56 Mr Redfield wi American Steam-Boats. 



probable, that, with the means now possessed or in preparation, 

 the passage may yet be performed in something less than nine 

 hours, notwithstanding the obstacles presented by the shallow- 

 ness of the river, and the intricacies of the navigation, in the 

 thirty miles nearest to Albany. It may be remarked here, that 

 the length of the route, as above given, is not supposed to be 

 overrated, as is usually the fact with inland navigable routes ; 

 nor can the assistance of the tides in ascending the river be 

 fairly estimated at more than one mile per hour, on an average 

 of the whole distance ; while, in the descending passage, little 

 or no advantage can be derived from this source, because the 

 ebb and flood are then made to alternate in three hours, or even 

 in a shorter period. Twelve landings are usually made on each 

 passage, and at six of these places the steam-boats are commonly 

 brought to, and fastened to the wharfs. 



Those who are conversant with the difficulties which attend the 

 attainment of high velocities in navigating a medium whose re- 

 sistance accumulates in a ratio exceeding the squares of the ve- 

 locities, by means of an artificial power, the reaction for which is 

 obtained from the medium itself, will justly consider the above 

 rates of speed as extraordinary. Nor will this view of the subject 

 be weakened by statements, which may chance to gain currency of 

 the attainment of greater speed in more open waters, by steam- 

 vessels, possessing less comparative efficiency, on routes either 

 overrated in their extent, or affording greater occasional advan- 

 tages, from the strength and rapidity of the tides. It some- 

 times happens, that, owing to the inadvertence of a compositor, 

 or some other cause, a mistake of an hour finds its way into the 

 published accounts of the passage made by a favourite steam- 

 boat. 



In addition to twelve steam-boats which are employed on this 

 river in the various lines of transportation, and on short routes, 

 there are ten boats of the first class, which have been employed 

 in daily trips for the conveyance of passengers between New 

 York and Albany, viz. the North America, Albany, Novelty, 

 Erie, Champlain, Ohio, New Philadelphia, De Wit Clinton, 

 Constitution, and Constellation. Of these the five first named 

 depart in the morning at seven oVlock, and perform the passage 

 in nine and a quarter to thirteen hours ; the latter five depart 



