Fulton Chain Steamers II: Crosby Transportation Company Years
1896–1901: Part One
From 1892 to 1895, steamboat managers tried to outdo each other to attract passengers arriving on Dr. Webb’s railroad.
But these efforts suffered from the growing pains of an embryonic village and bad business practices from Fulton Chain to the Old Forge dock.
Former President Harrison and Victor Adams recognized and experienced the problems.
As the Utica Sunday Tribune reported, “At the depot everyday are ‘pullers in’ and ‘runners’ for the several boats which run to the head of the lakes. As soon as a traveler alights from the train he is importuned to take this or that boat.
Then, if he consents to go on a certain boat, perhaps the ‘runner’ for the other boat will get the check for his baggage, and passenger and baggage will go up the lakes on separate boats. The baggage man had no badge and the men who operate two of the boats go daily down to Remsen to ‘drum up’ business on the way between that station and Fulton Chain.” It was hoped that Dr. Webb’s agent H. D. Carter would take steps to “obliterate the nuisances which are hampering this resort”.
Another paper reported how the rivalry among the oldest (“Fulton”), biggest (“C. L. Stowell”) and fastest (“Zip”) captains hurt both the steamers and the summer visitors. “If one boat started out from the Old Forge dock, the two others started out after it, and the three boats played a game of tag for 24 miles-each captain fearing he might lose some passengers”.(Watertown Daily Times)
At the beginning of 1896, these three steamers were handling all of the transportation of the lakes. William McConnell planned to convert the “Minnie H.” to a grocery boat.
At the end of March 1896, gentlemen of the newly formed Old Forge Company met at Baggs Hotel in Utica and resolved to take control of Fulton Chain transportation.
Victor Adams of Little Falls had purchased 50% of the Forge House and Forge Tract owned by Samuel Garmon and Dr. Alexander Crosby.
Then these individuals transferred the properties to the new Old Forge [Improvement] Company. These capitalists then formed the Crosby Transportation Company named after that Company’s vice-president.
The Crosby Transportation Company planned to control steamer traffic by transporting travelers on planned two mile railroad from Fulton Chain to the Old Forge dock; leasing or purchasing the three present steamers; having the steamers leave at regular, scheduled intervals; and a move that caused future legal problems, claiming as private property the dock in front of Forge House and the waters under it, making them unavailable to rival steamers without approval.
During the 1896 year, the Company purchased the “Zip” and “Fulton” and leased the “C. L. Stowell”, the new railroad was built and no significant steamboat opposition occurred. They now set prices.
Fred Hess also was aware of the transportation problems incurred by the patrons of his popular Hess’ Inn at the head of Fourth Lake. At the same time the Crosby Transportation Company was being formed, he testified in March 1896 in favor of the new railroad being proposed.
He also claimed that he was having a steamer built in Rome in partnership with the Burton Brothers, William and Robert. He planned to carry folks directly to his hotel without stopping at all of the typical stops on the way.
Suffering a fire at his hotel in August, Hess sold his hotel in October 1896 to the Moshier Brothers but the steamer would be finished.
During 1896 Parsons purchased Seeber’s interest in the boat shop adjoining the state dam.
Continued next week…
