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THE FIRST STEAMBOAT. 525
on the same day reported, "that they have examined the allegations therein
contained, and find them true, and are of opinion that the said invention will
be of great utility to facilitate the inland navigation of this State, and that a
laAv pass agreeably to the prayer of said petition." At the same session the
legislature passed an Act to invest him "with an exclusive privilege and
benefit of making and selling new invented boats on a model by him
invented." l
To demonstrate the feasibility of his project, James Rumsey had, in September, 1784, exhibited a boat which moved against the current of the Potomac River, to General Washington and a number of friends who had assembled to witness this great novelty. General Washington was highly gratified
Avith the experiment, and gave Rumsey the follevving certificate, dated the 7th
of September, 1784, of the efficiency of his boat, which he exhibited to the
members of the legislature, and no doubt hastened the action on his invention.
Washington says:
"I have seen the model of Mr. Rumsey's boats, constructed to work against stream,
examined the powers upon which it acts; been eye witness to an actual experiment in running water of some rapidity; and give it as my opinion (although I had little faith before)
that he has discovered the art of working boats by mechanism and small manual assistance against rapid currents; that the discovery is of vast importance; maybe of the
greatest usefulness in our inland navigation; and if it succeeds, of which I have no doubt,
that the value of it is greatly enhanced by the simplicity of the works; which, when seen
and explained, may be executed by the most common mechanic."
This boat appears to have been propelled by paddles and setting poles, the
motion being communicated by hand. In the course of the fall and winter
he directed his efforts to the development of steam as a motive power, which
he " had long conceived would become of the greatest consequence in navigation." He immediately applied himself to perfect his steam engine, and
induced ex-Governor Thomas Johnson, the friend of Washington, to give
him his patronage and assistance. Thomas Johnson was at this time the
owner and proprietor of Catocton Furnace, near Frederick, where a portion
of the necessary machinery Avas forged, while the boiler, two cylinders,
pumps, pipes, etc., were manufactured in Baltimore, by Christopher Raborg
and Charles Weir. Some portion of the works were made at the Antietam
Iron Works. The boat itself was built on the Potomac in the neighborhood
of Shepherds ToAvn, and in December, 1785, was brought down the river to
1 In January, 1786, John Fitch also petitioned May 1, 1789, announces to the public that he
the legislature for assistance "in bringing his constructed, in 1787, a steam engine for raising
theory of the elastic force of steam to experi- water for grist, oil and chocolate mills, forges,
ment;" but the condition of the finances of the manufactories, water works, etc, and flatters
State was such that the legislature could not himself "with having now a steam engine
advance public money to assist the petitioner, erected with a number of improvements." It
notwithstanding they were "strongly inclined was on exhibition in Baltimore, at the head of
to believe the probability of the success prom- the basin. He also invented a steam dredging
ised by the theory." machine.
Englehart Cruse, in the Maryland Journal of
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000568 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | THE FIRST STEAMBOAT. 525 on the same day reported, "that they have examined the allegations therein contained, and find them true, and are of opinion that the said invention will be of great utility to facilitate the inland navigation of this State, and that a laAv pass agreeably to the prayer of said petition." At the same session the legislature passed an Act to invest him "with an exclusive privilege and benefit of making and selling new invented boats on a model by him invented." l To demonstrate the feasibility of his project, James Rumsey had, in September, 1784, exhibited a boat which moved against the current of the Potomac River, to General Washington and a number of friends who had assembled to witness this great novelty. General Washington was highly gratified Avith the experiment, and gave Rumsey the follevving certificate, dated the 7th of September, 1784, of the efficiency of his boat, which he exhibited to the members of the legislature, and no doubt hastened the action on his invention. Washington says: "I have seen the model of Mr. Rumsey's boats, constructed to work against stream, examined the powers upon which it acts; been eye witness to an actual experiment in running water of some rapidity; and give it as my opinion (although I had little faith before) that he has discovered the art of working boats by mechanism and small manual assistance against rapid currents; that the discovery is of vast importance; maybe of the greatest usefulness in our inland navigation; and if it succeeds, of which I have no doubt, that the value of it is greatly enhanced by the simplicity of the works; which, when seen and explained, may be executed by the most common mechanic." This boat appears to have been propelled by paddles and setting poles, the motion being communicated by hand. In the course of the fall and winter he directed his efforts to the development of steam as a motive power, which he " had long conceived would become of the greatest consequence in navigation." He immediately applied himself to perfect his steam engine, and induced ex-Governor Thomas Johnson, the friend of Washington, to give him his patronage and assistance. Thomas Johnson was at this time the owner and proprietor of Catocton Furnace, near Frederick, where a portion of the necessary machinery Avas forged, while the boiler, two cylinders, pumps, pipes, etc., were manufactured in Baltimore, by Christopher Raborg and Charles Weir. Some portion of the works were made at the Antietam Iron Works. The boat itself was built on the Potomac in the neighborhood of Shepherds ToAvn, and in December, 1785, was brought down the river to 1 In January, 1786, John Fitch also petitioned May 1, 1789, announces to the public that he the legislature for assistance "in bringing his constructed, in 1787, a steam engine for raising theory of the elastic force of steam to experi- water for grist, oil and chocolate mills, forges, ment;" but the condition of the finances of the manufactories, water works, etc, and flatters State was such that the legislature could not himself "with having now a steam engine advance public money to assist the petitioner, erected with a number of improvements." It notwithstanding they were "strongly inclined was on exhibition in Baltimore, at the head of to believe the probability of the success prom- the basin. He also invented a steam dredging ised by the theory." machine. Englehart Cruse, in the Maryland Journal of |
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