Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-07-20
MOREY, THE VERMONT INVENTOR
Gov. Fuller Replies to an Article In the
New England Magszlue-A Ciear His
torical Statement.

Gov. Fuller Replies to an Article In the
New England MagszIne-A Clear His
torical statement.
Editor Of the Reformer:
SRI beg to acknowledge the receipt OF
your favor calling my attention to the artl-
Gle in the New England Magazine for Juno,
naming John Fitch as the real inventor of
the stea boat
No one acquainted with the history of the
steamboat will undertake to deny to John
Fitch his rightful place in the history OF
steam navigation. In order to understand
more correctly and precisely what that
place is, we must take look at the state Of
the art as 1t then existed.
Allen, an English inventor, had used the
hydraulic propeller as far back as 1871 lie
had taken in the water near the bow OF bis
boat and discharged 1T by pumping 1t out
at the stern. Hull, another Englishmap,
attempted to build a stern-w wheel boat in
1913. Bernoulli, Frenchman, had under
taken to use artificial fins In 1877, aud the
same year Geuevois, Swiss, attempted to
use n ducks foot and paddle, but all these
proved failures. James Rumsey, In l712,
re-invented the hydraulic apparatus of
Allen. Bramah an Engishman, suggested
"a screw propeller in 1873.
In 1856 we find John Fitch engaged In a
serious discussion with James Rumsey of
Virginia. Benjamin Franklin and Oliver
Evans, the last three of whom bad REIN
scented Aliens system OF hydraulic propul-
won.
John Fitch pursued an independent course.
Instead Of attempting to use these various
contrvances, he introduced a system of his
own. His first boat was mere model,
In, tba ~ ia T.
icle says, a complete failure, the steam cyl
inder being only one inch in diameter.
The system of propulsion was that of the
hand oar, or more precisely speaking, the
hand paddle His second boat made in
| 1857 was larger, and of suitable size for a
| test, but amid the rejoicings of Fitch over
the beginning of the trip the boiler burst
and the boat drifted back to its moorings.
His third boat made in 1890 was still larg-
er, carried ~ oars, six on each side, ar
ranged in groups of threes. He now began
| to obtain concessions for steam navi-
CATION. Thus we he had taken
a single step in new direction,
and beyond this he was unable to make
progress. The effort terminated in com
plete failure like its predecessors, and must
be classed as an Incomplete or unsuccessful
attempt at a solution Of the great problem
just opening up to the civilized world.
1t is at this critical point in he history
of steam navigation that Samuel Morey,
whose father owned the ferry on the Con
nocticut river between Oxford, N. H., anc
Fairlee, VT, takes up the entire question,
and without having knowledge of what
others had done, his fertile mind seizes hold
OF the problem at the point where ali Others
had failed, and between 17S0-1793 built
| baa n.
cessful navigation of the Connecticut river
at Fairlee VT
Thus we see, upon lines entirely new, and
so distinct and novel that there can be NJ
confusion as to identity results, adopting
the rotary motion of the paddle wheel, HI
carried his experiment through to complete
triumph, HIS then went to Connection
where he built another steamboat and sailet
in it to New York and thence TO Borden
town, n. j., where 1t was continued in sue
cessful operation.
Here he met John Fitch, Livingston, Full
ton and others, who not only were inter
ested in the subject, but who became init
mately acquainted with his steamboat ant
its successful navigation Of the waters il
and about their localities. Having thus ex
planned what John Fitch really did invent
and the date of his invention when take
into account with the efforts of others,
gives to each a separate and distinct plac
in history.
And the invention Of Samuel Morey, CON
ing on after the failure of oil other inven
, tions, stands out clear and distinct by itself
as the first successful paddle wheel steam
boat, and Morey, as the successful invent
or and the introducer Of modern steaI
navigation.
Later on Fulton gave to the world th
commercial success with which his nam
will be forever linked.
LEVI X. FULLER.