$12 Notices of American Steam Boats. 
were towed through the same rout, by a single steam howts in an 
ome range of time, 
‘The power and speed of the Hudson river steam boats, as au 
as those employed on the Mississippi and elsewhere, have continued 
to be annually increased, up to the present time. In the year 
1827, the passage between New York and Albany, which is suppo- 
sed to be equal to one hundred and fifty statute miles,* had been per- 
formed under favorable circumstances, in about twelve hours. In 
1829, this passage had been accomplished in ten hours and thirty 
minutes, and in 1831, in ten hours and fifteen minutes ;_all the SPP" 
pages on the river being included in these statements. But the giant 
offspring of science and the arts had not yet attained its full strength 
and maturity, and during the present season (1832) the passage has 
been performed in nine hours and eighteen minutes, including the 
time spent at the different landings. Claims to this rate of speed, 
-have also been set up by-more than one competitor. It appears 
highly probable, that with the means now possessed or in preparation, 
- the passage may yet be performed in something less than nine hours, 
nothwithstanding the obstacles presented by the shallowness 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 Sinks estimated at more than one mile per 
hour, on an average of the whole distance ; while, in the descending 
passage, little or no*advantge can be deaved from this source, be- 
cause the ebb and flood are then made to alternate in three hours, oF 
even in a shorter period. Twelve landings are usually made on each 
passage, and at six of these places, the steam boats are 
brought to, and fastened to the wharves. 
hose who are conversant with the difficulties which anol the 
attainment of high velocities in navigating a medium whose resistance 
~ accumulates in a ratio exceeding the squares of the velocities, bY 
means of an artificial power, the reaction for which, is obtained from 
the medium itself, will justly consider the above rates of speed e 
pias rns Nor will this view of me subject be weakened by 
ray ge ee 
* The distance between the two points by the river road is reputed obo equa 
xty two miles. The direction or course, of the channel 
river, though generally favorable, ranges Setiwedn west, and éast-north-east. 
