experiment with his old boiler; and the said Charles says, that Mr. Barns (Mr. Rumsey's principal Mechanic) Continued during the winter to execute the different improvements Mr. Rumsey had made; in the Spring, 1786, the Machinery was put on the boat, and the first trial made, the said Charles being on board; that she went against the current until the steam escaped, by the then imperfectness of the machine. Upon an experiment made with the new boiler, the heat of the Steam was so greatly increased, that it dissolved the soft Solder, which had been thought, and before had proved, sufficient for cementing the sundry parts of such machines; and as hard solder was obliged to be used in the repairs, delays were necessarily created. July 1787, Mr. Rumsey had his new-constructed boiler repaired, which he the said Charles conceives to be the most capital contrivance to make steam that can be invented, for when the Machine is not at work, the whistling of the Steam may be heard at least half a mile; and he is convinced that it does not hold more than three gallons of water; and the said Charles further saith that Mr. Rumsey has for several years steadily pursued his boat scheme, to the total Neglect of every other Kind of business, which has very considerably injured his circumstances, having Mr. Barns employed at five pound per month; since the year eighty-five; and that he conceives the boat to be now near her completion: And the said Charles has not a doubt but Mr. Rumsey ist equal to the task of making her perform according to the original position. Sworn to and subscribed before me, December 8th, 1787. Berkeley County, Virginia, ss. JOHN KEARSLEY. CHARLES MORROW. (No. 12.) This day came Joseph Barnes before me one of the justices of the peace for the said county, and made oath, that he was employed by Mr. James Rumsey, in May, 1785, to build a boat on Potowmack river, near the town of Bath, and that he was then informed by the said Rumsey, that the boat, when finished, was to be propelled by steam, and that he had built the boat. Soon after (he thinks in September) he went, by the request of Mr. Rumsey, to Baltimore, to get some machinery cast for the boat; and in October and November in Frederick-town, he got all the other machinery made for an experiment by Steam. In December it was put on the Boat, at Shanandoah Falls, but before it could. be got ready for trial, the ice began to drive, which prevented it: Also, that Mr. Rumsey, during the Winter invented his new constructed boiler, and had it made ready to put together before the Spring, but it was so badly executed, that he declined making the experiment with it, but proposed to try his old boiler; accordingly in April 1786, the experiment was made, and the boat went against the current of Potowmack, but many parts of the machine being imperfect, and some parts rendered useless by the heat of the steam, he was obliged to have it repaired, which was done at the Great Falls, and she was again tried, but failed in the repaired work though it made many powerful strokes before it failed, and sent the boat forward with such power, that one man was not able to hold her. The next experiment was attempted in December, with the new constructed boiler, but the violence of the heat was so great, from the steam, that it melted the soft solder that great part of the machine was put together with, and rendered it entirely useless, until repaired with hard solder; about this time the ice drifting, carried off the boat which the machinery was made for, and destroyed her in such a manner, that the repairing her was equal to one half of the expense of building a new one: That the boat was, in the spring, 1787 repaired, the machine also, and was ready for trial in September, when the boat moved up the river, against the current, with about two tons on board, besides the machinery, at the rate of two miles per hour; but the new boiler was so badly made, that it opened at several of its joints, which let great quantities of the steam escape and the said Barns further saith, that to his Knowledge, the machine at the last trial, on December 3, 1787, was very imperfect in many parts, as the same boiler was then made use of, after receiving some repairs: It is his opinion it may be brought to answer very valuable purposes, as it will be simple, cheap, light and durable, and may be applied to a ship of the largest size to advantage, having no external application whatever. And the said Barns further saith, that Mr. Rumsey has, to his Knowledge, injured his circumstances very much, by quitting all kinds of business to pursue the boat; that he the said Barns, has received of the said Rumsey five pounds per month besides his board, from April, 1785, to the present time; which in his opinion, is but a small part of the expenses the said Mr. Rumsey must have been at in the prosecuting his plan. His new constructed boiler must exceed every thing of that kind yet extant, as it will not hold more than twenty pints, and in his opinion will make more steam than a five hundred gallon boiler in the common way and from the observation he has made, has reason to believe, that six bushels of good coals will serve it for twelve hours. The Weight of the present machine is about seven hundred pound, and will not occupy more space than four flour barrels. Sworn before me, this 10th December, 1787. CATO MOORE. (No. 13.) A PARAGRAPH from GENERAL WASHINGTON's Letter, in answer to mine of the 10th of March 1785. "It gives me much pleasure to find by your letter, that you are not less sanguine in your boat project than when I saw you in Richmond, and that you have made such further discoveries as will render them more extensively useful than was at first expected, you have my best wishes for the success of your plan." (No. 14.) ANNAPOLIS, December 18, 1787 SIR, In compliance with your request I mention the principal facts and circumstances, with which I am acquainted respecting your Steam Engine, and your expectation of its effect in boat navigation. I was entirely ignorant of the principle on which you were to gain your power, and your manner of applying it, till our return from the Great Falls together, in October or November (but I think October) 1785, when you told me that you relied on steam for your first power, and wished me to promote your having cylinders cast at my brother's and my works; the attempt did not succeed. I considered myself under an obligation of secrecy till in the progress of making copper cylinders in Frederick-Town some time after, when I found, that the designed purpose of the cylinder was a subject of pretty general conversation. Being on the committee appointed to consider and report on Mr. Fitch's petition, I thought it my duty to mention what was in my memory, of your telling me that you had communicated your principle to General Washington, as I thought, tho' perhaps mistakenly, at the time your model and experiment were exhibited before the General; and with the approbation of the committee, wrote to the General on the subject; his answer now before me, is to this effect, that "at that time, September, 1784, nothing was intimated of Steam; that the November following, in Richmond, you spoke to him of the effect of steam, and of the conviction you were under of the usefulness of its application for the purpose of inland Navigation," but the General seems to have thought it an immatured idea, that he did not then imagine you relied on. Mr. Fitch having often mentioned the time (I think April 1785) when the idea first struck him, and yours being prior, the committee could not report in favor of Mr. Fitch, the Gen. added to his answer, "It is proper for me herewith to add, that some time after this Mr. Fitch called on me, in his way to Richmond, and explaining his scheme, wanted a letter from me introductory to the Assembly of this (Virginia) state, the giving of which I declined, and went so far as to inform him, that though I was enjoined not to disclose the principles of Mr. Rumsey's discovery, yet I would venture to assure him, that the thought of applying steam was not original, but had been mentioned to me by Mr. Rumsey. I esteem myself no ways competent to decide on philosophical or mechanical principles, but if you can simplify the steam engine, render it cheap, and apply its powers to raise water in great quantities for the purpose of agriculture and water works of all kinds, or apply the powers more immediately, as has been much the subject of conversation between us at times, every man may easily perceive a vast field of improvement will thereby be opened, which I most sincerely wish you may largely reap the good fruits of, I am Sir, your most obedient servant, This day came Michael Bedinger, before me one of the Justices of the Peace for the said county, and made oath, that Mr. James Rumsey informed him, in, or before the month of March 1784, that he was of opinion that a boat might be constructed to work by Steam, and that he intended to give it a trial, and mentioned some of the machinery that would be necessary to reduce it to practice: and the said Michael further saith, that he set out for Kentucky, immediately after, in order to survey some lands, and resided there upwards of Eighteen months, and that during the time of his stay there, he frequently mentioned Mr. Rumsey's boat scheme: He believes that he also mentioned, that it was to be wrought by steam. The above was voluntarily sworn before me, by Capt. Bedinger, who is a gentleman of reputation. We whose names are hereunto subscribed, certify, that the within mentioned Michael Bedinger is a gentleman of reputation and veracity. The underwritten is a paragraph of a letter from a Mr. Daniel Buckley, living near Philadelphia, to a gentleman of Berkeley county, Virginia, and "Dr McMechen," whom Mr. Buckley is so concerned for, is a partner with Mr Rumsey in his steamboat. 'Tis copied and annexed, to prove how busy Mr Fitch has been in caluinny, and how easily he found credit and propagators. Should he incline to assert hereafter, what credit he will deserve has been so clearly proved, that future impositions may be avoided; and those who spread slander they do not believe, deserve the contempt of all honest men. "Please to give my sincere respects to Doctor McMechen1 and his worthy lady-he is my most particular acquaintance and truly I am sorry he has been deluded by a person, who I have reason to believe is a deceiver, as Mr. Fitch, of Philadelphia, says, Mr. Rumsey got what small knowledge he has of steam from him, but he retained the Essentials, without which, he says M Rumsey cannot succeed." We do certify that the above paragraph was taken from the aforesaid letter, and copied in our presence. CHARLES MORROW, GEORGE ROOTES. 1. In the 1st edition of this pamphlet this name is printed "McMahon."-ED. POSTSCRIPT. It was not my intention, at this time to present to the Public a description of some improvements I have made upon the construction of Water Mills of several kinds, and would not have introduced the small sketch given here, of some part of such plans which I now have, and hereafter may propose, and exhibit to the world, but as I find by' experience, that there is danger of being supplanted or undermined in any useful and profitable discovery, where the inventor cannot preserve to himself, the plan entirely until he has brought it to that perfection which would authorise his producing it to the Public and claiming the reward they might consider his invention merited, I therefore, from the solicitations and advice of several friends have ventured to drop the following hints relative to some of them. On considering the common method of applying water to work mills of every sort, or any other machines, I have found there is but a very small part of the power applied, inadequate greatly to what might be had, from the quantity of water expended, especially for undershot wheels; I therefore endeavoured, by a practicable examination to find whether a method might not be discovered to remedy the defect, so as to apply the power of water in a more effectual and advantageous manner. On investigation of Doctor Barker's thoughts on a new invented mill, that if a few difficulties (which appeared insuperable in his plan) could be removed, it would be the most powerful method of directing water to turn mills, or other machinery (where circumvolution is required) that has been yet discovered or made use of. These apparent difficulties I have been happy enough to find out effectual means to obviate, by an application of the water, on nearly the same principles as those suggested by the Doctor, though more simple and less expensive. The utility of these propositions I have proved by experiments, whence I found, that a fourth part of the expended water, and a tenth part of the expense usually accrued, will pay the cost, and answer every purpose of all the work or mechanism, at present made use of, for grist mills, &c. With regard to a Saw Mill, or any other machines that have retrograde movements, I have contrived a method of supplying them with water, in such a manner, that one twentieth part of what is generally expended, will answer every intent and purpose requisite-My new invented Machine for raising Water, is simple; the cost will not be more than twenty guineas, to complete the mechanism of one sufficiently large to raise water to work six saws, or turn a grist mill. Models of these machines I have, and purpose taking them with me to the next meetings of the different Assemblies, to whom I mean to apply, for encouragement, and at the same time convince them of the truth and utility of my proposals. (No. 19.) The following is part of a letter wrote by the editor, to his Excellency General Washington, dated the 10th. of March, 1785. After mentioning that kind of machine for propelling boats which the General had seen a model of, I proceed to say," I have taken the greatest pains to perfect another kind of boat, upon the principles I mentioned to you at Richmond in November last, and have the pleasure to inform you that I have brought it to great perfection; it is true it will cost something more than the other way, but, when in use, will be more manageable, and can be worked with as few hands; the power is immense-and I have quite convinced myself that boats of passage may be made to go against the current of the Mississippi or Ohio rivers, or in the Gulf Stream (from the Leeward to the Windward-Islands) from sixty to one hundred miles per day. I know this will appear strange and improbable to many persons, yet I am very certain it may be performed, besides, it is simple (when understood) and is also strictly philosophical. The principle of this boat I am very cautious not to explain, as it would be easily executed by an ingenious person. The plan I mean to pursue, is to put both the machines on board of boats* built on a large scale, and then, sir, if you would be kind enough to see them make actual performances, I should not doubt but the Assemblies would allow me something handsome, which would be more advantageous to the public than to give me the exclusive right of using them. * There were two boats connected, in the model I exhibited in September 1784, which is the reason I speak of boats in the plural, as experiment has convinced me that a single boat would not succeed on that principle, FINIS. NOTE. The preceding pamphlet was first published by Rumsey January 1, 1788, under the Title of "A PLAN wherein the power of Steam is fully shewn, By a new constructed Machine, for propelling Boats or Vessels, of any burthen, against the most rapid streams or rivers, with great velocity. Also a MACHINE, constructed on similar philosophical principles, by which water may be raised for Grist or Saw-Mills, watering of Meadows, &c. &c." pp. 20. It is this Edition that Fitch alludes to in his "Preface, post. p. 604." But it is identically a reprint of the above, with the exception of a paragraph complaining of some person in Baltimore who in June, 1787, borrowed his plan of raising water by steam, and then had a machine made on Mr. Rumsey's principle. This person had the audacity to petition the Maryland Assembly to give him an exclusive right for the emoluments of another's invention, so surreptitiously obtained; but he received the denial he so justly merited." The "Postscript" and the Extract of General Washington's Letter of 10th March, 1785, are not in the first Edition. Whoever desires to consult this last mentioned Edition of Rumsey, will find it in "Pamphlets," Vol. 82, N. Y. Soc. Library, to which Institution we are indebted for the copy of Rumsey published above. A copy is also mentioned in the Catalogue of the Library Company, Philadelphia.-ED. |