1516

"...To enlarge the Canal Erie...."

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:87.00 USD Estimated At:175.00 - 250.00 USD
 ...To enlarge the Canal Erie....
A.L.S. of Philadelphia steamboat inventor and Oliver Evans contemporary Dr. A(nthony) Plantou, Washington, May 8, 1836, 7 3/4 x 10, 2 pp., red "City of Washington..." c.d.s. on integral address-leaf. To "Mr. Flagg Esq. and the Members of the Canal Board, at Albany." Two years earlier, Plantou had patented a novel steamboat design, exhibiting it on New York's Broadway in 1835. "When last year I showed you my Model of Steamboat particularly adapted to the navigation of Canals, it had a Wheel at the Bow, and the other at the Stern, both watertight cylinders. I have since considered that for Canals...it was very important to save space, and for that purpose I have suppressed the Stern Wheel...The same model...goes nearly twice as fast. By that I create no waves front, sides nor back of the Boat; a strong current under it, is the only sign of my velocity...I prevent all Kind of reaction, such as that from the sides of the Canal against those of the Boat, and also the Suction which takes place between the bottom of the Canal and that of the Boat, the two unsurmountable obstacles to the navigation of Canals by the present Plan. I doubt not, Sir, that you have at heart the interest of your State, that it will prompt you to patronize so usefull invention as mine...If what I have hearded 'sic] is true, that the Canal Board is already authorized to make any necessary expenses for the Canals, and even to enlarge the Canal Erie, why should you not expend about $4,000, to build a Boat on my Plan, which by more than doubling the commerce upon Canals, and preserving their Banks from injury, will save...many hundred thousand dollars every year...." Tear at blank portion of address leaf where opened at wax seal, tears along folds at right margin affecting few words, else darkly penned and very good. Part of the Philadelphia-area beehive of steam experimenters, Plantou's "steam engine without a boiler" was endorsed by Oliver Evans et al, hoping to sell stock "to build a boat of 60 or 80 tons to ply from Philadelphia to Salem and Cape May..."--History of Philadelphia, Scharf & Westcott, Vol. 3, p. 2263; (modern research accompanies). Much of the work of steam pioneers such as Plantou was built upon by land transport tinkerers, some of their inspiration - if not principles - evolving into horseless carriage application. Indeed, some early automakers made both marine and land engines, unconvinced that the newfound automobile had a future. Charles Duryea, in his 1930s Philadelphia workshop, eked out a few dollars by building models of ancient steam machines. Rare thus.