Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-03-29
Who Invented the Steamboat.

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Society of Mechanical Engineers,
monument will soon be erected IN
Trinity Church yard to commemorate
the work of Robert Fulton in estab-
fishing navigation by steam power.
Fulton's remains lie in vault in
Trinity Church yard, and not even
the humblsst sort Of a monument has
been raised to his memory. Interest
in his work has recently been awsk-
ened by renewed discussion whether
the credit for inyeDting method of
steam navigation should be given to
Fulton, John Fitch or James Rumsey,
of Maryland.
At the annual meeting of the Asso-
citation of Engineers, held here last
December, delegates from all over the
country indorsed the proposition that
the society erect monument in Trim
ity Church yard to the memory Of
Fulton. Prof. F. R. Hutton, the So
ciety's secretary, was placed in charge
Of the fund and a good sum was con-
tributed during the convention. Since
that time additions to the fund have
come in steadily and the success Of
the project is assured. 1t is expected
that the plans for the monument Will
soon be made public
The statement recently made before
the Maryland Historical Society that
James Rumsey was the inventor Of
the Steamboat, giving him priority
over John Fitch, has drawn some IN
terested comment from the New York
members OF the Society of Engineers.
Mr.. Reginald P Bolton, of this city,
has been a particularly close student
Of the facts bearing upon the Fitch
Fulton-Rumsey controversy, and in
commenting on the recent assertions
Of the Baltimore society, Mr.. Bolton
today said
This is a revival of an old dispute.
The Baltimore lecturer was in error
when he said that Rumsey was expert
mentiug as early as 1888 with steam
for the propulsion of vessels.
"His scheme at that time was a
combination of waterwheels, cranks
and setting poles, to be worked at no
greater expense than that Of three
hands. In 1874 General Washington
wrote of it, after seeing the model and
experiments, that the inventor had
discovered the art of working boats by
mechanism and small manual assist
ance against rapid currents.
IF Rumsey's petition Of November
II, 1888, to the Maryland Assembly
actually mentions steam as the motive
force, then new matter has been added
to the controversy which Rumsey had
with John Fitch. Rumsey did not
make any such contention. His pc
tition to the General Assembly of
Pennsylvania contains ne mention Of
steam, nor was any such idea held out
to the committee, as certified by one
Of its members.
"Undoubtedly Rumsey, who was
working on the general line of boat
propulsion, took the idea of the use
Of steam from John Fitch, and his su-
perior opportunities enabled him first
to produce a working vessel in public,
which he did on the Sd Of December,
1877. That fact may be worth com
memoration by a monument, but as
far as priority of invention goes, the
idea of the use Of steam to drive
vessel is due neither to Rumsey
nor to Fitch. William Henry, Of
Lancaster, Pa, originated the idea Of
steam propulsion as early as the year
I775.
"To John Fitch, at any rate, be-
longs the credit, since it was his little
steamboat, embodying the use of the
screw propeller, that attracted the
interest of Robert Fulton and Robert
Livingston and led to those develop
nrents which made the name Of Full
ton world-famous.
THAT little steamboat was operated
in the Collect pond, in this city. The
pond spread over the present site Of
the Tombs and the Criminal Courts.
a monument is to be raised to
Robert Fulton, and if Rumsey's re-
suits are also to be commemorated,
then the memory Of John Fitch might
properly be kept green by this city
placing tablet on the site Of the trial
of the first steam propeller. Further,
it would seem proper that Pennsyl-
vania might take steps to honor the
memory of William Henry, the real