Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-12

toms relatives are grateful for what is be-
ing done to honor his memory. We have
learned with much interest that the French
government IL to hold an exposition at Bor-
deaux, and that Ii win erect monument
In the city of Paris. but the matter that
has touched our hearts most deeply IL the
plan to erect memorial tomb and water
gate on the bank of the Hudson. We have
given our consent to Mr.. Cornelius Wander
bilt and his associates for the removal OF
the remains from their present resting place
in Trinity Churchyard to the memorial
tomb when completed. But all these mat
ters are in the hands of an able and dis
tinguished committee. and therefore | do
not feel like making any suggestions. How
ever, / might say that we are all very
glad to hear that 1t Is proposed to erect
something useful, like a water gate, on the
bank of the HUDSON river.
Fulton's Proposed Steam Warship.
In his very valuable collection of auto
graphs Gen. Culver C. Sniffin, paymas.er
general of the United States army. has the
original autograph letter from Robert Full
ton to James Madison President of the
United States. proposing to build what wa7
the first steam man-of-war that ever
f1oated It ought to have a prominent placr
at the jamestown exposition. 1t is dated
New York, December 2i 1913, and reads
as follows:
NEW YORK, December ~, 1913.
ITO James Madison. Esq.
President of the United States
Sir: By Gen. Morgan Lewis l have the
honor to submit to your consideration n
drawing and description of vessel CT war
of twenty four guns to be moved by steam
without the aid of wind or sails and par
ticularly calculated for harbor and coast
defense, which. 10 the United States. is of
the utmost Importance. To investigate her
principles and utility l had on Friday even
ing meeting of rpSnpct9bln n
ulent gentlemen of this city, when II was
unanimously agreed that every effort
should be instantly made to raise the funds
for building such vessel and have in OPP
Grafton in May or June next For this pur-
pose committee was appointed, of which
Gen. Dearborn is president and Mr.. Thomas
Morris secretary. / act as engineer. We
have commenced by endeavoring to raise
the sum required-120 thousand-by sub
scrfption, to which many will. from patri-
otie motives, give their aid, but others,
wishing for a return of their capital with
proht. and considering that peace may pos
sibly be made before the vessel can be fin
ished, wish some guarantee. and have pro-
posed the following:
That this society will build vessel 10
feet long, 30 feet beam. to carry twenty
four guns of twenty four pound ball which
guns shall be we'll mounted, to be used ana
fought at least well as on the gun deck
of any other vessel of war of equal force
and in battery much more secure for the
men, and that such vessel shall, by the
power of steam only. without the aid of
wind or tide. run at least five miles an
hour
1.-The government. if the society should
think proper to take the Offer shall pur-
chase such vessel at 100 per cent above the
first cost. Had such contract with gov
eminent, could fill the subscription in one
day, for we have perfect confidence that
we shall succeed to produce a vessel with
all these important qualities And this [
conceive an excellent bargain for gov
experiment. And If we succeed. the
vessel will be more valuable than
seventy-four, which would cost 500, 900
whereas this could not cost. with the 1OD
will. sir, feel the Importance of having
such destructive engine in action as soon
as possible. To that end not a moment is
to be lost. II government agrees to the
above terms. 1t can be done in June, pro-
vided the work be Immediately commenced,
for which money alone is wanting.
For myself / am convinced. and so are
all the committee, that this is a sure and
cheap means to drive the enemy forever
from our harbors and coast. I have named
this new invention the Demologos that is.
the Argument of the People. The COM
pany goes under the name of the Coast
Defense Society. This engine and plan Is
so different from anything within the usual
operations of the Secretary of the Navy,
and depending. as presume. wholly on the
President. that. to save time, have
lliOuSHt pfOpei W write uiTeCI 10 you, anu
hope for your warm support to measure
which am convinced will repay you, in a
nations blessing and I'm years of pleasure.
With profound respect, I haye the honor
to be your most obedient and very humble
servant To-: - .ROBTc FULTON, /
1850. Where Fulton Died. d:
The house in which Robert Fulton and
his wife resided for several years in New
York is. still standing and is known as
No. l. State street. down. at the foot :of
broadway. facing Battery Park, By,a very
appropriate coincidence dit is ITO W. ,sss I'd as
THE headquarters Of the sSearfien's Mission: ]
Over its threshold daily pass Hundreds of
people THAT go down TO the sea in ships, !
1t was there that he died and from there
his funeral cortege passed up Broadway to
Trinity Church.