New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-19
QUARTER OF A CENTURY OLD
CELEBRATION OF THE STEVENS INsT1-
TUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.
ABOUT 300 PERSONS AT THE DiNNER-EX-MAYoR
HEWITT. COMMODORE MELVILLE. BISHOP
POTTER AND OTHERS sPEAK-A GIFT

The twenty-ffth anniversary of the Stevens 1nsti-
tute of Technology, In Hoboken. vas celebrated by
dinner at the Waldorf last evening. and many
residents Of New-Jersey came to New-York to at
tend the dinner. About three hundred persons SAT
at nine long tables In the new ballroom. where the
Bradley Martin ball had been held. and about one
fourth Of them were women. Most OF the diners
were graduates of the Institute
s. b. Dod one of the trustees Of the Institute,
presided at the table of honor Among other men
at the table were Governor Grggs OF New-Jersey'
Bishop Potter. Chancellor MacCracken. OF the
New-York University; Chancellor McGill. OF New
Jersey; Andrew Carnegie. Abram s. Hewitt. COM
modore Melville L. s. N: President Morton OF the
Institute Richard Stevens +. p. Roberts, j. r.
Watkins Dr. c. +. Chandler, Colonel +. A. Stevens
and Charles Mcdonald.
Among the women who sat at the table OF honor
were Mrs. Griggs. Mrs. Potter. Mrs. Morton. Mrs
McGill. Mrs. MacCracken Mrs. +. A. Stevens, Mrs
Carnegie Mrs. NJ b. Stevens. Mrs Richard STE
vens. Miss Hayden and Miss Trrntull
II was nearly 10 o'clock when Mr. bod introduced
ex-Mayor Hewitt to speak to the toast oui
Founder" and Mr.. Hewitt told "reminiscences Oh
the Stevens family for nearly an hour. lie sa'd he
was one of the few persons living who had known
the elder John Stevens the greatest engineer OF MS
time and he related many interesting stories OF
his acquaintance with John c. Stevens ana MS
brothers. Robert l.. and Edwin A. stevens
poem on the work of the Stevens family was
read by President Morton. and then Andrew car
nege, speaking to the toast The Ironmaster o.
the United States" paid tribute to the founder OF
the institute and spoke in high praise OF the grad
yates of the institution.
COMMODORE MEI.vILLE'S RESPONSE.
Commodore Melville responded to the toast "Our
Ironclad Navy" and. in the course Of his remarks
said
In connection with Robert Fulton and other en-;
gneers John Stevens had difficult task 10 install
With his prophetic nature ne must nave
hsniing machines rather than into hgh!ing ships: II
When plan TAN II Of the war iS be as
dependent upon the technical training ana mechani-
edge and readiness OF resource of the sailor. He
must have known and YET his relations win the
him to assert, that the steam engine would become
Fulton and Stevens knew that artillery in its early
history had to fgh. lis way for recognition as
weapon. and that the champions of the steam engine
least 200 years after the introduction Of gunpowder
fon s against hood and ron The triumph of the
engineer over prejudice and tradition IA, been coI
make steam the principal motive power on board
warships. Official recognition has not yet been given
naval sf matters has the engineer been uhjusty
The attempt deprive him of the just share OF the
impaired the efiicency OF the organization, and has
caused bitter internal strife which is to-day our great
naval weakness. and whose continuance invites dis
aster In time OF battle. g., A.,
The revolution in naval affairs effected by me
transition from the sail to the steam age mas not
only strengthened the power Of enlightened nations,
but steam in conquerng all distances ana making KING
all countries better known has even brought about
"A higher civilization. The remarkahie work OF sue
cessive generations of the Stevens family mas ana
ing battery designed by these men came TOO near
period that reasons were looked for why such an
armored vessel should not he taken INTO me Navy
rather than why her construction shouio De has'-
ened. 49,
And as the student behods the difference be
tween the new and the old Navy. and remembers
must believe that Watt Fulton Stevens and Erlcs-
SON rather than those who have commanded Bril-
tannia's fleets. made 1t possible for England TO Sc
her maritime supremacy -, ,,,-,. ,.-
Our naval commanders OF the last century pc
aueathed TO this Nation predominance on the ocean
{, predominance which was lost in the transition
Sm v the BE sa reclaimed tG e but It win be
by the work the engineer as by Shat 6 OF nh
the scientific colleges to send forth the elect Q.
their graduates TO compete for cSmmi5so gsns ' o
the engineer graduates OF such instltutlohs WI" VII
Srng dbSHt our 1e peope have too long been dspos
sessed Of
WHAT PROFESSOR WATKINS SAID.
Bishop Potter spoke to the toast American Citi-
zenship" ard Professor Watkins. OF the smith
sonian Institution. had for his subject The RAN
roads and Steamboats, of the United States Pro-
fessor Watkins said in part
Over a century ago. in 1872, John Stevens, OF New
Jersey. took out a patent in the United States TO
propel boats by steam. He experimental continu-
ousy until 1901, when he invented and constructed
the first steamboat to navigate the waters OF any
country, driven by screw. model OF this twln-
propeller boat belonging 10 the United states Ma
tional Museum is before US the original ma
chinery is also at Washington.
This boat was successfully operated three years
before Fulton obtained fame and fortune by put
ting his English engine. built by Watt. in an Ameri-
can hull afterward called the Clermont. During
the weeks that Fulton was at work on the strange
looking craft which caused wonder 10 the inhabi-
tants of the Hudson Valley, John Stevens and his
SON. Robert were engaged in building we-de-
signed American boat with an American engine, the
Phoenix which in lsOS the first steam vessel to
navigate the ocean. when it made the voyage from
Sandy Hook 10 Cape May conveying its crew from
New-York to Philadelphia on the first journey made
by steam between those two cities.
RECEIVED WITH APPLAUSE.
There was tremendous applause late in the even
ing when Mr. bod, before introducing President
Morton 10 speak to the toast The Faculty read
the following letter:
S. Bayard bod. Esq, President of Board OF Trus-
sr ees OF send md You Herewith cer1incaes for
shares of stock of the Texas Pacific Railroad Com
Trmsiees 10 be held until their appreciated value
with such other funds as may be devoted to that
maintenance of the proposed new building gener-
ally referred to as the Alumni Buiidng ,o,
an example or suggestion to others having the in
terests of the institute at heart. That they might
when able do so, present to the institute some
form of property having prospective vaiue IN ad-
vance of its market price. such. for example, as
the stock of newly organized or reorganized com
panies OF substantial character The needs OF
the institute are rather for the future than the
present. . . -
Her work as heretofore and at present con-
Quoted can be carried on with the means already
in her hands but for the extensions which should
he made in the future in order that she should
maintain her leading position larger accommoda-
lions and increased revenue will be required There
are also many cases in which alumni or others
could donate TO the institute property or pros
pectye value, where they could not withdraw
from their resources cash or that which yielded
immediate income. .
With best wishes for the Alma Mater whose sill
yer wedding we about TO celebrate. | remain
verv truly YOURS HENRY MORTON.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.