Hudson River Day Line Introduction
Formation of the Hudson River Day Line - 1860's
Hudson River Day Line - 1860 to 1880
New Steamboats New York and Albany - 1880's
Hudson River Day Line
Formation of the Day Line - 1860's
The 1860's were very unsettling years for the country, but the Hudson River steamboat business entered an era of reduced competition and more reliable service. These were the years of the Civil War (1861-1865). As a result of the war, the federal government acquired steamboats for the blockade of Southern ports and to transport troops, equipment and supplies. Many of the newer steamboats built before the war were acquired by the government, which reduced the number of steamboats and competition on the river.
These were the years when the considerable talents of Cornelius Vanderbilt and Daniel Drew for fraud, deception, and stock manipulation became focused on the new railroads. Although they remained active in steamboats, they ceased being a major disruption to the orderly pursuit of business.
Finally in these years, steamboats specifically designed for the night or day trade started to be built. Night boats were built with staterooms and sleeping accommodations, while day boats provided large open areas for viewing Hudson River scenery.
Cornelius Vanderbilt competed for river travel for forty years. The Commodore owned more than fifty steamboats operated on many routes. When his attention shifted to the California gold rush of 1849 and ocean travel, the river business enjoyed better order and less cut-throat competition. Vanderbilt acquired the Hudson River Railroad and fought his old steamboat enemies with a new weapon.
In 1854, Daniel Drew re-incorporated the People's Line in New Jersey as the New Jersey Steamboat Company in order to better manage his combined railroad and steamboat freight business. The company discontinued its day line service, abandoned intermediate stops between New York and Albany, and sold off its smaller steamboats. A major building program was launched by the company to create a fleet of steamboats specifically designed for night service and freight.
Actions taken by Daniel Drew and the New Jersey Steamboat Company provided an opportunity for smaller, independent operators to offer day boat service between New York and Albany. Alfred Van Santvoord, one of the founders of the Hudson River Day Line, took this opportunity. He bought the steamboat Alida and entered the day boat business in 1856. Another steamboat, the Armenia owned by Capt. Isaac Smith, was also running between Albany and New York, but with little interference to Van Santvoord's boat. When the Alida was going upriver, the Armenia was going down river. Although independently owned, the two boats provided regular service.
In 1860, the steamboat Daniel Drew, owned by Daniel Drew of the New Jersey Steamboat Company, entered day boat service, but Drew soon sold his interest. Eventually, the Daniel Drew was sold at auction. It was purchased in 1863 by Alfred Van Santvoord and his partners, John McB. Davidson and Chauncey Vibbard, to operate as a day boat. The Daniel Drew was one of the best boats on the river, and Van Santvoord announced he would soon build a new steamboat to run with the Daniel Drew. Facing this threatened competition, Capt. Smith sold the Armenia to Von Santvoord.
Van Santvoord now controlled the day boats between Albany and New York. As far as passengers were concerned, the change in ownership of the Daniel Drew and Armenia made no difference. The two boats continued to operate on the same schedules and use the same agents as before. By the end of the 1863 season, Van Santvoord was operating the two boats as a single line. This combined operation was the beginning of the Hudson River Day Line.
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