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CHAPTER XXVI.
Incriminating Dispatches.
She had been arranging the papers
dffjlj in some sort of order.
Ycin read French. I think? ' The let
ter of Ferdinand is in that language;
:r .Mortimer's notes and answers are,
r course, in English."
I drew toward me the first of 'the
i ijicrs she indicated.
You arc nothing if not modern in
mt methods," I scoffed, glancing
d.wj. the page. "Your safes and
' i"
wi iters bring back to me the asso-
uncus of my banking business. And
i i Linker, let me warn you, scans the
..-..'nature of a draft carefully before !
i ashes it.
Tin typewriter is an amusing little
- -.iriiruent," she yawned, "and I am
-n,:t! of my success in mastering it.
- iu the safe, if you have been a
, Kt i you know that the combina
' in is carefully guarded, M. Coward."
U jcave her the crudest delight to
' unit mo with the shameful word. Dur
i . the next half hour she insulted me
so At least half a dozen times. I bent
in ntlention on the paper before me.
I translate roughly Ferdinand's let
ter. "(Strictly confidential.)
"Hotel du Rhin.
"Place Vendome, Paris,
"May 23.
?ij Dear Sir Mortimer:
"1 fxjiect to start for Sofia via Vien
na and Budapest in about a week; I
trust 1 shall see ou at the Palace
shortly after my arrival. Meanwhile
let me urge on you once more that
j on exert without further delay your
great influence with your Foreign Of-
II ce. that your ministers may be con
inced that the crisis has come the
opportunity we have so long awaited.
Now or never I must lead my army to
the succor of the distressed people of
"Macedonia. I think that the-profound
Knowledge you have always shown of
affairs in the Balkan Peninsula must
make you realize the truth of this
.statement. It is useless for me to re
peat my arguments. For what you
have done I thank you. But it is not
to the diplomatist I am now speaking,
hut to the man. I have written th's
letter with my own hand, for reasons
that oii will understand.
"ilelieve me, my oear Sir Mortimer,
"Faithfully yours,
"Ferdinand."
"I see nothing incriminating in this
letter," 1 said, "nor anything out of
the usual run of letters.
"You will notice on the back of the
letter this brief statement: 'Answered.
June 3d, M. B.' As to the answer of
the letter it is equally Innocent. It is
simply the guarded reply of a diplo
matist dealing with a delicate topic.
In these typewritten copies this letter
and its answer are meaningless. The
originals are simply useful to prove
the authenticity of Sir Mortimer's
handwriting."
I scanned the answer. It was not an
exact copy, but the substance of Sir
Mortimer's letter jotted down to re
fresh his memory:
"I replied in substance as follows: It
was useless to bring up the matter
again, my personal wishes would not
he sufficient to change the programme
of the Foreign Office; at present I did
not tee my way clear to advocate as
a diplomatist England's espousal of
this cause; I would continue to lay the
matter before the Foreign Office; more
than :hat, when events justified the
act. I would see that such influence as"
1 possessed was exerted in the man
ner Prince Ferdinanl wished; but at
present I could offer no encourage
ment. (Note concerning the above, also in
SirMortimer"s handwriting.)
"This reply will put an end, I think,
to further correspondence In that quar
ter. Certainly, the hopes of the nation
seem so radically devirgent from those
of the ruler that I can favor one only
at the ense of the other. Natur
ally. I prefer to favor the party that
piomises the most for my own inter
ests' I told you that the originals are
particularly useful to identify the
handwriting and signature of Sir Mor
timer. Hut observe, monsieur, the ex
pression: Naturally. I prefer to favor
the party that promises the most for
m own interests.' That sentence is
to be remembered when you read the
other letters: It has its significance."
Again she stretched" out her hand to
leceive the papers 1 had read. I did
not relinquish them, however. I laid
them carelessly on my knee as if to
iefer to them later.
That remains to be proved." I said
gi imly. "The expression seems simple
enough to me; on the face of it it
would mean simply that Sir Morti
mer's interests were Identical with
the interests of England."
"We shall see." she returned with
confidence. "The papers of the second
envelope, which I have called Docu
ments B. are all in English. The
a riter was evidently an educated Bui
gar of the official class; many of this
class aie trained at Roberts College,
and siwak and write English fluently."
Sofia. Headquarters of the Society of
Freedom.
To His- Excellency. Sir Mortimer
Brett. Minister plenipotentiary and
Consul General to His Britannic Ma:
jesty at the Court of Sofia:
"Sir: We of the Society of Freedom
wait patiently and anxiously for your.
Excellency's answer to our humble
petition. We trust your Excellency
does" not ignore this petition because
the signatures of the petitioners are
not added thereto. Surely your Ex
cellency understands that the dictates
of prudence make it inevitable, that it
is sent to you anonymously.
"Your Excellency must be familiar
with our greivances. Our present
tuler cannot and will not be longer
opyEKsar.jD06t j Bu&riEKrrccarwvno
tolerated by his subjects. We fear
the British Foreign Office, however,
does not realize the extent of Prince
Ferdinand's unpopularity. - Even if
your ministers care nothing for that,
do they feel no concern that he is the
tool of Russia?
"He has asked Russia repeatedly
that he be recognized a King, and that
he receive that title. His vanity Is
such that he would sacrifice the free-
dom of his people to be on equal terms
with the sovereigns of Servia and
Roumania.
"Once more, perhaps for the last
time, we petition your Excellency to
exert the extraordinary influence your
Excellency iossesses, that the English
Minister be advised in time. The gov
ernment of Prince Ferdinand must
fall. We do not desire bloodshed.
There shall be none, we swear it, if
England will support the insurgent
party. But in any case Bulgaria must
be free.
"We do not ask for the active aid
of England. We beg that England
shall not interfere with the ambitions
of the people.
"Your Excellency shall have no rea
son to regret being our friend. And
there are other means of rewarding
friendship besides empty words of
gratitude. Let your Excellency once
assure us of you intention to support
our cause, and we shall make this
more clear.
"Your Excellency knows the man-
I Tore Them to Atoms
ner In which your answer may be con
veyed to this society.
"With profound expressions of re
spect, we submit ourselves,
"The Committee of the Society of
Freedom." r
I placed this letter on myknee with
the others I had read.
"This Society of Freedom, is it con
cerned with the trick of the death
mask stamp?"
"I fear so," she answered in a low
voice.
"Then has the fact no significance
for you that Dr. Starva received a let
ter with one of those stamps on the
envelope last night? These stamps
are proscribed. They could be sent
through the mail only because certain
of the postal authorities were in sym
pathy with the revolutionaries. Let
ters with these stamps, it is safe to
infer, would be sent only to those who
are equally in sympathy. Dr. Starva
must b favorable to this party, if he
is not actually one of the committee.
I warned you last night that there was
treachry in the camp."
"If Dr. Starva has proved to be a
traitor to' the cause he will receive his
punishment. The memorandum of
Sir Mortimer s reply to the letter you
have just read Is pinned on the back of
the sheet. Read it," she commanded
harshly.
"It is a perplexing dilemma that has
confronted me. To keep my honor as
a minister intact, and yet not to sac
rifice my own personal hopes. I think
this la the first temptation of my dip
lomatic career. I have fulfilled my
diplomatic duties hitherto as a ma
chine, that neither thinks nor feels.
Now I find that I am human; that I
am a man, with a man's weaknesses.
I say I am tempted. I believe that
lofty principles actuate Bulgaria. That,
I say to myself. Is my excuse. But
lofty principles are not sufficient. I
disguised my true feeling in answer
ing this letter by- vague -objections. I
confessed my self in sympathy with
Bulgaria's cause; but I protested that
more potent arguments must be used
to convince me. The Interests of
England are my own; but if it coujd
be doBe without too great a risk, I be
lieve, God help me. I would further my
own ambitions at her expense. I say
I am tempted."
""I say I am tempted;" "If it could
be done without too "great risk, I be-
lieve tSod help me1 would further;
- amhltlons at her expense"
my own ambitions at her expense"
I v ::fl '' ,
J such expressions were hideously sig
nificant. But I met calmly the male
volent triumph of Madame de Varnier.
"When you readthe next letter."
she said, watching me closely', "you
will understand the meaning of the
expression, 'There are other means of
rewarding friendship besides empty
words of gratitude.' Even so stanch an
advocate of Sir Mortimer's- honor as
yourself must realize that in the
words you have just read, he was en
deavoring to discover just what that
vague premise meant." ,:
I received "the next letter in silence.
"To His Excellency, etc.:
"Our answer "to your Excellency's
kind letter wishes to make this fact
clear: The people of Bulgaria pledge
their word, through this committee,
that if England gives to the insurgent
party is support, in overthrowing the
rule of Ferdinand, the relation, of Eng
land to Bulgaria shall be similar to
that which exists between Egypt and
England.
"The Society of Freedom is fully
aware that your Excellency's incon-
venience and labor must be recom-
pensed. The sum of 20.000 is al
ready placed in the Ottoman bank,
payable to your Excellency on de
mand." (Note by Sir Mortimer pinned to the
above letter.)
"To thfs I replied that the sum men
tioned was too ludicrously small to be
considered. Only the most substan
tial guarantee could justify me in tak
ing the risks involved."
(Third letter to Sir Mortimer from
the society.)
"To His Excellency. Etc.:
"The sum of 50,000 has been
placed in the Ottoman bank to your
Excellency's account. The society
trusts that this sum will be sufficient
to justify the risks. Will your Excel
lency give his answer without delay?"
(Note by Sir.-Mortimer pinned to
the above letter.)
"I have taken the step. It is too' late
to ask myself now whether I have
been indiscreet. If I have consulted
my own wishes, if I have furthered
my own plans, I feel that I am justified
Before Her Eyes.
morally. I am helping an oppressed
people gain their liberty. My own
recompense is meager enough. If the
Foreign Office should probe the mat
ter, and discover the extent of my in
discretion, my diplomatic career will
be ended. But I am content to do a
little evil that good may come."
I crushed the paper in my hand,
sick at heart. I shuddered at the
hypocritical comfort this guilty man
had hugged to his breast. I had hoped
against hope. But if they were true
copies, I could no longer doubt that
Sir Mortimer had stooped to the tak
ing of bribes.
"And these documents are word for
word espies of those in the safe?" I
demanded gloomily.
"I swear it by every oath I hold sa
cred!" she replied without hesitation,
and kissed the jeweled cross that hung
about her neck.
She stretched out her hand for the
papers. I tore them to atoms before
her eyet.
For a moment she straggled to res-
MMWMWW
mwwwmwmmmwiwmmmmmmmMm
Where Mankind Is King
Gift of Speech Pujs Him in a Class by
Himself.
The gift of speech is the last proof
of Divine favor, in virtue of which
mankind has the rest of the animal
kingdom faded, and stands in a class
toy himself.
Some beasts are stronger than men,
and some know more, but no beast
can be such a bore as a man, nor can
any beast slop over, in the true sense
of the term. These distinctions we
owe to the gift of speech.
The gift of speech, moreover, lays us
under compulsion to read a great
mnnv tfclnes which otherwise we
would not, in order that when we
have nothing to say, we may neverthe
Jess say something. Thus we promote
the publishing business, create a de
mand for -wood pulp, assist in the de
forestation of the earth's surface, stir
up a new school of kickers, increase
discontent and contribute, at length,
to progress and petulance.
Our ancestors .used to consider
speech a means of concealing thought.
speech
cue them from my grasp. When she
saw that itjrcas too late, she laughed
boislerously--a laughter that showed
at once contempt, defiance and tri
umph. v
"Bravo!". She clapped her hands
dersively. "You take your precau
tions. You are desperate. Protest as
you will.you are convinced of Sir Mor
timer's guilt"
"You are mistaken," I replied cool
ly. "But even if these papers are true
copies of genuine documents, it is as
H well. that even, the copies bedestroyed.
ir tney are'iorgenes, ana yon naveyei
to prove to me they are not, they are
dangerous toys, and so better de
stroyed." "Another copy is easily made, so
long as I have the combination of my
safe, M. Coward."
"You are never weary of insulting
me," I said indifferently. "But be sure
of this, you will find I am not coward
enough to yield weakly to your scheme
of blackmail."
"No; you are so brave that you
leave a helpless girl to bear the dis
grace of her dead brother, when by a
word you might save her the suffer
ing. Your pretended honor Is so pre
cious to you that you scorn to aid the
woman whom you love."
"Silence, woman!" 'I cried passion
ately. "Do you thinlc' I am convinced
of Sir Mortimer's guilt because of
these flimsy typewritten copies? You
must' let me see the papers in the
safe."
"If you are desperate enough to de
stroy a copy, I should scarcely trust
you with the original. For the last
time, must the woman you love know
of her brother's disgrace? I am In
your power; perhaps you hope that I
shall be coaxed into opening the safe.
Or are you about to compel me?"
"I should have resorted to that
measure long ago had I thought it
would prove effectual. It seems that
there is again a deadlock between us.
I refuse absolutely, not only to help
you, but to believe that Sir Mortimer
is guilty."'
"If I show the papers in the safe to
Helena Brett, even she must believe
the evidence of her eyes. Shall I call
her and ask her if she recognizes her
brother's handwriting? If you believe
so strongly as you profess that Sir
Mortimer was innocent of wrong-doing,
you will not refuse that."
"I would spare her even the thought
of its possibility" I said sternly.
"That is impossible. She shall see
those papers if not to-day. to-morrow,
the next day; it makes little difference
to me."
" 'Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof,'" I quoted flippantly; but I
began' to think it inevitable that
Helena Brett be summoned.
"Again we must compromise it ap
pears. I will call Sir Mortimer's sister
here. She shall see the papers de
cide for herself and for you whether
they are genuine.- You see, I am
strong enough to prevent a woman
from destroying the originals as you
have destroyed the copies."
"And when she has seen those pa
pers?" I asked thoughtfully. "Say
even that she herself believes them
genuine? What then?"
"It will be for her to decide. Per
haps 'she will refuse to ask you to do
what I wish. Perhaps she will offer
to you happiness if you consent. She
shall be the one to decide. You pro
fess to believe that Sir Mortimer is
innocent. More than that, you think
her soul so white that she will refuse,
even if she believes her brother guilty,
to rescue his memory from dishonor
with dishonor." ,
She had
thought.
"We will
quietly.
put into words my own
let her decide," I said
CHAPTER XXVII.
The Two Women.
"And am I again to shout my com
mands to my servant through the
closed door?" asked Madame de Var
nier ironically.
I unlocked the door of the staircase
in silence, taking the precaution, how
ever, of not admitting Alphonse.
"Has Miss Brett come to the cha
teau as I wished?" Madame de Var
nier spoke naturally through the half
opened door, not betraying my pres
ence behind it.
"She is waiting la the music room,
madam." -
"Bring her here."
"I shall do as madam wishes. But
this American, this man we called his
Excellency he surprised me just now
has he intruded on madam or "
"He came here to keep an appoint
ment with me." Madame de Varnier
replied composedly, cutting short his
agitated whisper.
"Ah, that is well."
Alphonse sighed his relief, and de
parted on his errand.
"What inducement can you have of
fered that she should come boldly to
this Castle of Despair?"
"Is not the inducement great that
she is to see a loved brother?"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
IWWMWMMWWWWWAAAAMMAAMA
but we have nothing to conceal.
Puck.
Shingle Currency.
The records of the squire's court at
Blaine. Whatcom county. Washington,
a little town near the British Colum- J
bia line, bear testimony f $ the finan
cial stringency of the early '90s. What
com county is in the heart of the lum
ber country, and" as there was no
money to be had, "shingle scrip" be
came the currency of the land.
The court records show that John
Smith was "fined 10,000 shingles for
drunkenness." The books show fur
ther that the fine was paid. It was
an able judge who could so accommo
date the law to prevailing conditions.
Paying for Speed.
"It costs more to live than it used
to," remarked the economist.
"Yes," answered the energetic man,
"but think of how much more business
you can transact in a given time and
the corresponding results yon can 'get
out of life."
ffEWOAfe Of
THB
jaoberf'fliltan,, e tetm4jto&ni&.
beniud first Seamed hw boat
up the Hudftfon . Aofya&l 7, laoz.
pr&eficeJJy the bQ&rininb of
modern ste&m ngyfo&ifon
Philadelphia. While New Yorkers
were jubilating over the centennial of
the historic journey of Robert Ful
ton's steamboat Clermont, which made
the trip from New York city to Albany
under her own steam, on August 7,
1807, Pennsylvanlans have a more
than ordinary interest in the Honors
to be paid to the inventor, for he was
a son of this commonwealth, and it
was here that he obtained" his first
ideas of a method of propelling boats
by the use of steam. '
In some quarters Fulton, rather in
correctly, has been lauded as the in
ventor of tbe steamboat. As has been
well said, neither the steam engine
nor the steamboat was, in the strict
sense of the word, invented. Fulton
was not the inventor of the steam
boat, but neither can any other person
be so characterized. 'The steamboat
was a good many years being invented
and there were many hands at the
work. This fact, however, does not
lessen the brightness of Fulton's
achievement, for, had he never been
connected with the inauguration of
steam navigation, he showed so many
other evidences of mechanical invent
iveness and. of artistic effort that It is
extremely probable that his name
would not be forgotten.
Projects Before Fulton's.
More than 100 years before Fulton
oegan nis experiments rae iaea nan
possessed Inventors in other parts of
the world. In 1690 Papin proposed
the use of a steam engine for the pur
pose of propelling boats through the
water, and exactly a century before
the Clermont made its famous run the
inventor actually constructed such a
boat, which he used on tbe River Ful
da, at Cassel. The boat was of rude
construction, and (he method of pro
pulsion consisted of raising water by
means of a steam pump, which water
was then applied to a water wheel
and drove a set of paddles on the same
shaft. What influence this invention
might have had upon the commerce of
the world will never be known, for it
was not allowed to prosper, being de
stroyed by some ignorant fanatics.
In the century which intervened
there was considerable talk of apply
ing the steam engine to the use of
boats. Nothing came of it in a prac
tical way until an American blazed 1
the way. The first of these pioneers
was also a Pennsylvanian William
Henry, a native of Chester county, but
at the time of his experiment a resi
dent of Lancaster county. About 1763
Henry, who had just returned from a
visit to England, took up the subject
of a steamboat. He constructed a
small boat, or rather attached an en
gine to an old bateau. This consisted
of a pair of paddles, and with this J
.fr$rzc cf dfe
primitive contrivance he boldly es
sayed to steam down the Conestoga
river. From what can be learned of
the attempt, it was far from being un
successful, but by an accident the
boat was sunk, and the steamboat had
to wait another quarter of a century
before it was to be given practical
shape.
Distinction Due Fitch.
This time it was a resident of Phil
adelphia. John Fitch, who from all ap
pearances lacked only support to be
known for all time as the man to
whom modern steam navigation is
due. Fitch had an adventurous ca
reer. He was born in Connecticut.
At the time of the revolution he was
a watchmaker at Trenton, but tbe
British destroyed his stock and he is
?msPim'm '-m&'&-&
WEIGH MAIL ON CARS.
Done Every Four Years as a Basis for
Railroad Contracts.
The railroads are paid for carrying
the mails on the basis of a contract
running four years. Once during this
period additional men are put on the
mail cars, whose duty is towe!gh all
mail received and delivered at each
station. '
The figures thus secured are as
sumed to represent an average of the
amount of mail carried on that route,
and become the basis of the contract.
Four years .later a new period of
weighing is begun, and the contract is
revised in accordance with the new
figures.
The United States is divided into
four contract districts, says System,
and the weighing is carried on simul
taneously in all parts of a district The
following year some other district is
weighed, and thus the circuit of the
country is covered in the four year
period.
It is in the tabulation and compila
of the reports seat In by these official
Q&KfMQNR
next found as an officer In the Con
tinental army. The Indians took him
prisoner, and he was removed into
the Northwest territory. He made a
map of the then little known country
west of the Alleghenies, and subse
quently came to Philadelphia. Here
at one time he lived on Second street,
near Vine, but began his inquiry into
steam navigation at his place at Ne
shaminy. With Fitch the idea was not orig
inal any more than it was with any of
his predecessors, or with those who
followed him. While he was engaged
as a civil engineer in the southeastern
part of Pennsylvania, he came into
contact with William Henry, and if he
did not see tbe latter's invention he
at least met him and heard of it At
any rate, in 1787 Fitch did construct
a steamboat which he set in motion
on the Delaware river.
Fitch's Scheme Languished.
Two years before Fitch bad ap
peared before the American Philo
sophical society and showed a model
of a steamboat which he intended to
construct, and in 1790 he had a steam
boat on the river that could make
eight miles an hour, and was adver
tised to make regular runs between
this city and-Trenton three days a
week.
A Virginian, James Rumsey, at the
time Fitch was requesting various
state legislatures to grant him assist
ance, claimed to have invented a
steamboat prior to that of Fitch.
Rumsey's claim, however, was discred
ited, even by his own state. Fitch's
lack of support and the coolness with
which the country viewed the project,
although one small boat had made no
fewer than 21 advertised trips without
accident, permitted Fitch's scheme to
become quiescent.
Fulton never disclaimed the obliga
tion he owed to Fitch's steamboat. At
the time the first Fitch' boat was
shown here Fulton was an apprentice
to Edward Duffleld, a silversmith, who
was in business on Second street be
low Chestnut. The old frame build
ing, lately numbered 121, was standing
until 25 years ago. It is only natural
to infer that the active young appren
tice should, have enough curiosity to
see the invention, especially as he was
something of an ingenious mechanic
himself.
Robert Fulton's Career.
Robert Fulton was born in Little
Britain township, Lancaster county,
November 14, 1765, his father being a
native of Kilkenny, Ireland. The Pul
tons moved to Lancaster city when
Robert was an infant, and it was in
the schools of that city that the in
genious young inventor received his
education. He is said to have known
Gferjnan?
William Henry, and to have visited
his home to see some of the earliest
efforts of Benjamin West, of whose
painting he was. as were all artistical
ly inclined Americans in those days
Clamored.
At the age of 17 Robert was brought
to Philadelphia and put as an appren
tice with Duffleld. There he finished
his trade, but his artistic instincts
getting the better of him, he decided
to abandon his trade and take up art.
Although he had a widowed mother
to support, he managed in some man
ner to save enough to take him to
London, where he placed himself at
tbe feet of his master in painting,
Benjamin West.
As a youth he showed talents in
many directions, and was undoubtedly
5-J5
'Jf&&&&-M'-r0&Bi44
weighers that the system devised by
Carle C. Hungerford of 'the railway
mall service is employed. -
"The weighing of the mails for the
purpose of awarding the contract is
not a new departure," said Mr. Hun
gerford. "That was part of the old
system. The mail weighers have
cards on which they record the weight
of the mail taken on at each station
on the route, and also the, weight put
off. Another card records the weight
on the return trip between the same
points.
"This process of daily weighing is
kept up for 90 days, and the totals
must be footed at the end of each
week and the end of the whole period.
Formerly each day's report was en
tered by the clerks on a large tabu
lating sheet three feet long and two
feet wide, and figures had to be totaled
vertically and horizontally.
"The eize of tbe job can be seen
when I tell you that the report of just
two trains on a long run for the period
of 90 days took up 13 of these large
sheets.
"The work kept .25 men busy la the
Chicago headquarters during the time
something of a genius. -It Is told of
him that at the age of tea years he
hod made for himself his own lead
pencils. They were crude affairs, of
coarse, hat at that time they were
nearly as good as could be purchased.
At 14 he devised a skyrocket, and had
Invested an airgan. His Biographer
says that it was at this time that tk
Idea of steam propulsion for vessels
first took possesskm of him, aad that
he actually made a model of a boat
that could be propelled by means of
paddles.
Experiments en the Hudson.
After he weat to England, where be
studied painting, is which, art the an
merous examples of his work extant
show htm to have beea proficient, he
weat to France. There he became
busy oa a plaa for steam navigation,
which he succeeded ia getting pre
sented to the first consul; but the
French government was tov uuch pre
occupied to pay much attenn to the
young American's representations. A
friendship, however, most Importaat
for the future of steam navigation,
sprang up between Fulton and our min
ister to France. Robert R- Livingston,
formerly chancellor of the state of
New York. Livingston had become in
terested in steam, and had built a ves
sel and made experiments on the Hud
son. In 1798 the New York legislature
gave him a monopoly of navigating
the waters of New York by. steam,
provided that within, one year he
should propel by steam a vessel of 20
tons four miles an hour. This he
failed to do. but his interest in the
problem never flagged. The two men
formed a partnership and made an ex
periment on the Seine, which, how
ever, proved a failure. Then they de
cided to make experiments on the
Hudson, and tbe New York legisla
ture granted another potential monop
oly similar to that granted to Liv
ingston. Another vessel was built at a ship
yard oa the East river, according to
plans, carefully worked out by Fulton.
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&Q3E&T Fiitratf
The Clermont, as she was called, was.
160 tons burden, 130 feet long, 16 feet
wide and four feet deep. Herengino
bad a steam cylinder 24 inches in di
ameter, her wheels were 15 feet in di
ameter and uncovered.
Description of the Voyage.
Here is Fulton's description of
the voyage which revolutionized navh
gation, in the form of a letter to the
American Citizen:
"I left New York on Monday at one
o'clock, and arrived at Clermont, the
seat of Chancellor Livingston, at oae
o'clock on Tuesday time, 24 hours,
distance 110 miles. On Wednesday I
departed from the chancellor's at alas
in the morning and arrived at Albany
at five in the afternoon distance 40
miles, time eight hours. The sum la
150 mijes in 32 hours, equal to near
five miles an hour. Ob Thursday at
nine o'clock in the moxning I left a
bany, and arrived at the chancellor's
at six in the evening. I started from
thence at seven and arrived at New
York at four in the. afterBooa tifM
30 hours, space run 150 miles, equal Is
five miles an hour. Throughout, my
whole way both going and returaJsg-,
the wind was ahead; bo advantage
could be derived from my sails; the
whole has therefore been performed
by the power of tbe steam engine."
Memorial te Futton.
The task of erecting an adequate
monument to commemorate the great
inventor is In the hands of an associ
ation of public-spirited men. incorpor
ated under the laws of New York,
known as the Robert Fulton Monu
ment association. The association
has determined that the monument
shall take the form of a water gats
and mausoleum to be erected at Oae
Hundred and Sixteenth street and the
Hudson river. A bill has been passed
by the legislature making the neces
sary grant of land. It Is intended to
provide a place where distinguished
foreign visitors to our shores may he
fittingly received by the municipal,
state or federal authorities; in a word,
to give New York a front door. It Is
expected that ground for the construc
tion will be broken on the next an
niversary of Fulton's bjrthday, No
vember 14.
of the weighing, and for three months
afterward. Then there was liability oi
error in the footings.
"So we developed the plan of doing
away with the tabulating sheet alto
gether. We used the adding maculae
and make its record strip the perma
nent record of the weights. Instead
of first entering the figures oa the
large sheet and then transferring them
to the machine, one man reads th
amounts from the weighing report and
another operates the machine.
"The figures for a week are kept to
gether, and totals taken for each town
At the end the totals are taken for the
whole route.
"The cipher in the middle of the col
umn marks the dividing line between
the columns for mail put off the tralr
and mail taken on. At the end of the
weighing period the totals for the varl
ous weeks are footed on the machine
"We can do the work with half the
clerks that were formerly needed. 1
takes three months to finish the re
ports after the weighing closes. . Here
tofore we had to keep 25 men at work
tabulating and adding; now half tha
number caa do tbe work."
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