Steamboats In Louisiana :: essays research papers

STEAMBOATS IN LOUISIANARobert Fulton started the in truth first commercially successful steamboat service in America. His steam-powered paddleboat, the Clermont, sailed up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany in August of 1807. This trip lasted 32 hours The first steamboats were demonstrated in1787. They were used on the river ways to bring cargo, cotton, sugar, and stack to their destinations. The steamboat played a major part in the population growth. The steamboats were unremarkably made of forest and were all kinds of sizes. They looked like giant floating houses with humongous smokestacks and paddlewheels. They were used for carrying people and supplies up and down the river. Steamboats were later used as show boats for entertainment. The purchase of Louisiana in 1803 made New siege of Orleans a part of the U.S. and opened the door to gamblers. The high life so popular in New Orleans spread north which ushered in the era of the riverboat gambler. By 1820, 69 steamb oats were operating the western rivers. And by 1860, that piece had increased to 735. These steamboats were christened floating palaces with luxurious quarters, world class food wholesome stoked bars and wealthy passengers. In1937 riverboat travel entered the passenger boat era. Calliopes were used on the boats to let people know that the boat was docked. The name calliope comes from the classic goddess muse of sound.The paddle wheels were mounted either on the side or back of the boat. After the Civil War, the stern (back of the boat) paddle wheel was most popular. Although the paddle wheel is very large it draws just a hardly a(prenominal) feet of water. The wheel spins about 18 times a minute with exactly four planks in the water for best speed. A steamboat travels about 15 miles an hour and 16 to 17 miles an hour on a swift river.The very first paddle boats ran on wood. Coal replaced wood in 1860 and oil replaced coal in 1950. Many of the earl steamboats burned up because t he eject used to create the steam would burn the boat. It took 250 pounds of steam just to quench the whistle. Maintenance for a 120 ton steamboat was $1,800, 36% of it was for wages give to officers and crew members, 18% of it was for provisions, 12% of it was for incidentals and insurance, and the rest of it was for 25 cords of wood per day, at $2.