2012.001

Purchase

Purchase

Museum Collections.

1822 - 1822

Date(s) Created: 1822 Date(s): 1822

Notes: 2012.001.0148 New-York American, Vol. II, No. 609, Tuesday, February 26, 1822, 30 William Street (New York City.) Memorial by John Stevens, page [2], column 5, continuing at top of column 6. === MEMORIAL To the Honourable the Legislature of Ihe State of New-York. The memorial of John Stevens, proprietor of the ferry from Hoboken to the city of New-York, respectfully representeth— That the first steam boat running on the waters of the Hudson was constructed and owned by your memorialist. That your memorialist hath been the proprietor of the said Hoboken ferry ever since the year 1814; and hath, to the great accomodation of the public, expended large sums in the formation of roads leading thereto, and in carrying into effect various other improvements. That in the year your memorialist built, and placed on said ferry, a steam boat, which was the first steam ferry boat ever run on the Hudson river. That said steam boat continued to run on said ferry about eighteen months. That, in the mean time, a company was formed, to run steam boats from Pawles [Paulus] Hook to the city of New-York, and (as your memorialist was at that time informed) obtained a grant from Messrs. Livingston and Fulton for the exclusive right of running and using steam ferry boats, not only from Pawles Hook aforesaid to New-York, but also from any point on the Jersey shore, for the distance of three miles north of the same, comprehending both the Hoboken and Weehavvken ferries. Your memorialist, therefore, to prevent his said steam ferry boat from being seized and taken entirely out of his possession, by virtue of certain acts of the legislature of this state, desisted from running said boat, and, in consequence thereof, the same has long since gone to decay. That your memorialist then placed a team boat on said ferry, which was the first team boat that ever plied on a ferry on said Hudson river. That, although team boats have continued to be used on said terry, with much advantage to the public, to the present time, yet from the length of said ferry it is considered that steam boats would be preferable. That your memorialist hath lately leased said ferry for the term of fourteen years to his sous, John C. Stevens and Robert L. Stevens. That the corporation of the city of New-York hath passed an ordinance granting to the said lessees a lease for the ferry on the New-York side, for and during the like time aforesaid, on the sole and express condition that on or before the first day of May next, they cause to be placed oa said ferry a steam-boat of 90 feet long and 26 feet wide, the speed of which shall be such as to make au equal number of trips per diem with the two team boats now plying. That in pursuance of, and in conformity to, said ordinance, the said lesstes have constructed a steam-boat, which is now nearly finished, possessing very superior accommodations, and which, from the great power of the engine, is confidently expected will far surpass in speed every other ferry boat on the river, and will, in consequence, be capable of making a greater number of trips ---- per diem than is at present done by the team boats, and also that each trip will be performed in less than half the time. That your memorialist is fully satisfied that a grant of so very exceptionable a nature as the one from Messrs. Livingston and Fulton to the Pawles Hook company is represented to be, would never have been made, had not your memorialist unfortunately been at that time at variance with these gentlemen on the subject of propelling boats by means of steam. That, independently of the claims of the state of New-Jersey to equal and reciprocal rights, your memorialist conceives that the grant of Messrs. Livingston and Fulton to the Pawles Hook company, so far as its operation might be made to extend to other ferries over which said company possessed, or could exercise no control, must in its nature be considered as nugatory, inasmuch as it could not be carried into effect by the grantees. As then, such an extension of the grant aforesaid, [if really made,] must of course be null and void, your memorialist, for the sake of peace, would have no objection [should it be required of him by the representatives of Messrs. Livingston and Fulton] to make them any reasonable compensation for their grant of a right to run steam boats on the said Hoboken ferry. To the end therefore, that your memorialist and the lessees aforesaid; may not be aggrieved by any vexatious processes served them under colour of such pretended right, and further, that the said lessees may be enabled, to the great accommodation of the public, to comply with the terms required of them by them by the aforesaid ordinance of the corporation of the city of New-York, and as citizens of New-Jersey, to exercise the right of navigating the waters between the two states, in common with all and every the citizens of this state, your memorialist most respectfully prays, that such provision may by a law of the state be made, as will secure to him, and to them, the quiet and peaceable occupation and enjoyment of such rights and privileges as appertain to him as proprietor of said Hoboken ferry on the New-Jersey side, and to them as lessees of said ferry as well on the New-York as on the New-Jersey; side, and to grant such other and further relief as the nature of the case mav require. JOHN STEVENS. [end] ==== page [4], column 1 STEVENS' PATENT PLOUGH RIBBED mould board, and tempered cast iron share. Price of the 11 inch or three horse Plough, $12 9 inch or two horse Plough, 9 8 inch or one horse Plough 7 The mould board, sheath, and land side of thi« plough are cast in one piece, with ribs on the inner side. By these means great strength and durability, combined with lightness, is given to the whole, and as the different parts cannot be racked, the plough will always run with steadiness and truth. The share is also of cast iron, the lower edge, the part most liable to wear, tempered as hard as steel, the other parts having the usual strength of cast iron. By this new and important improvement, the annual expense is greatly reduced, as the share will retain its edge and last for a much longer time. The wood of this plough is the best Jersey white oak—the beam is well rivetted and is very high at the sheath to prevent choaking in stubble—the handles are made from straight wood bent and rivetted, and are kept from separating by a small iron rod passing directly above the upper ring—the right handle is well secured by a screw and nut, between the shoulders cast on the mouid boaid. The coulter is laid.with steel and is of Swedes Iron, as is also the devise. The wear at the heel is remedied by screwing on a piece of tempered cast iron, which can at any time be replaced for twenty-five cents. The present form of the mould board is the result of numerous experiments, made within the last three years, to ascertain the curve best adapted to make good work, both in sod and fallow ground, with the least possible draught.— This plough was tested by actual trial with those of Peacock and Freeborn, before a committee of the New-Brunswick Agricultural Society, at their late Fair, and obtained the premium. They are cast and fitted up at the Hoboken Foundry, under the immediate inspection of the patentees, and no where else. On the inner side of the mouid boards are the words "Stevens' Patent, Hoboken Foundry." — Should the plough, upon trial, not be approved of, or the iron work break within one year, the buyer may have another, or the purchase money returned. For sale at the store of JAMES JENKlNS, No. 212 Greenwich, corner ot Barclay-street. July 28—ly [end] ==== Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2012-09-27