The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-02
ROBERT FULTON.
The First Steam Vessel OF War Con-
structed by Him.

A curious letter of Robert Fulton is printed
below. 1t is addressed to President Madison, as
will be seen. Fulton wrote:-
''ALBANY, March %, 19l4.-James Madison,
Esq, President of the United Stdtes.-Sir:-
Since the appropriation in favor of steam float
ing batteries, have been extremely anxious to
commence O work which, II executed, as nope
it will be, | am certain will produce eonse-
quences most agreeable to you and important
for the nation; but nave not yet heard from
the Secretary of the Navy giving me an order
to proceed, or where to find fu0ds. Should there
not be money in the treasury for this purpose,
can make the loan at New York on the guaranty
OF the Government and for any interest not
less than seven per cent; If more be
allowed the sum will be raised with the more
ease. As every efficient operation must be
agreeable to you, and time Is precious, have
taken the liberty to mention these clrcum-
stances, with the best intention for the puOlic
interest, and pre5uming that one word from you
may give vigor to the operations. Please con-
slider this letter as private. l have been COM
PEELED to come to this city for Il few days to
defend my steamboat rights against the intrlgues
OF Colonel Ogden, OF New Jersey. shall be in
New York ON the lst of April. Most anxious
for success in my new enterprise, | am, SIR,
"R. FULTON"
-Appleton's american Cycopedld says OF the
steamer battery OF which Fulton mere spoke:-
In 1914 Congress authorized the President to
builG floating battery lor coast defense, and
Fulton was appointed the engineer. He com
which was launched within four months, and
was styled the 'Demologos,' though afterwards
named Fulton the First.' THIS first war steamer
was q heavy and unwieldy mass, which OBJ
tanned speed against the current of some two
and a half miles an hour. But as the pioneer
of the steam naVes of the world it was re-
garded as a marvel and most formidable
engine of defense. The war having terminated,
she was taken to the Navy Yard at Brooklyn,
where she was used as a receiving ship until
June A, 1929, when she was accidentally blown
up"
1t is interesting TO contrast with the above de-
scrIption of the hrst steam floating battery (the
invention of which, as OF the first Monitor, is
our national pride) the dimensions OF some of
our present vessels of war. The Atlantic Works,
in Boston, from whose propTietors the above
copy of Fultons letter is obtained. built the
monitor Nantucket, the gunboat Casco, and the
turrets of the Monadnock, Agamenticus Shack
amaXson, and Passaconaway. The weight of
iron in the turrets, plloth houses, and chimneys
of the four aforementioned monitors was four
million four hundred thousand pounds. This
company also supplied the steam machinery tor
the flagship of Admiral Farragut, the Franklin.
The displacement of the Frankn is five tAou
sand one hundred and sixty -one tons; her en-
eines and boilers weigh five hundred tons; the
diameter of cylinder is sxty-eght inches;
stroke OF piston, three feet six Inches; cost OF
machney four hundred and fifty thousand
dollaIs.-N. 4, Evening Pos.