Evening star., 1899-04-05
ALL SORTS OF BOATS
An Interesting Collection at the Ma
tional Museum.
MANY STEAM and SAILING CRAFT
Marine Architecture Developed
From the Raft.
ILLUSTRATED WITH. O)ELs

The new hall of marine architecture, pop
ularly called the boat hall, was opened
in the National Museum building today.
It is on the east side of the structure, and
is reached either by the main north or east
entrances.
The collection of boat models has been
made by W. H. Holmes, the head curator
of anthropology, assisted by Curator j. E.
Watkins and Geo. c. Maynard. 1t forms
one of the most complete and interesting
exhibits in the museum. The wide hall Is
filled in ceiling, walls and floor space with
boat models of every kind and representing
every race and period. There are many
hundreds of them, and the whole has been
divided into three distinct subdivisions.
The models illustrating the general his
tory or development of boat and shipbufd-
ing are placed together in the cases on the
north, east and south walls and sides of the
hall. Those showing the progress in the
the center, and those representing the de-
velopment of American sailing vessels are
on the west wall and side.
Development of Years.
The whole collection has been developing
slowly during many years. A part of it fell
to the museum from the Wilkes expedition
in 1870, which was an around-thew world
tour of scientists investigating every field
of science and history. Many of the models
were shown at the fisheries exposition in
Berlin in 1889 and afterward given to the
United States.
Others have been contributed by foreign
governments, and still more have been col
lected and donated by officers of the army
or navy, or citizens abroad in foreign lands
A very few have been purchased for the
nall. The collection is probably the least
r inc 0a,o1 tod
of time and comprehensiveness of breadth.
For young America in particular the hall
will be of great interest, and it will furnish
the most valuable aid to the study of naval
and commercial marine history throughout
the world.
The general collection begins with the
rude raft, and presents in historical order
the dugout. the rowboats. the sailboats,
with and without oars, the ships with sails,
those that contained sails and steam and
last, those fin-keeled sail flyers like the
fleet American Defender.
Steam Vessels.
The division of steam vessels commences
with model of Rumsey's steam oar-pro-
PEELED boat. built in 1877; Fitch's steam
boat built in 1856, and for time a pas
senger carrier on the Delaware; Fulton S
long, narrow and impractical "Clermont''
of 1907, and passes on showing the Stevens
twin-screw steamboat, the Moses Rogers
sidewheeler and terminating with the steel
nerved Titans that cross the ocean with al
most locomotive engine speed.
Tribute to the American Seaman.
The history of the development Of boats
and vessels" said Curator Watkins to The
Star man today, sis but little known; in
fact, We are just beginning to cross the
threshold 1t promises, however, to af-
ford to those who love to explore such
fields an absorbingly interesting work for
years to come. The little l have learned
since 1 was placed in charge of this collec-
ton convinces me that in no other fed of
human endeavor has there been such a per-
sistent and intellingent effort to master the
forces of nature as has been given to the
building of boats and ships. In my opinion
there is no nobler type of manhood than
the American seaman, whose perilous voy-
ages and worldwide wanderings develop
heroic bravery and endurance. The New
England seafaring men prove this asser-
ton in it's fullest degree, and their solidity
of character and GOd-fearing qualities are
the result of heredity and occupation.
THE collection of marine types in this
hail., he continued, lis far from complete
but in its present shape it is probably the
most extensive and comprehensive to be
found. 1t has been gathered, too, at lit
tie more than the expense of buying one
model in fifty. 1t is made I'D of models
contributed by scientists, naval men, for
eign governments and private citizens.
1T is likely that some day the museum
will issue work on the subject, and it will
be found, have no doubt. one of the most
Interesting subjects in history. Our collec-
ton begins with the rude raft made of
reeds or timbers. which fioated with the
tides. Next We have the raft guided by
sweeps or oars and which would right
itself if capsiZed. The dug-out made first
by chipping out a big log with stone imple-
ments, and then further followed out by
fire, comes next in order. First it had no
particular design, but soon the ends were
ade to taper, and will be seen, the
shape of these very primitive boats soon
became very similar to that of the modern
craft. Where wood could not be had in the
quantity needed skins or birch bark or
other substance was used. The canoe of
the Chippewa Indians is of great interest
in this connection, today 1t remains as
II was as far back as be traced. The
skin canoe of the Greenlander is remark
able also because it has a number of air
tight compartments, which serve to right
the boat If capstzed. In this the modern
unsinkable boat resembles the arctic craft
1t is said, you know, that the Green