The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-02-19
GEOGRAPHICAL.
For The Cecil Hhig.
JAMES RUMSEY,
Inventor Ofthe Steamboat:

A NATIVE OF CECIL COUNTY, MARYLAND.
William Rumsey, who in the early
part OF the last century, was surveyor of
lands for Lord Baltimore, resided in Ce-
ell county, near the head of Bohemia
river, and on the sou:n-side thereof, and
nearly opposite Murphy's Mill. The
land is now owned by Joseph Price
where the "Rumsey Mansion" former
ly stood, and many persons now living,
recollect when the ancient buildings
were standing there. This was the
birth place of James Rumsey, who was
a grandson Of the aforesaid William, but
the date of his birth | have not been
able to ascertain.
In early manhood he removed from
hes native place to Sheperdstown, Vir-
gaia, where he turned his attention
exclusively to engineering and mechan-
lcsl pursuits, experimenting for time
the operations OF the Potomac Compa.
ny in improving the navigation of that
rIver-susgestlng many novel views in
mechanism, and making various i'm
provements in milling, and the appllca-
ton Of water power. AS early as July,
or August, 1888. as appears by testimo-
ny, he conceived the idea Of navigation
by steam. And from this time until the
hour OF his death, his whole soul was
absorbed in this great subject.
At this early period the mechanic
arts, and more especially that branch
embracing steam machinery, We're in
their very infancy. in America. There
was no steam machinery in 1t, nor was
there any prac teal artists capable of
tabricatlng any. Even IN England, al.
though some progress had been made
by Watt, the steam engine and its great
appendage, the boiler, were rude, imper-
feet, and comparatively inefficient.
Rumsey had to invent-to originate ev-
cry thing-to procure from different
places, and different workshops, and
though not practical mechanic, often
to fashion and modify with his own
hands, the various parts Of work even
now difficult and compicate.
From the inexperience of workmel,
and the total absence of all the tools and
machines now collected III engine facto-
RES, his progress was necessarily slow,
expensive, embarrassed, and all eXecu-
ton so imperfect as to preclude the pos
slbillty of more than partial success.
Under these most disadvantageous Cir
cumstances, he succeeded in the autumn
OF 1854, in making private, but very
imperfect experiment in order to test
some OF the principles of his invention.
And Notwithstanding much of his ma
chlnery was so utterly defective as quick
ly to fail in many parts, and to require
renewal and reconstruction throughout,
yet so well convinced was he of ulii-
mate success from his experiment, that,
at the October session of the Virginia
Legislature of that year, he applied for
and obtained an act granting to him the
exclusive use of his invention IN navi-
eating the waters of that State. About
the same time, also, he communicated
his intentions to Gen. ashington, and
so new, SO bold, SO original and unheard
of was it, that Washington declared in
his letter to Gov. Johnson of MARYLAND,
that he considered it "rather as an ebul-
liion of his genius" than as any thing
likely 10 be available.
In January, 1885, he obtained a pat
ent from the State of Maryland, and I'M
mediately afterwards commenced prep.
aralion for an experiment on a larger
scale. Through the whole of this year
he was deeply engaged in building
boat, and procuring, improving, adopt
ing, and testing the several parts of his
machinery. He did not however, from
the causes before mentioned, get ready
Tor a public trial until the following
year, (17s6), which, all things consid-
cred was emInently successful He
succeeded in propelling his boat by
steam alone, against the current, four or
five miles an hour. This experiment
was made on the Potomac, near Shep-
herds'own. Va, in the Presence Of hun.
dreds OF spectators. 1t is described in
the letter Of Mr.. Bedinser, and is certi.