sue
ceeded in putting steam packet Oh tue 'iU'
vet that success by no means decided tne Pr9o .
bIl;tv Of steam on the great waters OF the " est
IN order 20 make the attempt on the ONO ana
,xt,-sinni rivers they found II necessary 10 asso
ciate with themselves spirit who SHOULD ne e9uai
q, the dangers and hardships OF the adventure, SS
well "a possessed of the ability 10 snare III @h's
,,nds-takinr This embodiment OF energy. courage
and capabilty Chancellor Livingston founo aihonS
bis own friends in the person of Nicholas r. Rouse
vs,t Of New-York OF the same family as the pres
emf President They put their heads together ana
decided to make the attempt to put on steam
nocket between New-Orleans and Natchez the ohiy
important points on the Mississippi OF that day
n was first necessary to make thorough inveStsa-
tion OF the channels. currents and general condi-
tions Of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers MI Roose-
Welt had decided tendency FOR mechanics, having
Invented vertical wheel which was used oy Liv-
ingston and Fulton. and he considered quailned
to superntend the building Of the boat and 10
encounter the brlnt OF the experiment by going
in her on her critical voyage This job Mr. Roose-
Welt cheerfully undertook aud entered upon It's
initial stages with ardOr.
He went to Pittsburg in lS09 ard hustled around
until he had built hatboat sufficiently large 10
accommodate the necessary attendants and crew
for making his investigation. In this queer boat
house he iioated off into the currents Of the Ohio
and Mississippi examining every feature OF those
great streams.
Mr. Roosevelt hospitality treated by the IN
habitants OF the towns and settlements along the
rivers but every believed him wild enthusiast.
undertaking an impossible task. The hatboatmen'
who knew the rivers best. had no faith in the
power of steam against the rush of waters, the
eddies and currents. The pioneer in the realms
Of steam however. with determination pushed
ahead. Finding coal the Ohio, his faith IN
his undertaking was so great that he purchased
a mine and arranged TO have the coal dug and
transported to the bank in readiness for the
passing OF the steamboat whose tmbers were yet