Life of John Fitch: The Inventor of the Steam-boat

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Lippincott, 1857 - Technology & Engineering - 415 pages
 

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Page 328 - An Act to promote the progress of useful arts, and to repeal all acts and parts of acts heretofore made for that purpose...
Page 175 - Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that neither this act nor any clause, article or thing herein contained shall extend or be construed to extend to give any ease, benefit or advantage to any papist or popish recusant whatsoever, or any person that shall deny in his preaching or writing the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity, as it is declared in the aforesaid articles of...
Page 178 - I take the liberty of terming a vacuum is, we believe, entirely new, as is also the method of letting the water into it, and throwing it off against the atmosphere without any friction.
Page 234 - Remarks on Mr. John Fitch's reply to Mr. James Rumsey's pamphlet, by Joseph Barnes, formerly assistant, and now attorney in fact to James Rumsey. Philadelphia : Printed by Joseph James, Chestnut street. MDCCLXXXVIII.
Page 210 - I have taken the greatest pains to perfect another kind of boat, upon the principles I mentioned to you at Richmond in November last, and have the pleasure to inform you that I have brought it to great perfection; it is true, it will cost something more than the other way, but, when in use, will be more manageable, and can be worked with as few hands; the power is immense — and I have quite convinced myself that boats of passage may be made to go against the current of the Mississippi or Ohio rivers,...
Page 128 - Sir: — The subscriber begs leave to lay at the feet of Congress an attempt he has made to facilitate the internal Navigation of the United States, adapted especially to the waters of the Mississippi. The Machine he has invented for the purpose has been examined by several gentlemen of Learning and Ingenuity, who have given it their approbation. Being thus encouraged, he is desirous to solicit the attention of...
Page 408 - ... of the parties themselves. The small depth of water in the rapids prevented the boat from pursuing her voyage immediately; and during the consequent detention of three weeks in the upper part of the Ohio, several trips were successfully made between Louisville and Cincinnati. In fine, the waters rose, and in the course of the last week in November, the voyage was resumed, the depth of water barely admitting their passage...
Page 225 - I was informed some dark assassins had endeavoured to wound the reputation of his excellency and the other gentlemen who saw my exhibition at Bath, for giving me a certificate. The reflections upon these worthy gentlemen gave me inexpressible uneasiness, and I should certainly have quitted my steam engines...
Page 382 - ... from which no particular mode of application can be free. These are, first, the weight of the engine and of the fuel ; second, the large space it occupies ; third, the tendency of its action to rack the vessel and render it leaky ; fourth, the expense of maintenance ; fifth, the irregularity of its motion and the motion of the water in the boiler and cistern, and of the fuel- vessel in rough water ; sixth, the difficulty arising from the liability of the paddles or oars to break if light, and...
Page 339 - Well, gentlemen, although I shall not live to see the time, you will, when steam-boats will be preferred to all other means of conveyance, and especially for passengers, and they will be particularly useful in the navigation of the river Mississippi.

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