Time presses cruelly. Am I mistaken in supposing that you once said that seventy boats could be built in six months? Now you seem to say that thirty or forty might be built in seven months.

With deference, I don’t believe in asking advice from Tom, Dick and Harry about boats. Next, if I am wrong in this, I wouldn’t send any such circular as you have drafted until your study boat is ready to be referred to. Then, I would invite criticism and suggestions from none but selected men of some known wisdom as to nice, lady-like, open, pleasure small boats. Some things we may think ourselves competent to settle upon as primary conditions. Let us settle upon such and then ask for suggestions and advice only as to particulars that need further discussion. Let us defend our time as long as we judiciously can from the great army of Cranks and Philistines.

The above applies only to boats. As to machinery, have you made no progress? Has your sense of what is best been growing? Do you know no [465]better whether any electric apparatus is available? Can you rent any that you are fairly satisfied with? It seems to me that the question of power should be settled before you call for bids; should be settled, if possible, before your study-boat is ready. If you need expert assistance; if you don’t like to leave your study-boat for the purpose of further study of the question of power, ask Mr. Burnham to have an electric sharp appointed, who can be trusted to reach sound conclusions as soon as possible. Is there no one who keeps posted on all electric matters, and who is a strong sensible man upon whom you could put responsibility in this particular? Would Mr. Edison serve the purpose? My tendency to think electricity the best for us increases. If a satisfactory electric apparatus should not be soon found surely ready for us, and contracts for it be available, then I am most inclined to naptha launches. There is no doubt as to their being contractable in good shape, in short order; and I guess with ample bonded guarantee of safety. I continue to hear strong testimony from uninterested parties in their favor. I have no doubt that for rough waters and common servants, and for family use, they have proved more satisfactory by far than anything else yet well-tried. And I am extremely reluctant to advise anything for the Exposition that has not been well-tried. We have no right to take this occasion to make trial trips on a large scale—with forty boats. If we fail, there will be nothing to fall back upon.

I don’t think I do wish to dispense with the coaming, but I am not quite sure. In my last note to you I indicated where my doubt lies. I think that I would rather see three inches of coaming than one additional inch of freeboard. I am inclined to do all that can be well done to distinguish the boat as a boat from a small ship, or a miniature large, steam-boat, tug or lighter; to display it as a boat; an open boat, in distinction from a sail-boat or lighter.

I am not inclined to the suggested brass rail over the gunwale. It would have hardly any use and people might trip on it. But there might be a strip of hard wood emphasizing the top of the gunwale and the edge of the decklet,

I think favorably of bronze paint below the water line. (But query; what will be the difference between water-line of a boat lightly loaded and one carrying the full complement of passengers? Thirty men will weigh from four to six thousand pounds.)

I should think it best in your study-boat to provide displacement for electricity, but would leave you to judge freely.

I see nothing to object to in your “sheer plan.” It strikes me favorably.

I see nothing to object to in your propositions as to materials and construction, but may offer suggestions later as to details to which you specially ask attention.

[466]

I don’t think well of dividing seats; the range of size between people to be carried is too great. When you are going to be crowded for room, you ought not to give a child the same seat-room as a man of two hundred pounds.

As to the question of seat arrangement, I find that I gravitate more and more to the common form; your form N. It may be because of greater familiarity with such an arrangement than with any other suggested. But it has some plain advantages. It is the omnibus arrangement with which people are familiar. It will be pleasanter for a party,—say a family party, father, mother, Mary and her beau, Aunt Hannah and several children,—to group conversationally, in two lines facing one another, vis a vis. But back of all, I suppose, is the notion that it is more boat-like. Do you not overestimate the danger of heeling over? I should suppose that such a boat as you are contemplating, with the ballast of the batteries, would be far from cranky; would even bear to have all her passengers on one side without danger of capsizing.

I have now to go in to a meeting of our Park Board; will write further as to details, I hope, by next mail. I think what I have said covers everything upon which you are pressed for time.

Yours Truly,