Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-07
The First Steamboat,

l
T. 1907, the first steamboat made its
first voyage. The craft was the Cler-
mont, built by an American genius,
Robert Fulton. and it's trial trip was
upon the Hudson river. 1t is an in
tercsting coincidence that the CEN
tennial Of steam navigation falls dur
ing the same week that Bath is cele-
} brating the 3O0th anniversary of the
birth of American shipbuilding. The
, centenary of the Clermont's first vOy-
age is being only modestly observed,
will take place two years hence. when
the 3OOth anniversary Of Henry Hud-
sons memorable voyage up the river
which bears his name. and the Tooth
anniversary of the grant of the Hud-
son river steamboat monopoly to Full
| ton, will be marked by ceremonies be-
| fitting such important landmarks in
history. Robert Fulton was native
| of Pennsylvania and was about AZ
|
| built, in 1907. He had constructed a
| small boat four years before in France
where he went in 1894, and the ex-
perimental trips on the same were en-
tirely successful. But the French
| people treated him colby, and he re-
turned to the United States in 1906.
The Clermonts first trip was, natur-
ally, great event for New York 1t
was generally known that boat to
navigate the Hudson from New York
to Albany was being built, but the
skeptics outnumbered the believers a
hundred to one. There was Il feeling
If antagonism to the idea among those
most interested. Shippers. sailors and
shippers united in the belief that no
good could come of the inventiOn-if it
should be successful. This feeling
crystalized into animosity as the YES
sci neared completion, and the day of
the trial trip was regarded with some
apprehension by Fulton and his as
sociates. But every feeling Of concern
vanished when, the word having been
given to start the engines, the paddle
wheels began to revolve slowly, and
the C1ermont moved away from her
wharf, gradually reaching speed of
nearly five miles an hour. depsitc an
opposing tide. The cheers that burst
from the throngs upon the shore were
proof conclusive that the people had
recognized the dawning of a new epoch |
in American commercial history.
Until navigation closed in the fall Of |
1907 the Clermont ran on a regular
schedule up and down the river, carry
ing from 40 to 100 passengers, and a
amount of freight on each
trip. During the following winter
changes were made in the vessel, and
when she resumed her trip in the
spring she had been rechristened the
North River. Fulton designed and
built second vessel for use on the
Hudson in 1911. This was known as
the Paragon, and ran for nine years
between New York and Albany. Full
ton and Chancellor Livingston were
granted the monopoly of the, Hudson
river trade in 1909. and a rival boat
Eamei the Hope, launched in 1911, was
forced to abandon her trips by law.
I,IIi -
vessel called the Demolgos in 1914
There was one paddle wheel in the CEN
ter, the boat being constructed in
halves. with the boiler on
me side and the engine on the other.
The difference between the Clcrmont
tnd the great steam craft of today
nay easily be imagined. The Cler-
mont was Of wood 1873 feet long, Is feet
)eam and with hold of az feet. The
'addlewheels. which were on the sides
md unprotected. were Is feet in
liameter. But she was the beginning
# steam navigation and from her has
,een developed the great 90, 900 ton bat
le-snips and such ocean liners as the
lew Adriatic, 100 feet long, carrying
900 persons as against the Clcr-
nont'S 100. easily going 19 miles an
lour as against the Clcrmont's five
md with engines 100 times as power
III as those of Fulton's boat. Fulton
vas educated as an artist and as
.outh studied in England for several
ears under the great Benjamin West.
lie socn gave up art, however, for en-
cheering and won a name that will
lot perish. He died in New York in
SIS.
Maxim Gorky, the Russian novelist,
declares that the Americans are a