Evening star., 1926-10-10
By WILL T.. KENNEDY.

was born in South Windsor, Conn,
In 1743, and died in I3ardstown, KY. in
1893, built and successfully operated
Il steamboat Of his own conception in
1897, or 20 years before Fulton
launched the steamboat Clermont on
the Hudson River in 1907.
Just now, when the Public Build
tngs Commission and the National
Capital Parks and City Planning
Commission are considering the 10.
cation of the new $4,000, 900 home
tor the Department of to'nnls rec, with
Secretary Hoover insisting that the
Patent Office should be under the
same roof with other branches Of that
department, and the Fine Arts Com
mission insisting that it should re-
main In the separate historic build
Ing 1t now occupies. Representative
Sol Bloom Of New York cites this
grave injustice to John Fitch, whose
epochal invention has meant so much
10 all the people of the world. 70 en-
rhasize the necessity for adequate
facilities to preserve patent records.
Mr.. Bloom argues that since the
patent law Of the United States, the
one monopoly specifically authorized
in the Constitution itself, is the very
corner stone of AMERICAN irdus' ry
and the manufacturers Of the United
States have looked to the Patent
Office since 1910 for decisions vitally
affecting their business through the
use of any new invention, such an i'm
portant agency should lie dignifed
with n new home of its own, prop
erly locat' i on Pennsylvania avenue
for the convenience Of the business
men of the country, and with adequate
facilities for preservation and con.
sultation Of records.
n hlC i., rN,,
greSs for removal of the present
building, between Seventh and Ninth.
+ ard G streets. advocating the
Straig ghteninE Of T. and G streets
which now defect at these four cor
nerS, and the cutting through of
Eighth street. where now the Patent
office Building stands squarely across
the street. Mr.. Bloom seeks to es-
tablish a new business center in
Washington where the old Patent
Office now stands.
The Commission Of Fine Arts and
some city planners desire to preserve
the old Patent Office Building, especi-
ally since the portico in the center of
the F street front was copied from
the architecture Of the Parthenon in
Athens, and 1t is proposed to develop
vista up Eighth street from Penn
sylvania avenue framing this portico.
X X X X
IT was extensive research by a
woman. Mrs. Ben Johnson, wife of
the Congressman who for many
years was chairman of the House
District committee. presented before
committee OF Congress. which proved
that the real inventor of the steam |
boat was John Fitch. Revolutionary |
soldier. She gathered acts of the |
Legislatures of Pennsylvania, Con- !
necticut, Delaware, Virginia, and even |
OF New York, Fulton's own State to |
establish this tardy honor for 81 de-
cea sed fellow townNman. She showed
that Fulton himself never claimed the
distinction Of being the inventor of
the steamboat, and that his biDgra-
pher, Thurston, positively disclaimed
It for him.
Mrs. Johnson has succeeded in To-
eating Old, cOtemporaneous neWspa-
pers OF Philadelphia and other places,
giving descriptive accounts of the
many trips of I'itchs boat on the
Delaware River and other waters
more than 30 years previous to Full
tons boat. the Cleimont. She showed
also that the Congress of the United
States granted 14-year patent to
Fitch long before Fulton's boat made
its appearance, and that George
Washington, as President, signed the
act of Congress granting this patent
to Fitch.
All of these facts are now but
tressed by letters written by Wash
ington jefferson Patrick Henry and |
other notables at the time in which |
Fitch and his steamboat are men |
toned: and Fitch died nearly a decade |
before Fulton built the Clermont.
The Trenton Gazette published an |
account Of one of Fitch's first sue
cessful trips with his boat. He left |
Philadelphia for Burlington. 20 miles |
distant. The article in the Gazette |
said
Crowds of persons assembled at |
ell the prominent points along the
river to see her uhe boat pass, and |
waited for hours TO witness what |
was then the greatest wonder Of the
day. At Point -No-Point now, then
Bridesburg. the whole population OF |
Frankford and upper Philadelphia
County were assembled; and they |
saw the hoat slowly steam by them
on her upward progress. Great. in
deed, was their enthusiasm. and long +
and loudly did they cheer the gro
tesque exhibition. Women waved i
their handkerchiefs in appreciation.
Batteaux put off from the shore and |
rowed alongside the steamer, cheer
ing the adventurous and now exultant
Fitch
THE following facts. now undis-
- puted. speak for themselves as
to Fitch's conception and success of !
the steamboat:
April. 17S5-NNhile in Bucks County.
Pa. conceived the idea of a steam
boat !;
September %. 17s5-Drawing of
boat models and tube boiler present
ell to American Philosophical Society
by Fitch.
November, 17S5-Appiication made
by Filth to Virginia Legislature for
encouragement.
November 10. 17S5-Bond executed
by Fitch to Patrick Henry. condi-
toned for the sale Of maps to raise
money with which to build boat.
November 25. 17S5-Thomas Jeffer
son gave Fitch a letter to Gov. Small
wood Of Maryland favoring a law to
encourage Fitch in building a steam
boat.
December. 17S5-Fitch petitioned
The Assembly of Pennsylvania FOR as
sistance in building a steamboat.
December 20, 17S5-Advertised in
Maryland Gazette for assistance In
building a steamboat.
January 6. 11S6-Petitioned the AS
sembly OF Maryland for assistance
January 19, 17s6-The Assembly
made a report favorable to Fitch.
but gave no assistance on account
of lack OF funds.
March Is. 17S6-New Jersey passed
law giving Fitch 14-year exclusive
right for boats propelled by steam.
April II. l7S6-Made working model