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Industrial and Material Progress 



bany, making the journey in two days at threepence per mile, and 

 carrying the mail which came twice a week. Then, in 1789, a stage 

 began running between Albany and Lansingburgh, and in 1790 be- 

 tween Albany and Schenectady. And from this time every year saw 

 their number multiplied and their routes extended, so that by 1811 

 a line of stages connected Albany with Niagara Falls in the almost 

 incredible time of three days. The fare from Albany to Utica was 

 $5.50 ; from Utica to Geneva, $5.00; from Geneva to Canandaigua, 

 85.75 ; and from thence to Buffalo at six cents per mile. The coming 

 and going of these stage lines made lively times in Albany, and the 

 tradesmen and the publicans flourished. 



But so far as Albany is concerned, water communication has always 

 been the rival in importance of that by land. The noble river whose 

 navigation practically ends here has brought hither a continued stream 

 of prosperity. In 1791, April twelfth, it is noted that forty vessels 

 arrived at or passed the city. Notwithstanding the establishment of 

 the stage lines, the journeys to and from New York were chiefly taken 

 on sloops, which had pretty little cabins fitted up for passengers. It 

 was a perilous journey in those days, and required often as much time 

 as to cross the ocean now. When men set out on this journey they 

 made their wills and bade each other farewell, not knowing but the 

 perils of the Tappan-Zee and of Anthony's Nose might make this 

 journey their last. 



But the navigation of the Hudson was soon to receive a tremendous 

 impulse by the introduction of steam. Eobert Fulton, the inventor, 

 had the good fortune to meet with Chancellor Livingston, the patron 

 and promoter. After years of study and trial and experiment, they 

 built a little steamboat, which was called the Clermont, after Mr. 

 Livingston's country seat. It was 130 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 

 drew seven feet of water. On the morning of Friday, the 7th of 

 August, 1807, the little steamboat left New York, having on board 

 Fulton and his friends. A little way out they stopped to adjust some- 

 thing in the machinery. The crowd on the shore, thought this meant 

 another failure, and shouted after them with jeers and mockery ; but 

 their jeers were turned to wonder and awe, when they saw the steamer 

 ploughing its way along against wind and tide and leaving behind its 

 long pennon of smoke and steam. After frightening the people along 

 the shore, they reached Albany, and we may imagine the, surprise and 

 astonishment which filled the city when this strange monster of the 

 deep came steaming up and anchored off the town. I can imagine no 

 grander moment in a man's life than a triumph like this. When a 



