In the winter of 1871-1872 the organization
of the Citizens' Steamboat Company of Troy was effected
with a capital stock of $250,000, divided into 2,500 shares
of $100 each. The first directors of the company, Norman
B. Squires, Charles Eddy, Charles W. Farnam, Robert Robinson,
Robert Green, Henry H. Darling, Charles L. MacArthur,
E. D. Beach, James R. Fonda, William Kemp, Thomas D. Abrams,
George W. Horton, and Joseph Cornell, were elected on
January 22d, 1872. The articles of association were signed
by the directors on February 19th.
The steamboats, Thomas Powell and Sunnyside,
having been purchased of Cornell, Horton & Co., of
Catskill, N. Y., began plying as night-boats, between
the city and New York, at the opening of navigation, in
the spring. After the loss of the Sunnyside, on December
1st, 1875, the company determined to build two boats which,
in size and appointments, should surpass any of the boats
previously plying between Troy and New York.
The contract for the construction of
one was given to John English & Son, of Greenpoint,
L. I. On January 2d, 1876, the building of the boat was
begun and on April 1st, she was launched and named the
City of Troy. On the morning of June 15th, that year,
she arrived at the steamboat-landing, at the foot of Broadway;
Captain L. D. Deming, formerly of the C. Vanderbilt, commanding
her. Previous to the City of Troy taking her place on
the line, the Twilight, Captain C. D. Hancox, substituted
the Sunnyside. The Saratoga was launched form the yard
of John English & son, on March 26th, 1877, and arrived
at Troy on June 13th; Captain T. D. Abrams, of the Thomas
Powell, commanding her. Captain Thomas D. Abrams has had
the command of the Saratoga since that time, and Captain
G. D. Wolcott of the City of Troy since 1878.