It seemed that at this juncture the whole world was moved by a new
impulse. The difficulties of navigating the Mississippi River had been
overcome, and the consequences of this new triumph of science and
man's ingenuity were beginning to assume a more vigorous growth.
The Ohio and its tributaries were peopling with a hardy and
industrious race; the Missouri, Arkansas, and Red rivers, too, were
filling with a population which was sweeping away the great wild
forests, and fields of teeming production were smiling in their stead.
New Orleans was the market-point for all that was, and all that was to
be, the growth of these almost illimitable regions. It was, as it ever
is, the exigencies of man answered by the inspirations of God. The
necessities of this extending population along the great rivers
demanded means of transportation. These means were to be devised, by
whom? The genius of Fulton was inspired, and the steamboat sprang into
existence. The necessity existed no longer, and the flood of
population poured in and subdued the earth to man's will, to man's
wants.
Pages:
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906