CHAPTEB XXXm.
 

(1708)

The First Steamboat—Monopoly of Hudson Traffic Granted to Robert B.

Livingston-^His Craft a Failure—^Fulton and the Clermont*!

First Trip to Albany—First Steam Ferryboats,

The second movement inaugurated In 1T9S for tho tienofit of the
people was the application of steam as a propulshe power on water. At
the flrst session of the legislature held that year Chancellor Rot>ert R.
Livingston, who bad sailed around the Collect tbo previous year In Pitch's
boat, appeared before the body wltb a plan for "applying the steam engine
In such a way as to propel a boat." Aa the experiment would be expensive,
he wanted the assurance of the legislature that Ln tbe event of Its proving
successful he would bo protected In whatever advantagea wero derived from
tbo operation of bis scheme. While the members of the House listened
with apparent interest to the ChancelIor*a views on steam propelled boats,
when tho hill to protect blm In his rights was Introduced by bis friend, Dr
Samuel I^. Mitchell, thoy received its reading with lauKhter, and some of
them with ridicule. The hilt's sponsor was as much Interested In tbe ulti¬
mate success of Chancellor Livingston's experiment as the Chancellor was,
aud persisted In pushing the hill until it was either accepted or rejectod.
The House played with it for a while, and mado sport of Dr. Mitchell, but
eveutually, believing In his sincerity, passed an act which gave to Judge
Livingston "the exclusive right and privilege of navigating all kinds of t>oats
which might be propelled by the force of fire or steam, on all the waters
within the territory or Jurisdiction of the State of New York for a term
of twenty years from tho passing of tho act—upon couditlou that he should
within a twelvemonth build such a boat, the mean of whose progress should
not be less than four miles an hour,"

Tbe Chancellor prior to the passage of tbe act had made au agreement
with Nicholas Roosevolt, of tbe old New Tork family, and Colonel John
Stevens to build a boat on Joint account, the engines for which were to be
constructed by Roosevelt at bis shop on the Pssslac, the propelling agency to
be planned by Livingston, with tbo corporation of Stevens. It was because
of the promising signs of success that the protection of the legislature was
sought. However, on October 21, ITDS, the craft was completed and ready
for the trial trip. It proved a failure. T^ter Stevens persuaded tbe Cban-
coHor to put a set of paddles In the stern, with the result that tho craft
on which Livingston had built bis hopes was shaken to pieces and was
abandoned. The Chancellor was not easily beaten, however. A few years
later he was the accredited minister plenipotentiary of tho United States

162