Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-01-17
James Rumsey Monument.


West Firginia to Honor he Inventor Of he
Steamboat.
A joint resolution will be introduced
this week, in the Legislature now in ses-
sion at Charleston. by the representatives
of Jefferson county, asking tor an appro-
piiation of 5000 to erect a monument
at Shepherdstown in honor of the mem
DRY of James Rumsey, the inventor Of the
steamboat, who was recognized as such
by George Washington, Thomas Jeffer-
son. Benjamin Franklin and Patrick
Henry. The resolution was prepared by
ex- Judge Daniel B. Lucas and Geo. M.
Beethoven, Jr., of this place, both of
these gentlemen having spent consider
able time and effort in bringing the merit
and priority of Rumsey's invention to the
attention OF the Legislature. The resolu-
ton reads as follows
JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 49,
For the Erection of Monument to james
Rumsey.
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of
Delegates of West Virginia, that the sum of
$4,000 be and the same is hereby appropri-
ated for the purpose of erecting suitable
memorial, whether in the form of a statue or
other monument, TO James Rumsey, the In
ventor of the Steamboat; to be erected on
the banks of the potomac river in the town
of Shepherdstown, in the County of Jeffer-
son, on site or location to be designated by
the Governor of the State.
The Governor is likewise authorized and
empowered to permit the erection of said
memorial under the auspices ofany corpora
ton chartered for the purpose under the
laws of West Virginia, which shall likewise
have authority under the direction of the
Governor to receive by purchase or gift a
suitable lot for the location of said memorial
at or near the spot above described: said
corporation shall likewise have power, under
the direction of the Governor, to receive by
private subscription such donations as may
be rendered for the purpose herein indicated.
1t will, no doubt. interest our citizens
to learn that Governor White is an ardent
champion of Rumsey and commends this
project in his message to the Legislature
He says:
JAMES RUMSEY, INVENTOR OF THE
STEAMBOAT
Application will be made to the Legisla-
ture by an organization of prominent citi-
zens, requesting an appropriation to erect a
suitable monument at shepherdstown to the
memory of James Rumsey, inventor of the
steamboat. A beautiful site has been prom
ised by the Norfolk az Western Railroad
Company, on high cli9 overlooking the
stretch of water in the Potomac where
Rumsey's experiments were brought to a
successful conclusion, and the first boat pro-
PEELED by steam made its initial voyage
Rumsey's claim of having been the inven-
tor of the first successful application of
steam for the practical purpose ofnavigation
was championed by such men as Washing
ton, Jefferson, Franklyn and Patrick Henry,
of which there is abundant historical data
In erecting a monument to the memory of
this man the State of West Virginia would
honor itself 1t would seem that tate pride
would impel us, even at this late date, to do
this simple justice to the memory of this
great inventor.
When we consider what factor the
steamboat is in the social and business
world of today, the question of its origin
becomes an interesting one. Who was
the inventor of the steamboat is still a
matter of dispute. However, The facts
and abundant data shows that the first
successful application of steam to the
practical purpose of navigation was made
by James Rumsey, on the Potomac river
at Shepherdstown, w. Va, before the
earliest date claimed by Fitch, (Rumsey's
main rival for precedence for his inven-
ton, and years before Robert Fulton s
experiments on the Hudson, to whom the
honor of inventor is generally accredited.
This interesting piece of National and
State history has been sadly neglected,
and it is high time that simple justice be
done to the memory of this great man.
The merit and priority of Rumsey's IN
vention will stand the strictest investiga-
ton of the student of history. lanes
Rumsey was not unknown in his day.
for he enjoyed the confidence and pat.
ronage of the foremost statesmen of our
country. If this be so, much less can we
afford to refuse him recognition today.
There is on exhibition IN the National
Museum at Washington model of James
Rumsey's Boat and the very chain which
he used in making his first experiment
Modern engineers who have studied the
mechanism of Rumsey's boat testify that
he was mechanical genius, and that his
ideas were wonderfully advanced, con-
sidering the time in which he lived.
We commend this project to the Legis-
lature and feel that the State in honorine
Rumsey will honor itself, 1t is not
partisan measure, and should receive the
hearty support of every member of the
House and Senate.
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