Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-26
.FUL1ON'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON
WAS GUEST AT "KALORAMA"
100 YEARS AGO.
Showed Models of His Steamboat
and Other Inventions on Wa
tiers of Rock Creek.

1t was at Kalorama that Robert Full
ton. inventor of the steamboat. stopped
during his sojourn at the capital hun
dred years ago, the guest of Joel Bar
low: and it was here that he explained
his inventions to the President and other
government officials and on Rock creek.
skirting the grounds on the west and
north. made some experiments in steam
navigation Tradition has 1t that it was
here miniature Clermont demonstrated
the success of his steamer on the Hudson
in August, 1907: but this is doubtless in
correct, for Mr.. Barlow did not take
possession of Kalorama until three
months after. Mr.. Fulton. however. after
the successful trip of the Clermont. made
improvements as 10 steam pi opuiSion, ana
some of his experiments were here. the
waters Of Rock Creek being right at the
door of kalorama. 1t is not unlikely
that he made trials here of his plungin X
or diving boat and of other inventions.
for his was a busy mind as to improve
ment, as was evident by the many mod
els and drawings in his applications for
patents which We're destroyed by fire
with the post, patent and other Offices
December 10. 1886 With these was a
painting of the Clermont on her voyage
up the Hudson from F'uton's brush.
j
hands. of Mr.. Barlow was owned by w
Augustine Washington nephew of the
general. 1t was known as Belair, and con-
sisted of forty acres so beautifully sit
uated that Mr.. Barlow changed the name
to the Greek for fine view The mansion
on the hill was enlarged by wings and
the grounds laid out in accordance with
the plans of Mr.. Latrobe Overlooking
the valley of Rock creek. then unob-
structed. with plenty of fish therein and
game In abundance on its shores. 1t was
an ideal place for the enjoyment of life.
Visited by Presidents.
In the annals of society Of that day 1t
Is recorded that Jefferson, Medicon and
Monroe were at times guests of Mr.. Bar
low and the Baldwins and Bomfords. his
relatives, who afterward lived there. Full
ton had met Mr.. Barlow in France and
they became fast friends. Even then Full
ton was predicting that he would propel
a boat at sixteen miles per hour, and
though Barlow ridicuIed the idea. gave
Fulton warm support in his various prof.
ects.
or Irish descent, native of Lancaster
county, Pa, at the age of twenty-one
Fulton had met with success in Philadei-
phia as landscape and portrait painter.
and to improve in his profession, in 1855
went to London and studied under Benja-
min West. Twenty years he remained In
Europe, but other matter than his profess
sion engaged his INSTRUMENTATION by
steam, canal transportation, devices for
spinning flax, making rope, saving mar
BILE. exploding powder under water and div
ing or submarine boats being among his
studies. He obtained several patents in
England. In his plunging or diving boat.
with three companions. he remained one
hour under water and by his torpedo blew
up a vessel. but no nation would then
adopt them.
Returning to his native land in 1905.
backed in his steam navigation expert
ments by Chancellor Livingston he built
the Clermont. whose initial trip is the
subject of the celebration in New York,
and before his death in 1915 he built
other steam vessels. During this
interval he continued his studies and
under congressional appropriation in 1910
he blew up brig in New York by his
torpedo.
The government went no further, but
nearly hundred years afterward the
torpedo and diving boat are in use.