Progress of the City of New-York, During the Last Fifty Years ...: A Lecture Delivered Before the Mechanics' Society at Mechanics' Hall, Broadway, on 29th December, 1851 |
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Albany Astor Astor Library Asylum Battery boat Bowery Broadway building built Canal street centre Children of Necessity citizens Clermont coal Colonel Stevens commenced commercial Commissioners connected Constitution constructed Corporation cost Croton Aqueduct Croton River cylinder daily dollars Dutch edifice embargo engine England enterprise Erie Erie Canal feet Fulton gallons Gouverneur Morris Gramercy Park ground growth Hoboken honor houses hundred improved ingenious institutions interest invented Island Joel Barlow laid land Legislature locomotives mechanics memory ment merated miles an hour millions navigation noble North River occupied official valuation Park passed Philadelphia population present progress propeller prosperity R. L. Stevens railroads railways Report residence Robert Fulton rosin Ruggles Sandy Hook schools sewers side speed steam carriages steamboat steamers stood success thousand tion Trinity Church Union Square vessel Ward wealth wheels whole witnessed Witt Clinton yellow fever
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Page 17 - The power of propelling boats by steam is now fully proved. The morning I left New York there were not, perhaps, thirty persons in the city who believed that the boat would ever move one mile an hour, or be of the least utility ; and while we were putting off from the wharf, which was crowded with spectators, I heard a number of sarcastic remarks.
Page 18 - ... friends of useful improvements, you will have the goodness to publish the following statement of facts: "I left New York...
Page 19 - Having employed much time, money and zeal, in accomplishing this work, it gives me, as it will you, great pleasure to see it fully answer my expectations. It will give a cheap and quick conveyance to the merchandise on the Mississippi, Missouri and other great rivers, which are now laying open their treasures to the enterprise of our countrymen ; and although the prospect of personal emolument has been some inducement to me, yet I feel infinitely more pleasure in reflecting on the immense advantage...
Page 80 - ... when the time and the occasion for moving come. I have faith, therefore, in the Future ; and when, at the close of this half-century, which so comparatively few of us are to see, the account shall again be taken, and the question be asked, What has New York done since 1850 ? I have faith that the answer will be given in a City still advancing in population, wealth, morals, and knowledge, — in a City free, and deserving, by her virtues, her benevolent institutions, her schools, her courts and...
Page 80 - ... and not in that of any party leaders, or party demagogues, or political hacks, or speculators, is the integrity of that Union and that Constitution. It is in the strong arms and honest hearts of the great masses, who are not members of Congress, nor holders of office, nor spouters at...
Page 20 - Stevens first employed her as a passenger boat between this city and New Brunswick, and finally conceived the bold purpose of sending her round to Philadelphia by sea, and he executed it successfully. His son, Robert L. Stevens, went round with the boat in the month of June, 1808. A fierce storm overtook them. A schooner in company was driven off to sea, and was absent many days ; but the Phoenix...
Page 80 - ... are men so powerless, and institutions so strong. In the wilderness of free minds, dissensions will occur ; and, in the unlimited discussion in writing and in speech, in town-meetings, newspapers, and legislative bodies, angry and menacing language will be used ; irritations will arise and be aggravated ; and those immediately concerned in the strife, or breathing its atmosphere, may fear, or feign to fear, that danger is in such hot breath and passionate resolves.
Page 18 - AMERICAN CITIZEN": SIR: — I arrived this afternoon at four o'clock, in the steamboat from Albany. As the success of my experiment gives me great hopes that such boats may be rendered of great importance to my country, to prevent erroneous opinions and give some satisfaction to the friends of useful improvements, you will have the goodness to publish the following statement of facts.
Page 27 - This astonishing velocity is considered here as merely possible. It is probable that it may not in practice be convenient to exceed twenty or thirty miles an hour.
Page 19 - On Thursday, at nine o'clock in the morning, I left Albany, and arrived at the Chancellor's at six in the evening. I started from thence at seven, and arrived at New York at four in the afternoon : time, thirty hours ; space run through, one hundred and fifty miles, equal to five miles an hour. Throughout my whole way, both going and returning, the wind was ahead. No advantage could be derived from my sails. The whole has therefore been performed by the power of the steam-engine. I am, sir, your...