Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-01-19

Ahe JtFSt 6ppacott0n 81 ofedm 10 bodfs.
II having been stated in the "VIrginia
Free Press,n aud 'TShepherdstown Jour-
nal" that DIR. Rumseg bad invented
a Steam Engine, for propelllng boats,
forty years ago, and requesting infor-
nation as to the fact. we are enabled,
through the politeness of gentleman
in this city, 10 furnish some evidence al
the truth Of il.
We have in our possession pamphle,
printed in 1888, entitled "a plan where
in the power Of steam is fully sbewn.
by new constructed machine for pro.
polling boats or vessels of any burlhen,
against the most rapid streams or rivers
with great velocity. Also, a machine
constructed on similar philosophical
principles, by which water may be rails
ed fer grist or.saw mills, watering mea-
dows, Sc. byJames Rumsey, Of Berke
ley county, Virginia. from which we
learn that the author had obtained. as
far back as the year 1854, the exclusive
tight to the use OF his invention from the
states of Maryland and Virginia, and in
the month of September in that We ar had
submitted to General Washington mo-
del ct his boat and machinery.
That the plan proved successful, is
shewn by variety of certificates, from
gentlemen ofthe first responsibility, who
witnessed it in actual operation. As
they are alt to the same effect, we deem
it only necessary to select the first,
| which is from the late General Gates.
Berkeley county, Vir IS.
| On Monday. December 8. 1887, I was re-.
| quested to see an experiment on Potomac ri.
yer, by Mr.. James Rumsey's Steam Boat, and
had no small pleasure to sse her get on way,
with near half her burthen on board, and move
against the current at the rate Of three miles
per hour. by the force ofsteam, without any
external application whatever. I am well in.
formed, and verify believe, that the machine
at present 10 very imperfect, and by no means
capable of performing what il would do if com
pleted: have not the least doubt but it may
be brought into common and beneficial use,
and be Of advantage to all navigations, as the
machine is simple. light, and cheap and will
be exceedingly. durable, and does not occupy
space in the boat of more than four fee, by two
and half
HoRATrO GATES.
Late VI jor Genera in the Continental Army.
The following explanation he gives
as furnishing general idea of the prin-
cipies by which steam acts on and pro-
pels his boat: IDS
I'm the bottom of tue boat, where a
kelson should be, there is trunk So
feet long; the after end is open and ter
minated at the stern post; the other end
is closed, and the whole trunk, accor-
ding to its dimentions, occupies about
three fourth part. of the length of the
boat On the closed end Of this trunk
stands cylinder, two and halffeet long,
from this cylinder there Is a commune
cation into the bottom of the cylinder,
by a tube or pipe, TO the river or water,
under the boat; on the top of this tube,
and within the cyl.,der, there is valve
20 admit the water from the river into
the cylinder, it likewise prevents it from
returning again the same way. On the
top of this cylinder there stands another
of the same length and is fixed to the
under one by screws; each of these cy-
finders has a piston made tight, which
works up and down with very little fric-
ton: these pistons are connected with
each other by smooth bolt, (they be-
ing well screwed to its ends) passing
through the bottom of the upper cylin-
der; the ower cylinder acts as pump,
which draws water from the river thro'
the tube and valve before described;
the return of the piston forces it thro'
the trunk before mentioned. and out
near the stern of the boat. The upper
cylinder acts as steam engine, and re-
ceives its steam from boiler under its
piston, which piston is then carried up
to the top of the cylinder by the steam,
at the same time, the piston of the low
er cylinder is brought upto its top, from
its connexion with the upper piston. by
the aforesaid bolt; at which time they
shut up the communication from the
boiler, and open another to discharge
the steam for condensation; BY this
means the atmosphere act, upon the
piston of the upper cylinder, and its
force is conveyed to tie piston in the
lower cylinder, by the aforesaid con.
meeting bolt; which. forces the water,
then In the lower cylinder, through the
trunk, with considerable velocity; the
reaction whereof, on the other end Of
he t.nolr = Al, II a