The Most Powerful Idea in the World

The Most Powerful Idea in the World
Author: William Rosen
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 401
Release: 2012-03-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 0226726347
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"The Most Powerful Idea in the World argues that the very notion of intellectual property drove not only the invention of the steam engine but also the entire Industrial Revolution." -- Back cover.

Sandbars and Sternwheelers

Sandbars and Sternwheelers
Author: Pamela A. Puryear
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2000-06
Genre:
ISBN: 9781585440580
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Nature never intended the Brazos River for navigation, but before the coming of the railroads Brazos steamboats were a necessary, if always erratic, form of transport. And there were men to meet the challenge. One captain, heedless of shallows, shoals, snags, and falls, boasted that he could tap a keg and run a boat four miles on the suds. Based on rich archival sources, this authoritative and entertaining book tells of the men and boats that braved the river from the earliest days to the late 1890s. Steamboat captains and plantation aristocrats, business tycoons and empire builders, mud clerks and river rats, all were obsessed with a single idea: to open the Brazos for steamboats from its headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico. The river was dredged and snags were removed, boats were designed with shallow draft, and boat owner, captain, and pilot (often one and the same) pitted their skills against the river. But the Brazos was recalcitrant. Seasonal rises silted in manmade channels and left behind new snags to catch the unwary. And as railroads inched their way across the state, the need for river transport dwindled. Railroad bridges across the Brazos finally created barriers that even a steamboat riding a "red rise" could not negotiate. By the turn of the century, the dauntless Brazos paddlewheelers were only a memory, but, even today, the dream dies hard along the river.

Steam Navigation and Its Relation To The Commerce of Canada and The United States

Steam Navigation and Its Relation To The Commerce of Canada and The United States
Author: James Croil
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
Total Pages: 285
Release: 2021-01-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:
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Steam Navigation and Its Relation to the Commerce of Canada and the United States by James Croil: A comprehensive examination of the impact of steam navigation on trade and commerce between Canada and the United States. James Croil delves into the history of steamships and their role in revolutionizing transportation and connecting distant regions. This book offers valuable insights into the economic significance of steam navigation in fostering international trade and shaping the relationship between the neighboring countries. Key Aspects of the Book "Steam Navigation and Its Relation to the Commerce of Canada and the United States": Technological Advancement: Croil's work highlights the significance of steam-powered vessels in revolutionizing transportation and expanding commercial opportunities. Trade and Commerce: The book explores the impact of steam navigation on the growth of trade between Canada and the United States, fostering economic ties between the two nations. Historical Context: Croil places steam navigation within the broader historical context of transportation development and its influence on international relations. James Croil was a Canadian engineer and historian with a particular interest in transportation and economic development. Born in 1831, he contributed to various engineering projects and conducted research on the development of steam navigation. His publication of Steam Navigation and Its Relation to the Commerce of Canada and the United States showcases his expertise in the subject and his commitment to shedding light on the importance of steam-powered transportation in shaping the economic landscape of North America.