The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-10-20


he stated was to be used in a boat
The engine was not purchased from
this concern and the boat was not
built.
About the year 1901 while he was
living in France, his efforts began to
take practical shape Among those
with whom he was associated were
Chancellor Livingston, then Minister
to France. His experimental boa1,
built in 1903, gave the promise which
brought the Clermont four years la
ter
Samuel Morey born in Connecticut,
but living in oxford, New Hampshire,
began the study of the application of
steam power to navigation as early
as 1890, and not later than 1893 and
possibly in 1870, he ran a steamboat
on the Connecticut river between Or
ford, New Hampshire and Fairlee,
Vermont This craft consisted of a
small "dugout" fitted with an engine
which was the work of Moreys hands
and a boiler converted from kettle.
1t was propelled by single paddle
wheel placed it is probable, in the
bow of the boat. This inventors
success and his defeat by the greed
of others from receiving his just por-
ton of reward, are told in his own
words in the following letter:
Oxford, New Hampshire)
Oct. BLISS.
William A. Duer. Esq,
Sir:-As nearly as | can recollect
it was as early as 1890 that it turned
my attention to improving the steam
engine and in applying 1t to the pur-
pose of propelling boats. ! began my
experiments in this vicinity on the
Connecticut river When my arrange
ments were sufficiently mature for
exhibition, | went to New York and
built boat and during three success
sive summers, tried many expert
ments in modifying the engine and in
propelling. Sickness in my family
calling me home, had the boat
brought to Hartford as a more con-
venient place and there ran her in
the presence of many persons. The
next season, having made sundry inn
provements in the engine. ! again
went to New York and applied the
power to a wheel in the stern, by
which the boat was impelled at the
rate of about five miles an hour |
invited the attention of Chancellor
Livingston, Mr. Edward Livingston,
Mr.. Stevens and others, went with me
in the boat from the ferry as far as
Greenwich and back and they express
ed very great satisfaction with her
performance and with the engine.
Chancellor Livingston requested me
to continue my endeavors TO devise
a better mode of propelling and | con-
tinued my experiments through that
summer. encouraged by his promises,
which were to give me a considerable
sum, provided | succeeded in making
a boat run eight miles an hour He
offered me at that time for what
had done, seven thousand dollars for
the patent right on the North River
and to Amboy. But ! did not deem
that sufficient and no bargain was
made never received anything
from him.
Being DESTROYS of a more effectual
mode of propelling, satisfactory to
Chancellor Livingston and others. |
continued my exertions and as | had
been sickly in New York | went to
Bordentown, on the Delaware in June
1897 and there constructed a steam.
polling by means of two wheels one
on each side. The shaft ran across
the boat with crank in the middle
worked from the beam of the engine,
with a shackle bar commonly so
called) which mode is in principle
the same as that now used in the
large steamboats,. | found that my
two wheels answered the purpose
very well and better than any other
mode that | had tried, and the boat
was openly exhibited at Philadelphia.
From that time | considered every
obstacle removed and no difficulty re-
naming or impeachment existing to
the construction OF steamboats, on a
large scale and | took out patents for
my Improvements. The notoriety of
these successful experiments enabled
me to make very advantageous ar
rangements with DR.. Allison and
others to carry steamboats, into effec-
tual operation; but a series of mis-
fortunes to him and others concerned
soon after deprived them of the
means of prosecuting this design, de-
feated their purpose and disappoint-
ed my expectations.
But | did not wholly relinquish the
pursuit; from time to time deyising
Improvements in the engine. recol-
lect to have had repeated conversat-
ions with Chancellor Livingston and
Mr. Fulton on these subjects The
Chancellor once visited me at this
place. and at his request and expense
went once to see him at Clermont.
assure you, Sir, / never had any
doubt but that | had a right to take
out a patent for the application of
two wheels to a steamboat, and |
have often told both Mr. Livingston
and Mr.. Fulton that | had. To the
latter | once asserted this right when
on board his steamboat with him;
nor could | ever see the propriety or
Justice of Chancellor Livingston hay
ing an exclusive right to steamboats,
| in the State of New York, merely on
account of the suspension of the ef-
forts of Fitch and Co, when it was
perfectly familiar to him that at
much labor and expense and the EN-
DlOVmpnt of wears devoted tn tho mr.