Local News Update
By: Hannah Marshall
Robert Fulton
Robert Fulton just recently invented the steamboat. This engine powered boat allows people to travel up stream, against the current. This new invention will transport people and goods a lot quicker. Travel that used to take 25-50 days now only takes 10-14 days. Many of this first steamboats would blow up but as engineering continues to improve so will the boats.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsteamship.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fulton
Steamboat History
Robert first designed the steamboat when he was studying in France and one of his friends convinced him to come back to the U.S to concentrate on this design. His first attempt had failed but he made the adjustments and the first steamboat trip was by the Clermont up the Hudson River averaging 5 miles per hour. As Fulton continues to work on the steamboat we should see more and more improvements.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blfulton.htm
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/DETOC/transport/fulton.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/fulton_hi.html