Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-07
History Of steam.

In late number of Hunts Merchants Maya
zine we find the following condensed history Of
steam, and its application as to steamboats,,
which we publish for the benefit of our readers
in general:
about 280 years B. C. Hero. of Alex.
andria, formed toy which exhibited some OF
the powers of steam, and was moved by its
power. A. d., 450, Anthemius, an architect.
arranged several cauldrons of water. each
covered with the wide bottom of leathern
tube, which rose to narrow top, with pipes
extended to the rafters OF the adjoining build.
ing. A FIRE was kindled beneath the canldrons,
and the house was shaken by the efforts of the
steam ascending the tubes. This is the first
notice Of the power Of steam recorded. In
l643, June IL, Blasco ID. Garoy. tried a steam.
boat 209 tons with toerable success. at BARGE
Iona, in Spain. 1t. consisted of a cauldron Of
boiling water, and a movable wheel on each
side of the ship. 1t was laid aside as limos
sble. A present, however, was made TO Garoy.
The first idea of a steam engine in England
was in the Marquis of Worcester's HISTORY of
Inventions, A. d., 1868. In ITO, Newcomer
made his first steam engine in England. In
Ills, the patents were granted to Sayary
for the first application of the steam engine.
In 1854, James Watt made the first perfect
steam engine in England. In I776, Jonathan
Hulls set forth the idea of steam navigation.
In 1878, Thomas Paine first proposed this an
plication in America. In 1851, MARQUIS Jouf
troy constructed one on the Saone. In 1885.
two Americans published work upon it. In
1889, VIM. Symington made a voyage in one
on the Forth and Clyde canal In 1902, this
experiment was repeated. In 1852, Ramsey
propelled a boat by steam at New York. In
1877, John Fitch, of Philadelphia, navigated
boat by steam engine on the Delaware. In
1898, Robert Fulton first began to apply his
attention to steam. In 1893, Oliver Evans, a
native Of Philadelphia constructed locomotive
steam engine TO travel on turnpike road. The
FIRST steam vessel that crossed the Atlantic was
the Savannah, in the month of June, 1918.
from Charleston to Liverpool
In addition, we find the following, which we
extract from the miscellaneous papers at the
close Of the third volume of the Documentary
History Of New York, and in connexion with
the extract given above, will be of some interest
to you. The paper is entitled "Model Of Fitch's
Steamboat" 1t then. goes on to say:
That the model Of the FIRST steamboat ibuilt
by John Fitch) was discovered, few days ago,
in the garnet Of Col. Kilbourne, broiher-in-
law of John Fitch, near the town Of Columbus,
in Ohio. 1t has been in the possession Of Col.
Kilbourne for more than thirty years. The
model is about two feet long and set upon
wheels the boiler is foot long and eight
inches in diameter, with Hue through il not
quite in the CENTRE into whichthe fire appears to
have been placed. The cylinder stands perpen-
dicular, and the framework that supprts Il is
not unlike that now used by some of the low
pressure boats on Lake Brie, There is pad
dle-wheel on each side, and, in fact, everything
appears TO be complete, with the exception of q
condenser and force-pump. The boiler is even
supplied with salty valve, though part Of it
has been broken off, F