Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II
That in the winter M' Rumsey told him he had made sundry improvements ; in particular, that he had in-vented an entirely new Constructed boiler ; that the said Rumsey sent to a forge for iron, and set two smiths to work, with directions how to make it ; but when it was ready to be put together, he found, upon examination, the workmanship was so badly executed that it would not answer the purpose ; he therefore concluded to try an experiment with his old boiler ; and the said Charles says, that Mr. Barns (Mr. Rumsey's principal Mechanic) Cx)ntinued during the winter to execute the different improvements Mr. Rumsey had made ; in the Spring, 1786, the Machinery was put bn the boat, and the first trial made, the said Charles beinf,
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on board ; that she went against the current until the steam escaped, by tiie then iniperfectness of the machine. Upon an experiment made with the new boiler, the heat of the Steam was so greatly increased, that it dissolved the soft Solder, which had been thought, and before had proved, sufficient for cementing the sundry parts of such machines ; and as hard solder was obliged to be used in the repairs, delays were necessarily created. July 1787, Mr. Rumsey had his new-constructed boiler repaired, which he the said Charles conceives to be the most capital contrivance to make steam that can be invented, for when the Machine is not at work, the whistling of the Steam may be heard at least half a mile ; and he is convinced that it does not hold more than three gallons of water ; and the said Charles further saith that Mr. Rumsey has for several years steadily pursued his boat scheme, to the total Neglect of every other Kind of business, which has very considerably injured his circumstances, having Mr.