Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-03-07

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has labor. his little fortune: hi. health and
his lie-~ho actually coos,ructed ,~o
steamboats,. one 10 America. and on- in
EogIand; on the first OF which no made
puo'ic experiment. which. ell thinxs re.
garded, was most encoursgingiy success.
ioi, and with the other was nearly ready
eI'er surmounting innumerabls obstacles
OF pecuniary kind. for Q public sxhibi.
uon. when arrested by sudden dea,h-,f
inc attention Of scientific and ipyeoi.
Gus men were attracted to The subiec, by
the opinions and operations Of this other
eiizen; 1t the prscticability OF steam nav.
igation YES actually demonstrated by him.
u Fulton himself. by his association with
him IN London. and consequent sequain.
lance with his plans and discoveries. VA.
advanced in knowledge, vas led 10 re-.
fleet. aud ultimately 10 ac:: If all ,h;.
were true. would II be unfair 10 say taat
this other citizen was in some, and no
small degree, auxiliary in giving TO the
world this important invention. And
that II Is all true, l think, must be- sd
mit'ed by every one on fair and can.
did examination Of the subject. Twill
but briefly recapi,ulate = few facts, which.
from the information laid before the com.
mittee. know 10 be correct.
James Rumscy was a alive OF Mary.
land. from which State he removed IN
early manhood. TO epherdstown, Vir.
gina, where he turned his attention ex.
ciusively to engineering and mechanical
Pursaits-superintend ing for a time the
operations OF the Potomac company in
improving the navigation OF that river
suggesting many novel views in mech an.
lsm. aud making various improvements
IN milling and the application Of water
power. AS early as July or August, 1888
as appears by the testimony, he conceiv-
ed the idea Of navigation by steam. And
from :his time TO the hour OF his de a,h HI,
whole soul was absorbed in this great sub.
Ject.
IL will be recollecied that At this early
period the mechanic arts. and, more espe.
ciaiiy. that branch embracing steam ma
chinery. were in their very infancy in
America. There was no steam machine
~ IN 1t. There were no artists capable
Of fsbnca'ing any. Even in England.
although some progress had been made
by Watt, the steam engine. and its great
appendsge. the boiler or generator, were
rude. imperfect, comparatively inc efficient.
kumsey had to invent. 10 originate every
thing-to procure from different places,
and different workshops, and. though not
practical mechanic. often 10 fashion and
modify With his own hands she various
parts OF work even now difficult and
conpiicste. From the inexperience of
workmem. and the total absence Of all
the tools and machines now collected IN
engine factories. bis progress was neces.
sar'iy expensive, slow, embarrassed, and
all execution so imperfect as to preclude
the Possibility OF mole than partial success
Under these most disadvaniageous cir
cumstsnces.he succeeded in the autumn of
1854 IN making q private. but very imper.
feet experiment. in order to test some of
the principles OF his invention. And,
notwithstanding much Of his machinery
was SO utterly detective as quickly to
ia'i IN many parts. and 10 require renew.
al and reconstruciion throug hout, yet so
well convinced was he If ultimate success
from this experiment. that, at the October
session Of the Virginia Legislature for
that year. he applied for and obtained On
act gusrantying 10 him the exclusive use
OF his invention in navigating the waters
oil that State. This will be seen by refer
eRce TO the statutes Of that Common wealth.
About the same time. also, he communi.
Gated his invention 10 General Washing.
Ion. as appears by letter Of that person.
age, the original Of which was before the
committee. dated November. I7s7. 10 the
late Governor Johnson, Of Maryland. IL
n o. n mi hat he a
communication 10 Washington. because
he had not ma,nred and diges,ed his plan.
or tested its truth by any. even partial ex-
perments. And when ho did make IL.
so new. so bold. so original, and nnheard
OF w-ss it, that Washington declares in
that letter that he considered IL rather
as an ebullition OF his genius" Than a. sny
thing likely TO be available.
In the beginning Of the next wear. Jan.
usry, l7S5, he obtained patent from the
General Assembly Of Maryland for navi.
eating by steam the bays and rivers Of that
State and Immediately sfierv ards com
meneed preparations for an experiment
on larger scale. Through the whole Of
this year he was deeply engaged in build
ing boat. and procuring. improving. q.
dap'ing, and testing the several parts Of
his machinery. lie did not. however.
from the causes which have before men.
TONED. get resdy for q public trial until
the year following. U7s6.l which. all
things considered. Vas emi0enily success.
FOL. THIS experiment Was made on the
Potomac. near shrphefds'own. Virgins.
IN the presence Of bondreds OF spectators.
u - proven by various vitnssess. II is
described IN the letter ~ MIR BedinSer
snd certified by Doctor Alexander. Of BAL.
,imore. Tor whose high respsciabiliiv ! re-
fer 10 such Of The delegation from Mary.
lend ~ ere acqosinied viih him. The
gentleman near me (Mr. Jenifsr) SAYS
there Is no one more worthy Of full conf.
denoe. IN this trial he soccee Jed, not.
withdrawing the unavoidable imperfec.
ton Of h's machinery. IN propeIiing lis
boat sgaissf fbs current bV STEAM aions fur
Oy fire aiiss an hour. There was long IN
possession Of one Of his family an aneten,