FIRST STEAMBOAT

Tile canoe and other primitive boats of the Indians and pioneers began to give way to more modern means of transportation when the steamboat New Orleans, built by Fulton and Livingston, at Pittsburgh, Pa., made her maiden trip from that city down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers In December, 1812, arriving at New Orleans on Christinas day. While this boat was rude in construction, and was only able to attain to a speed of three miles an hour, she marked an epoch on the "great river." She only navigated the lower river, but was the precursor of the magnificent fleets which gave the luxury of a floating hotel to the traveler on our western streams.

Among the famous boats on the lower Mississippi were : the Sultana, built in 1843; the J. M. White, built in 1844; the Paytona, built in 1840; the Aleck Scott, built in 1848; the Eclipse, built in 1852; the A. L. Shottwell, built in 1852; the Princess, built in 1855; the R. E. Lee, built in 1866; the Frank Pargoud, built in 1868; the Natchez, built in 1869; the John W. Cannon, built in 1878; and the J. M. White (2), built in 1869.

The Sultana was 250 feet long with a beam or width of thirty-five feet, while the mast was 321 feet in length, with a beam of fifty feet. It had seven boilers, while the 3. M. White (2) had ten still larger boilers. Each boat marked an increase in size, power, speed and luxury.

 

ATTEMPTED STEAMBOAT MONOPOLY

In this day of monopolies, it is interesting to note that at the outset of steamboat navigation. on the "great river," its monopoly was attempted. The Ohio Steamboat Navigation Company was organized in December, 1810, by Daniel Tompkins, Robert R. Livingston, Robert Fulton, De Witt Clinton and Nicholas J. Roosevelt.

This company secured a bill through the legislature of Louisiana granting to them the sole right to operate steam vessels on the waters of that state for fourteen years, with the right to renew their charter at the end of that period. This monopoly was defeated by Capt. Henry M. Shreve. owner of the steamer Washington, who navigated the lower Mississippi in defiance of this law. after a legal battle lasting three years.

The ease was begun in the Louisiana courts December 14, 1814, and ended in the United States Supreme Court, which found against the company on every point. This ended the monopoly and opened the river to free navigation. Captain Shreve made ninny improvements, such as putting his boilers on deck, installing double engines which enabled a boat to turn in her own length. His steamer Washington was the first stem-wheel steamboat. He also adopted the light draft, flat bottomed boat, drawing two feet of water instead of six. fitting it for shallow channels. lie also adopted use of flues in boilers.

 

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

Picture Steamboats on the Mississippi by

Ferdinand Reichardt-1857

Submitted by the Webmaster

 

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