THE GROWTH OF THE STEAM-ENGINE. 



53i 



This boat was sufficiently successful to indicate the probability of 

 making steam-navigation a commercial success, and Stevens, assisted 

 by his sons, built a boat which he named the Phoenix, and made 

 the first trial in 1807, just too late to anticipate Fulton. This boat 

 was driven by paddle-wheels. 



The Phoenix, shut out of the waters of the State of New York 

 by the monopoly held by Fulton and Livingston, was placed for a 

 time on a route between Hoboken and New Brunswick ; and then, 

 anticipating a better pecuniary return, it was concluded to send her 

 to Philadelphia to ply on the Delaware. 



At that time, no canal offered the opportunity to make an inland 

 passage, and, in June, 1808, Robert L. Stevens, a son of John, started 

 with Captain Bunker to make the passage by sea. 



Although meeting a gale of wind, he arrived at Philadelphia safe- 

 ly, having been the first to trust himself on the open sea in a vessel 

 relying entirely upon steam-power. 



95. From this time forward the Messrs. Stevens, father and sons, 

 continued to construct steam-vessels. 



Robert L. Stevens. 



After Fulton and Stevens had led the way, steam-navigation was 

 introduced very rapidly on both sides the ocean, and on the Missis- 

 sippi the number of boats set afloat was soon large enough to fulfill 

 Evans's prediction that the navigation of that river would become 



a steam-navigation. 



Except in Stevens's earlier boats, and in the boats plying on the 



