JVotices of American Steam Boats. 313 



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 great occasional advantages, from the strength and rapidity 

 of the tides. It sometimes 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 favorite 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 Witt Clinton, Constitution, and Constellation. 

 Of these, the five first named depart in the morning at seven o'clock, 

 and perform the passage in nine and a quarter to thirteen hours ; the 

 latter five, depart usually at five in the evening, and accomplish the 

 passage in nearly the same time. Passengers in the former, may en- 

 joy airy accommodations, and the interesting scenery of the Hudson, 

 together with their accustomed repose at night ; and by means of the 

 latter, men of active and provident habits, are able to transact their 

 daily business at will, either in our commercial metropolis, or in one 

 of the flourishing cities at the head of navigation ; the intervening 

 space of one hundred and fifty miles being passed over during the 

 hours of relaxation and repose, with no other discomfort, than attends 

 the occupation of a good matress with clean linen, in a steam boat usu- 

 ally loaded with passengers. The price of passage is commonly fixed 

 at three dollars. 



Most of these boats have undergone a material change in their size, 

 form, and general outfit since their first construction, in order to 

 maintain a successful competition for the business of this noble river. 

 It will not be necessary to give an account of the various efforts of 

 professional skill, by means of which these boats have attained to 

 their present degree of perfection and efficiency, but a general, and 

 somewhat definite description of one of the number, may prove ac- 

 ceptable to the readers of the Journal. 



The De Witt Clinton, having been twice enlarged, is now of the 

 following dimensions, viz. entire length on deck, two hundred and 

 thirty three feet. Breadth of the hull at the water line, twenty eight 

 feet. Projection of the deck or wheel-guards on each side, eighteen 



Vol. XXIIl.— No. 2. 40 



