 The Cavalcade of America presented by DuPont. In weeks and weeks, these presentations of the Cavalcade of America brought to you by DuPont have featured the contributions made to our national life and ideals by farmers, railroad builders, sailors, school teachers, physicians, explorers, and many others. All have played their part with steadfast faith and quiet courage. Not so well known to most of our listeners is the work done by people in America's chemical industry in carrying forward the discoveries of research chemistry and turning them into useful products. Some of these chemical products come to you identified by the DuPont oval trademark. Many are produced by DuPont for use by other manufacturers who in turn create countless items of comfort and convenience for you which are physical expression of the phrase, better thing chemistry. The DuPont Cavalcade Orchestra plays as an overture, two compositions of Victor Herbert, Jester Thorpe and Funtionello are the inventive pioneers who looked into the future and began the vision that men could go down to the sea and steam ship. It began on the quaker farm of Joseph Longstaff in Buck County, Pennsylvania. There in the spring of 1785, Joseph's son Joshua finds a neighbor named John Fitch busy on the banks of a stream. Joshua, what is it? It's only my busy with other matters. Very well. What has he got there? A boat. A very strange looking boat. It's only two feet long. It's a model, Joshua. I don't think I ever saw anything quite like it before. No right, Joshua, or anyone else. I ain't got the idea of a man. Two rows of paddles, six on each side. Oh, that ain't worth. No man could move all those 12 paddles. No man is supposed to move. Connected with his driving rod. And that disappears into a box. What is in the little box, John? Magic? No, Joshua. Steam. And when there's plenty of steam, blow this little whistle. That's called a safety valve. Then what happens? Then I'll let some of the steam into the box, and don't be frightened, it's perfectly safe. She and she is trialed safe. Help me put it in the water. Yes, John. Yeah. Oh, it's heavy. Yes, it's heavy laden. Months of work, and all my hopes are in it. There we are. Well, it's close to all right. Too bad there are no sails or anything to make it go. Oh, it shouldn't need sails, or even a wind, Joshua. Just the steam. Now, when I pull this lever, it should start to work. There. Steam. Paddles begin to move. So does I both. Yes, Joshua, yes. John, what does he call this wonder? Well, I haven't thought of any special name for it. It's just a steamboat. John Fitzpatten for his invention, and secured from the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Virginia the exclusive privilege to build and operate steamboats on all their waterways for 14 years. He raised enough money in Philadelphia to build a steamboat 45 feet long for the assistance of Henry Boyce, the watchmaker. At last, on August 22, 1787, the boat is ready to be launched into the Delaware River. Great crowds are on the bank to see this wonder. John Morris, one of the syndicates that raised money for the experiment, stands anxiously with John Fitz near the waves. You're quite sure, Mr. Fitz, that when your boat hits the water, she's not breaking too? Mr. Morris, nothing on earth is certain. On the water, it's even more uncertain. Well, your invention has cost a lot of money. If your toy should fail to work, it's not a toy, Mr. Morris. Even though it's only the fourth steam engine in America, so many distinguished persons do not gather to watch toys. What just were? What are you doing in town here? Bothers drove me in to see the real boat on the Delaware. I hope you don't see it go to the bottom of it. How can they say such a thing? Most of this crowd here thinks it more than likely. If they didn't see the launch by model, this big boat looks a very image of it. It is, exactly. Then it must float, too. But it's heavier. And it's bigger, so it'll float even better. You give me courage, Joshua. John, cool all those men over there. And while there's a special place to set aside for them, are they builders of boats, too? No, well, in a way they are. But they're building a ship much greater than mine, Joshua. Another steamboat? No. It's mightier power than steam. They're building our ship of states. Those men are members of the new constitutional convention. Everything's ready, John. The tide is right. Oh, boy. Is steam up? I've got full pressure ready. All right. Let's launch it. I'm aboard, John. Well, John, I'll go back to my father. All right, Joshua. Wish me well. Good voyage, John. Thank you. Hey, give me a hand, boy. There you are. I'm aboard. Thanks. Hey, you'll be in back there. Got away the phone. All right, man. Knock those shocks out. Yeah. When she's afloat, boy, I'll give you a signal. Then give her the steam. Very good, John. She's moving, John. Guys, don't, it's all right. But we may need the tall line to get it short. Yes, sit off. This is no canal boat. We'll sink or swim, but we won't be towed. We're nearly at the water. The lord be with us, boys. She surely does. Oh, how well she rides. Give her steam, boy. Give her steam. I'll take the helm. All right. That was a turning. Is everything all right, John? I don't know, boy. I don't know. She's making headway against the tide. Good. Listen to the people cheer. Well, we've made a good start. I wonder where we'll end. Why, will we? Finish at Bloomington. 20 miles of steam. No, boys. I think the steamboat is tired of the boys. That won't be finished for a century. So successful was his 45 foot steamboat that in 1788, which built a 60 footer, had carried 30 passengers. And two years later, a larger boat with a stern paddle wheel rammed the 20 miles upstream to Burlington in three hours and 10 minutes in regular service. But the cost of operating the lines was very high, and the mechanics of steam engines were not well known then. Besides competition from stagecoaches was greater along the Delaware than any other river. The outlook was unprofitable. Within a few years, the steamboat of John Fitch was but a memory. A new name loomed on the horizon, Robert Fulton. Although Fulton did not launch his first boat till after Fitch had died, he had been interested in canals and inland navigation. His work takes him to Paris, where in 1802, Robert Livingston, the American minister to France, hears what he has accomplished and sends for him. You, uh, sent for me, Mr. Livingston? Yes, Mr. Fulton. Since you built your diving boat for Napoleon, I've been thinking about your work. Oh, you, you heard of the Nautilus. Well, I'm afraid it was more curious than useful. Well, still, I'm told it stayed submerged for four hours. Four hours and a half to be exact. Er, not that it mattered. The British fleet refused to come our way, and we had to bring my fine torpedoes back on you. I see. But would you like to use your inventive power for purposes of daily use? They prefer it. You know, when I was a boy of ten, I made my own pencils out of sheet lead so that I could draw. I've heard you were a good draftman. But my interest in mechanics has a less, uh, praiseworthy origin, which is laziness. Well, yes, when I live near Lancaster, er, I'm a pencil vaning, you see. I used to like to go fishing on the Conestoga Creek, but I hated to roll boats. So I fashioned a pair of paddle wheels connected with an offset bar, like a turn-by-hand with a gentle swaying of the body. Very pleasant. Have you ever thought of turning those paddle wheels with anything but muscle? Oh, what else? Oh, I see. You mean steam. Exactly. Well, I have no funds, and such toys cost money. I have the money, and something more. I'm interested in developing the steamboat in America. You see, I have the franchise for steamboat navigation in the state of New York. Well, there are plenty of bad roads and good water there to make steamboat transportation desirable, and you're practical enough to make it profitable. Thank you. Unfortunately, New York's a long way off. Do you object to going back? Well, my prospects at present seem quite excellent with Napoleon. I'm not sure I want to return to America this time. Oh, Uncle Robert. Uncle Robert, I... Oh, I'm sorry. Am I interrupting? Come in, my dear. Now, this is Mr. Fulton. My niece, Miss Harriet Livingston. How do you do? Mr. Robert Fulton, who invented the diving boat? Your servant, ma'am. I've just been trying to persuade Mr. Fulton to go back to America and build a steamboat for me. And you refused, Mr. Fulton? I hesitated, Miss Livingston. I appreciate your uncle's offer, but, well, I want you to think it over before you make a final decision, Mr. Fulton. I'm sailing in a week's time, and I'd be very happy to know that you were going to be on the same packet with my niece and myself. Oh, may I add a word to my uncle's plea, Mr. Fulton? It doesn't seem right that America's talented men should give their inventions to any but their own country. Can't I appeal to your patriotism? Well, I only hesitated, Miss Livingston, because so far, France has offered more opportunities for my work. I am offering you a chance not only to make a name for yourself, but to be of some service to your country. Arrive at Brown Shipyards and Greenwich Village to meet Fulton for the trial trip. Well, there she is, Harriet. Ready and waiting. It's wonderful, Robert, to see that you made it all yourself. Oh, hardly myself, my dear. The engine was designed by Joe Barlow. It was built in England by Bolton and Watt. And the boat itself was built by Charles Brown. But it was your idea. Well, it was your uncle's idea, really. And if it hadn't been for your persuasive powers, I'd probably still be in France trying to build a diving boat. Oh, it's certainly a lovely ship, Robert. How long is it? A hundred and thirty-three feet and seven feet deep. Oh, I didn't notice it first. The name painted on the side there. You've named it Claremont after Uncle Robert's place on the Hudson. Claremont is your home, too, you know. And who is supposed to be complimented the more? Uncle Robert or me? I resisted the temptation to name her Harriet because, well, if she turned out to be a failure... The success of this venture means a lot to you, doesn't it, Robert? More than I can say, Harriet. If I succeed, I'll no longer be a penniless inventor. I'll be able to ask your father for permission to announce our engagement. I gave you that permission long ago. Oh, I know, dear, but... Well, Robert... Oh, here comes your uncle now. Everything in readiness for the trial? Oh, yes, Mr. Livingston. The steam has been up for some time. Shall we walk over to the dock and go aboard? Robert, are you sure it won't explode? Don't be frightened. Mr. Fulton can swim. Oh, I'm sure it's safe, Harriet. What provision have you made against fire? Well, I hope to keep it entirely confined to the boilers. Up there under that housing is a 20-foot boiler set in brick. The engine is forward. Will steam really turn those paddle wheels? Well, they look enormous. They're over 15 feet across. How fast will it go? I don't know, but we'll soon see. The crowd on the dock seems interested. Yes, yes, hoping to see a catastrophe, undoubtedly. Will you let us pass, please? We want to get aboard. Oh, thanks. You know what I had, I'm sure I wouldn't take a chance. Oh, Fulton's folly is about to start. I hope so, my friend. I bet she blows up before she gets out in the river. Well, I'm not afraid. I'm going aboard. Let her take sail along with you, mister. Come, Robert. Come, Harriet. Yes, I do. Look at them. Crazy fools. Anyone knows you can't drive a boat by steam? Well, sure. Say them notables aboard don't look any too happy. I'm waiting to see them all get a wetting in the river. Well, we'll soon know. Casting off. Say, where's she planning to go? Albany, he says. Oh. Tides against her. Winds against her. She'll never make it. Here, cast against her. Watch it. She'll blow up in a minute. There you go. Hey, hey, hey. Well, will you look at that? Well, she's moving. Trying to see. Against the wind and tide. I never would have believed it. Hey! You was the one who said it wouldn't work. Well, it can change your mind, can't I? Well, please. Made her first trip to Albany and returned in 62 hours running time, averaging nearly five miles per hour. The only other ways of travel up the Hudson then were by very bad roads or by sailboats, often against wind and tide. So the comfortable, reliable clear amount was a commercial success. City of America presented by DuPont moves on. More steamboats are built, but all of them depended on wood for fuel under their boilers. One of these is operated by Captain Daniel Peck. One day Peck has as his passenger a delightful old gentleman, the Rev. Deliplet Knott, President of Union College, who cheerfully comes to the wharf at Albany. Well, Captain, nice day. I'm looking forward to a delightful trip down the Hudson. Yes, a boring accident. Well, that Captain is as always in the hands of Providence. Shall I go aboard? If you don't mind a piece of advice, doctor, I'll seat in the barge you were towing. Oh, why the barge? Why not here on the steamboat? Well, sir, you'll find the barge more comfortable. And cheaper too? No, sir. To be honest with you, sir, places in the barge cost more. Well, then I have two good reasons for riding on the steamboat. First, it is cheaper. And second, I want to see how the engine works. Well, suit yourself, sir. I don't say I didn't advise you differently. But I can't understand why it's cheaper to ride on the boat instead of the barge. You don't have to understand it. All you have to do is believe it. Well, anyway, I look more closely at the engine. It's a strange thing to see a clergyman and a teacher so interested in engines. The fact is I'm more interested in the boiler. The boilers could stand more attention than they get. On board there. Throw another one for the wood on the fire. Aye, aye, sir. It's seasoned wood, sir. It burns fast and hot. I should think it'd make a lot of difference what kind of wood it is if you want to control the fire. Sir, nobody can control fire under a boiler. It gives you too much steam or no steam or some steam. There's no telling what. There's no one invented a way to control it. It's like making soup, every man to his own taste. Well, now, maybe I could give that problem some thought. Are you an adventer, too? I have experimented with the properties of heat and made some improvements in stoves and so forth. Wood stoves? No coal stoves. Coal would be no good for steamboats. How would you get it to burn right? Well, I couldn't tell you at the moment, but it's something to think about. Yeah, wood is so very unsatisfactory and so unreliable. All right. I'll give orders to start as thank you. Look out! Look out! Am I doctor? Yes, I think so. At least I didn't have to dive in the water for safety like some of your other passengers. Ever want to count a car? Aye, aye, Captain. Not a soul hood. That's good. I tried not to let you in for this, doctor. I think I understand now why the seats in the barge are more expensive. We really should find some way to prevent a similar accident. Dr. Aleph Lipnot decided to combine the improvements on a domestic stove with the problem of a good steam boiler and in 1829 filed six patents covering the application of heat to steam boilers. They brought into existence the first base-burning stove to use the hard anthracite coal. In order to test the practicability of this new boiler, he designed a boat 150 feet long and had it built in New York. Captain Peck was given command and on the evening of May 18th, 1831, Dr. Knott's boat, as it was called, docked at Albany where it was greeted by an interested crowd. Dr. Knott, your boilers are a success. Well, I don't think they'll blow up, Captain. Yeah, like you are, sir. Dr. Knott, may I speak to you a moment? Just a moment, young man. Dr. Knott's going ashore. Dr. Knott, I represent the Albany Argus and I'd appreciate a word or two about your new boat. Gladly, sir. She's a fine-looking boat, doctor. Most unusual, in fact. She's full of new improvements. That's why I call her the novelty. I understand the boilers are your invention. And you burn anthracite coal? Yes, yes. It gives the greatest heat for the smallest fuel space. How far will the coal take you? Well, many times further than the same space filled with wood. That's very interesting, sir. I think I am safe to predict that within 12 months, ships equipped with anthracite boilers like those will be crossing the Atlantic. May I quote you on that, sir? Certainly, sir. Thank you very much, Dr. Knott. You've done something big for navigation. Now, one more question. How long did it take you to make this trip? Well, we left New York at 9 this morning. 13 hours? That's a record. Just think, all that power coming from anthracite coal. Give some credit, my friend, to man's inventive minds and the guidance of divine providence. Three men of vision, each endowed with a spirit of experiment, imagination, and service to mankind, did the pioneer work that developed steam navigation. All honor to these men who have their inspiration to the power of progress in the cavalcade of America. Early steamboats are just memories today. Phantom ships of the past brought to life for these few fleeting minutes in the cavalcade of America. Today, as we read the daily papers, go to the newsreels, or scan the travel folders, our minds are centered on such noble ships as the Queen Mary, the Normandy, and other floating palaces. John Fitch's first steamboat could be tucked into that part of the smoke stack of the Normandy that rises above the top deck with plenty of room to spare. But modern progress in shipbuilding is more than a matter of size alone. It has to do with every kind of material and equipment. DuPont Chemical Research has contributed much to this progress, and one good example is found in Dulux Marine Finishes. If you've ever seen discarded ships anchored in some backwater, deserted and uncared for, rusting and rotting away under the attacks of water and weather, you will appreciate the importance of the finish used to protect the hull and superstructure. That's why sailors are always busy with paintbrushes. For years, DuPont Chemists carried on tests to find the base for a finishing material that would be superior to anything in the world for endurance and appearance, especially for protection against the vicious attacks of such destroyers as salt spray, salt air, and harbor gases. Finally, after countless experiments, they found such a base, and various finishes made from it are called Dulux. Another feature of Dulux Marine Finishes is the ease with which they can be cleaned and washed. You may well imagine that the constant scrubbing and hosing down received by ships in order to keep them trim and ship-shaped is a wearing process. Not only does Dulux stand up under this wear, but its remarkable, glossy smoothness makes cleaning much easier. Wherever Dulux is used, it protects against deterioration. In the home, it retains its clean, white beauty on refrigerators despite humidity, grease, and abrasion. On steel structures, it retards rust and corrosion. On other surfaces, it withstands changing temperatures, excessive moisture, dust, and grime. It is used in hundreds of ways on thousands of articles. This DuPont chemical achievement is just one more illustration of the way DuPont makes good its pledge. Better things for better living through chemistry. American journalism will be the title of the broadcast when next week, at the same time, DuPont again presents the Cavalcade of America. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System. WABC, New York.