New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-13

secured the monopoly OF steam navigation over
the waters Of New-York.
On Friday. August II, the citizens were
amazed TO see the Clermout coming back again.
They didn't believe she had made the trip to
Albany, but Fulton published an official and
sworn statement in the newspapers that he
had reached Clermont in exactly twenty-four
hours, had rested there overnight, and proceeded
20 Albany which he reached in eight hours. on
Wednesday. that he started from Albany on
Thursday at 0 a. m. stopped one hour at Cler-
mont and proceeded TO New-York. accomplish
ing the trip OF a hundred and fifty miles coming
down In Just thirty hours. fulfilling the terms OF
the act OF the legislature. Within four years the
Clermont was improved ard enlarged. and its
name changed to the North River. Two other
boats were also added 10 what was desis-
mated the Albany Line. the Car of Neptune and
the Paragon. each larger than its predecessor
and Astounding in improvements.
But FuItons success was too marked. and his
prosperity was watched 10y envious eyes Legal
difficulties touching his right exclusively TO
navigate the Hudson beset him. New-Jersey
claimed that it was too wide a privilege to be
given BY the legislature of a single state. and
other inventors denied his having originated
the idea Of steam as propulsive force on water
Every kind OF argument was used to invaH-
date FultOns pretensions as an inventor OF the
steamboat. But he earned his fame justly, and
all authorities agree that. at the time the trial
trip of the Clermont took place. in no other part
of the globe was another steamboat in success
ful operation
In the mean time one Of the two associates
of Chancellor Livingston Colonel John Stevens.
of Hoboten, was not idle. While Fulton was IN
Europe i'm 1904. Stevens built an open steam
boat sixty-eight feet long. with a screw pro-
peller. and the next year another one. WIN WIN
screws. 50 successful were the trial trips OF
these boats that he set about eclipSing the r VI
ton boat He built the PhoeniN- ana IauiiCHeu
her few weeks after Fulton was haued pioneer
OF steam propulsion on water. she mace IeSu-
lar trips between NeW-ByUnsWicE ana New
York but was prevented from showing her
work I'm Ncw-YorS waters on account or the
legislative act passed To protect Chancellor Iiv-
ingston. To prove her capabihty. however ROD
,rt Ityincston Stevens the cOlOneIs son. made
the passage with her from New-Hor TO mia
deIphia by sea I'm the early summer of lSOS,
and ran her on the Delaware for q short time.
With protests being constantly made 70 the
courts against the monopoly held by LlvlhSstoh
and Fulton il not wondered at When the
work OF the legislature was nuiliied. and the
field Of steam navigation opened 10 All VINO hau
inventive talent The SteVenses were noJ SLOW
to take advantages Of the new order OF things,
and a few years after some OF their finest pro-
ductions piled the Hudson.
new method Of communication between the
islands adjacent to NeW-YOrk began to engross
the attention of Fulton and Stevens in 1SO3. At
this time the ferryboats. with Two exceptions,
we're barges propelled by oars me exceptions
we're boats which had been recently constructed
with wheels in the. centre, turned by horizon
tai treadmilI worked by horses and called horse
boats In October 1911. Stevens put into opera
ton the first steam ferrybOat. which piled De
tween Ney-YOrk and HobOken, and was the
first used in any part Of the world. In 1Sl2 Full
ton built a small steam ferryboat for the Paulus
Hook ferry. and before the following year had
ended two other ferrybOats were built to con-
meet New-York with Brooklyn
Here is an interesting question for historians;
Was the name of FultOn's first boat the Cler-
mont or Katherine OF ClerTnOnt, so called. il IS
said, in honor OF Fultons WiIe VINO was d niece
OF Chancellor Livingston