New-York tribune., 1909-09-25
FULTON AND HIS WORK
TRIBJTTE TO GENIUS.
Made Possible Present Development
of WOrd Through Utilizing Steam.


In his estimate OF FuIton's genius. Dr. Edward
Hagaman Hall, historian of the HudsOn-FultOn
Celebration Commission. remarks that if there
could be assembled In New York HarbOr this
month a fleet embracing the steam vessels con-
structed by Fulton. or according 20 his plan.
there would be provided impressive exhibit
tion Of his productive powers
First, there would come the little diving boat
Nautilus GSO). the name Of which significantly
recalls that Of Jules Verne's creation in Twenty
Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" Then there
would be the little boat on the Seine 1sO3). the
CIerrnont uSO7l. the Car Of Neptune Qs0s)- the
Raritan dsos). the New Orleans Os1D. the Par
agon GSI2). the F1rehy QSI2). che Jersey ferry
boat (1S12), the Camden GS12), the Washington
OS13). the York ferry boat Qs13). the Richmond
Os1D. the Nassau ferrybOat Cs14). the Fulton
QS1D. the Vesuvius Os14). the DemOlOgOs
OsI4). the lFEtna (1s15). the Buffalo 0S15), the
Mute OSI5). the Olive Branch 0S16), the En-
press Of Russia (IS16) and the Chancellor Liy-
ingston (1SI6).
But this exhibit would represent only a part
OF the production OF FultOns genius. which e1-
pressed itself in his valuable pioneer work with
submarine boats. torpedoes inland canals and
In other directions for the promotion of the
peace and prosperity Of mankind.
Recalling the centuries OF slow advancement
in the science Of navigation with sails. one can
not fail 70 be impressed by the immense prog
ress made by steam navigation since il Was es-
tabIshed on a commercial basis by Fulton 102
years ago The little CIermont of 1907 which
could transport one hundred persons 20 Albany
in thirty hours at s. head, has developed into
the modern floating palace. which can carry five
thousand over the same route in about eight
hours at Il rate of 81 15 each
IMPROVED FERRIES
The PauIus Hook ferryboat OF 1872. which
could cross the North River in twenty minutes,
has grown into the superb twin screw municipal
ferryboat, costing $s76Oco to build. which can
so from South Ferry to Staten Island. a distance
OF fivc miles in the same time. 1t costs sos
year on the average to run one Of the modern
Staten Island ferryboats. against Fulton's estf-
mate OF StI6O The salaries and wages of crews
and terminal hands amounted in 1906 10 S93.23t
boat against 81. SEQ year estimated by FIll-
ton and the fuel cost $45I56 a boat. against
F'ulton's estimate 81 Se.24O.
Two hremen (whO also acted as encineers)
and two boatmen (whO also acted as pilOts)
composed Fulton's running force. Each staten
Island boat has three crews Of twenty-Onc mem
bers each, who serve eight hours each A TuJr-
nicipal ferryboat can carry twenty-f five hundred
passengers. against Fulton's four hundred Al
though the ferry system across the North and
East rivers is now falling into disuse in Conse-
Quence OF the building Of bridges and tunnels is
has been Of enormous influence in the develop
ment Of the city
An idea Of the extent of the ferry traffic of the
city at the end OF the first century after FIII-
tons achievement of 1SO7 may be gathered from
the fact that in 1907 all the ferries Of New York
city carried 216,93@549 passengers, Of whom
294239 crossed the North River 12T16, 500
were carried by the municipal ferries in the har-
bOr, and the rest by al other ferries
MODERN WAR CRAFT
Passing around into the East River 10 the
United States navy yard opposite the place
where Fuiton's armed frigate was launc he'd. fs
found more material for thoughtful comparison.
In the Walabout Bay, memorable for the suffer-
ings Of the prison ship martyrs which Fulton so
powerful successors OF the DemOlOgOs In the
midst of these pondeTOus peace conserving ma
chimes may find the submarine offspring OF
his plunging Nautilus. And in these craft Wa
can see the highest development OF his tOrpe-
does.
But greater than all. in the opening years OF
the second century of steam navigation. cOme
the Lusitania and the Mauretania as IL TO
demonstrate the perfection to which the science
Of Fulton has been carried In one hundred
years How impressive is the contrast between
the beginnings OF the two centuries and how
diminutive the facsimile of the CIermOnt $50