“The American Arts”

Date

3-28-1812

Newspaper

Louisiana Gazette

Page and Column

Page 2, Column 3

Newspaper Location

New Orleans, Louisiana

Serial Number

930

Abstract

Long article from the Philadelphia Aurora on the invention and construction of steamboats by Robert Fulton. Background information on the Steamboat New Orleans.

Transcript

THE AMERICAN ARTS. The misfortunes or the follies of European nations, it has been observed, have contributed much to the good fortune and prosperity of America. There is truth in the observation-but we must be as careful in guarding against false conclusions drawn from acknowledged facts as against falsehood itself: A very common inference drawn from the acknowledged consequences of the misfortunes of Europe is, that we owe every thing to Europe-but this is not true; because the good already derived must continue if we have only the wisdom to protect it. Another conclusion that is insinuated rather than asserted is, that we owe everything to Europe; that we cannot do without Europe; in short that we must be dependent on Europe for all the productions of art and genius. Those who thus deceive themselves cannot deceive the country. The state of the arts and the progress of the manufactures in the U. States give evidence of a ripeness and ingenuity in every branch of human pursuit, which requires only the encouragement and protection of provident and efficient laws to place our arts and sciences upon equal ground with any nation of modern times. The recent establishment of a steam boat on the western waters carries in itself consequences much more important and exclusive than the canal of Lanquedoc to France, or perhaps the celebrated dykes of Holland. The friends to American improvements will be gratified in hearing that this steam boat, in all its parts, engine, boiler and machinery, has been constructed at Pittsburgh. The western country is indebted to the enterprize of two of our own citizens, Messrs Livingston & Fulton, for this important improvement in the navigation of the Mississippi. This beautiful vessel, 148 feet in length, 30 feet beam, has been tried with 140 tons of merchandize on board, and advance at the rate of three miles an hour against a current of two and a half on the 29th of October, in presence of many hundreds of spectators. She left Pittsburg for New-Orleans, destined to trace between that city and Natchez; and there is little doubt that with care and perseverance all the difficulties which were apprehended from snags, sawyers and planters, will be overcome and the company amply renumberated. Let us now for a moment contemplate this new science; this immense leap forward in the useful arts; only five years ago it was considered impracticable to make a useful steam boat, and Livingston & Fulton were universally ridiculed for the attempt; now there are on Hudson's river, Between New-York and Albany, 5 Between N. York and New-Brunswick, 1 On the Delaware, 1 On Lake Champlain, 1 On the Mississippi, 1 Building on St. Lawrence, 1 On Hudson River as a ferry boat, 1 Building for ferry boats from N. York to Jersey city, 2 Total, 13 This is more than two steam boats a year since 1807, when Livingston & Fulton built their first boat. In every situation where they are established, their benefits are sensibly felt and acknowledged. And now it may be asked what would the United States take to be deprived of their new art? Could one hundred millions of dollars compensate these states for the eternal privation of only this one American invention? Let the political economist answer this question. Have then two enterprising individuals given to our country an invention in its effects worth one hundred millions of dollars? Here we learn to respect the useful arts and the incalculable blessings they bestow? Have we guarded them by protecting and encouraging laws? Or are inventors, who are the most valuable members of society, to be forever a prey to rapacious fraud & cupidity? Is not the exertion of mind the highest order of labor? Does it not extend every success to the benefit of whole nations, to millions of individuals? And shall it not to a wise government, among a wise people, find complete protection, while the labor of the hands, even to a peck of grain, is guarded against theft and plunder? The productions of genius must be protected in order to prosper-with due protection the extent of the American ingenuity will very soon astonish and surpass all other nations.--Aurora.

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS