Innovation Inquirer
August 17, 1807 Volume MMXVI
Riding the Ocean
Associated Press
ALBANY, NEW YORK - Robert Fulton invented the steamboat on August 17, 1807 in Albany, New York. As early as 1794, Fulton considered using steam to drive a boat. He wanted to create a steamboat to make a successful version of John Fitch's unsuccessful invention. Fulton started ordering parts for his project, and in 1807 it was finally finished. He had many methods for creating inventions. Robert Fulton once said, "As the component parts of all new machines may be said to be old, it is a nice discriminating judgment, which discovers that a particular arrangement will produce a new and desired effect... therefore, the mechanic should sit down among levers, screws, wedges, wheels, etc. like a poet among the letters of the alphabet, considering them as the exhibition of his thoughts; in which a new arrangement transmits a new idea to the world."
Robert Fulton was born on November 14,1765. Fulton liked to paint, and one day he painted a boat. After that, he has always wondered what it would be like to make one. Robert Fulton decided to try creating his own steamboat. His own experiences led him to conclude that several revolving paddles at the stern would be most effective for his invention. Fulton was an American inventor, engineer, and an artist who brought steam boating. He realized that there are many thing you have to learn in order to be successful. Fulton once said, "The American dream of rags to riches is a dream for a reason – it is hard to achieve; were everyone to do it, it wouldn't be a dream but would rather be reality." Robert Fulton made his steamboat with a first class engine which is why his invention was successful, unlike John Fitch. The engine was put together in New York and set aboard a locally built vessel. Mr. Fulton was set on paddle wheels because science proved him and his partner Robert Livingston wrong. Robert Fulton wasn’t the first the first person to attempt making a steamboat, but he was the first person to successfully make a steamboat. Like he always said "The fear of meeting the opposition of envy, or the illiberality of ignorance is, no doubt, the frequent cause of preventing many ingenious men from ushering opinions into the world which deviate from common practice. Hence for want of energy, the young idea is shackled with timidity and a useful thought is buried in the impenetrable gloom of eternal oblivion." The first person to attempt making the steamboat was Jonathan Hall. After that, John Fitch attempted to make one but failed. |
The steamboat is useful for transporting goods and traveling to different places. Inspired by the success of his first invention, Robert Fulton made a ferryboat, a torpedo boat, and 17 more steamboat. This experience has helped Fulton learn new things about being an inventor. He once said, "The fear of meeting the opposition of envy, or the illiberality of ignorance is, no doubt, the frequent cause of preventing many ingenious men from ushering opinion into the world which deviate from common practice. Hence for want of energy, the young idea is shackled with timidity and a useful thought is buried in the impenetrable gloom of eternal oblivion."
The cost of building the steamboat was $38,000. You can visit the American Queen Steamboat Company to go on a river cruise on a steam boat in Mississippi on the Mississippi River. Robert Fulton was Born on November 14, 1765 in Little Britain Township, Pennsylvania and Died on February 24, 1815. Robert Fulton was known for building the famous steamboat, he also made the ride with the invention to Albany, New York. Later he made the ferry and 17 more steamboats He was educated with the help of Quaker School and was apprenticed in a Pennsylvania jewelry shop. He loved to paint, goldsmith, and engineer things. The gentleman [Mr. Taber] from New York says [agricultural research] is all foolish. Yes; it was foolish when Burbank was experimenting with wild cactus. It was foolish when the Wright boys went down to Kitty Hawk and had a contraption there that they were going to fly like birds. It was foolish when Robert Fulton tried to put a boiler into a sail boat and steam it up the Hudson. It was foolish when one of my ancestors thought the world was round and discovered this country so that the gentleman from New York could become a Congressman. (Laughter.) ... Do not seek to stop progress; do not seek to put the hand of politics on these scientific men who are doing a great work. As the gentleman from Texas points out, it is not the discharge of these particular employees that is at stake, it is all the work of investigation, of research, of experimentation that has been going on for years that will be stopped and lost. |
Take a Look Into the Canoe
Kyra Rios CARIBBEAN ISLANDS-- Ever wanted to just take a relaxing trip water? Well we have the perfect river-riding boat for you. A group of Carib Indians created the canoe in 1750. The canoe is a boat made out of a bark on a wood frame. It is used to travel between the islands. Soon after the Canadians found out about the invention and started to make some of their own. Canoes eventually become popular in North America as canoes were being used more often. After that, they were mostly used for trade of items that are not too big. |
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Sailing the Sea
Kyra Rios MESOPOTAMIA-- The Mesopotamians have faced a major problem with catching their fish. How can they get any of the good fish in the deeper waters, or how could they travel over waters to trade their goods? In 1300, the Mesopotamians thought of a great idea to solve just that problem. The sailboat was fairly simple to make, the sail was made into a square out of cloth, and wooden planks were joined to create the body of the boat. The wind controlled the sail and therefore controlled where the boat would travel. Sometimes trips went well, and sometimes the Mesopotamians would just have to wait until the wind agreed with them. Although sailboats didn't support that much cargo and people at the time, it could hold all the supplies the Mesopotamians needed in order to have a good trading relationships with other civilizations. |
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