Fulton, Robert (1765-1815) to Robert Livingston
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05808 Author/Creator: Fulton, Robert (1765-1815) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 October 1807 Pagination: 4 p. ; 25.2 x 21.5 cm. Order a Copy
Hopes to be able to obtain exclusive rights to navigate the Mississippi River for another two years. Also gives a detailed report on the vessel "Clermont." Written two months after the maiden voyage.
Robert Fulton was an engineer and entrepreneur, often credited with inventing the steamboat. While Fulton did not invent any of the individual components of the steamboat, he did combine the ideas of many other men to make the most successful steamboat. He was an expert on combining numerous ideas of other men into one product, a process he used in numerous other engineering ventures throughout his life.
Robert Livingston was a prominent New York politician, and also a patron to Fulton.
Selected excerpts:
[draft]
Since my arrival here I have made enquiry into the utility of a steamboat from here to New castle distance 30 Miles...
Happens that about 25 passengers go to and about so many come from New castle and wilmington each day total 50 persons at one dollar and a Quarter each equal 62 dollars a day with parcels say 70 dollars a day expenses 20 dollars profits 50 day, 300 a week and 30 weeks equal 9000 [illegible] but say 6000 this would be 20 percent. Suppose then that we should permit a company of or 6 persons to build about and we take half the profits, it would produce us from 1400 to 2000 a year each without any trouble...
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