tion must be called into play, and the rigid conditions under which a contract in the ordinary way is given out are hopelessly impracticable and entirely subversive of the aim which, as a professional man interested in the prevention of contagia, I have had in view.

On the 21st of April, 1879, I received a communication from you requesting a statement relating to my plans. This I complied with, and in my reply used the following words: "I must in all fairness to myself demand that my system and project shall be regarded by the National Board of Health as my personal property, and therefore not to be submitted or disclosed to rival inventors and contractors.”

This position thus early assumed before your honorable body I must continue to maintain. I am not unwilling to allow these plans and specifications to be used by the board as the basis of its recommendation, just as far as this can be done without impairing my exclusive right of property in them. They having been returned to me after their approval and adoption by the Board, I now consent to their being used by the Board for the purpose above indicated upon the following conditions and none other:

1st. That they shall at all times remain my sole and exclusive property.

2d. That no duplication, tracing, or copy of the same, or any part thereof, shall be made without my written consent.

3d. That they shall be returned to me within a reasonable time, if no contract shall be made with me for the execution of the work.

4th. That they shall not be used in the furtherance of any contract with any other person than myself.

My plans and methods are the result of many years' scientific investigation, and of six months' special application on the part of myself and several trained assistants in Washington itself. They have cost me many thousand dollars. They are moreover founded on various patents issued and to be issued, and some of the latest designs will form the subjects of further applications to be filed in the Patent Office at my early convenience.

No. 1, April 2. Anthony, Hon. H. B.-Inclosing letter of James M. Stewart relating to a refrigerating apparatus.

No. 9, April 3. Rand, A. W., & Co.-Call attention to their apparatus for ventilating ships, &c.

No. 10, April 4. Lamar, Hon. L. Q. C.-With circular Cook Ice Refrigerating Company.

No. 17, April 3. Harris, Hon. I. G.-Forwards letter of A. F. Higgs, regarding refrigeration, &c.

No. 18, April 5. Winants, J. E.-Asks for privilege of competing for refrigerating apparatus.

No. 28. March 22. Reed, Samuel C.-Asks if he can submit plans for refrigeration.

No. 34, April 18. Dalton, J. M.-States he is constructing machinery for refrigerating purposes, and invites investigation of his process. No. 37, April 5. Van Stooten, W. C. E.-Statement relative to the Windhausen Cold Air Machine.

No. 40, April 22. Reed, Samuel C.-States he will reply to questions sent by Board and asks what bonds will be required.

No. 41, April 22. Beasley, W. F.-States he represents Holden Bros., and desires to submit bids for refrigerating machine.

No. 42, April 22. Gamgee, John.-Incloses statement regarding refrigerating machinery, &c.

No. 43, April 23. Vanderbilt, H. S.-In reference to refrigerating machinery, &c.

No. 48, April 23. Waring & Winter.-Statement in reference to refrigerating apparatus.

No. 49, April 24. Schoener & Allen.-Ask for information regarding refrigerating ship.

No. 52, April 25. Waring & Winter.-Submit specifications and drawing in reference to refrigeration.

No. 53, April 25. Kittelle, George W.-States will answer questions at an early date.

No. 57, April 28. Bayard, Hon. Thos. F.-Inclosing communication of W. G. Gibbons regarding refrigeration.

No. 63, April 29. Higgs, A. F-Acknowledges receipt of list of questions.

No. 64, April 30. Vanderbilt, H. S.-Inclosing communication of D. E. Somers regarding list of questions in reference to refrigerating machinery.

No. 82, May 7. Jordan & Rice.-Inclosing drawings and specifications regarding refrigerating machinery.

No. 67, April 28.-Reed, Samuel C.-Replies to communications sent him regarding refrigeration.

No. 68, April 30. Dalton, J. M.-Acknowledges receipt of communication, and states will reply.

No. 69, May 2. Wheeler, E. G.-Asks for a copy of questions in reference to refrigerating machinery.

No. 70, April 30. Kruthschueth, John. P.-Replies to questions regard. ing refrigerating machinery.

No. 71, May 3. Holden & Bros.-Answer questions regarding refrigerating apparatus.

No. 79, May 2. Hunt, S. B.-Desires to submit process for refrigerat ing apparatus.

No. 81, May 5. Furber, E. G.-Asks consideration of his method of refrigeration.

No. 94, May 3. Cook, Thomas.-Incloses Patent Office specification of Cook Ice Refrigerating Company.

No. 101, April 28. Brady & McLellan.-State they desire to submit bids for refrigerating apparatus.

No. 132, May 12. Holden Bros.-Statement in regard to refrigerat ing machinery.

No. 147, May 5. Howson & Son.-Want to exhibit Bell-Coleman Refrigerating apparatus.

No. 153, May 15. Furber, E. G.-Submits synopsis of his method of refrigeration, with drawings.

No. 156, May 15. Ingersoll & Shelley.-Reply to questions regarding refrigerating apparatus.

No. 160, May 15. Wheeler, E. G.-Transmits plans and specifications for refrigerating machinery.

No. 161, May 15. Waring & Winter.-Proposal for furnishing steamvessel.

No. 167, May 15. Wheeler, E. G.-Inclosing plans and specifications of compression-pump and condenser.

No. 170, May 15. Hunt, S. B.-In regard to refrigeration.

No. 171, May 16. Stolbrand, C. J., C. E.-States he will submit plans and specifications, if time is given him, regarding refrigeration.

No. 172, May 16. Dalton, J. M.-Asks if he can submit plans and specification for refrigerating machinery.

No. 177, May 17. Waring & Winter.-State they will furnish security for successful working of refrigerating apparatus, &c.

No. 186, May 19. Hunt, S. B.-States he received notice too late to present plans for refrigeration, and asks for further time, &c.

No. 186, May 19. Holden & Bros.-Ask for further time to submit plans for refrigerating apparatus.

No. 190, May 19. Furber, E. G.- Withdraws from competition for refrigerating machinery.

No. 195, May 21. Holden Bros.-State they have not been allowed sufficient time to furnish drawings for refrigerating machinery.

No. 198, May 21. Howson & Son.-Inclose specifications and draw. ings of Bell-Coleman refrigerating apparatus.

No. 199, May 22. Wheeler, E. G.-Incloses drawings for refrigerating machinery and vessel.

No. 200, May 22. Ingersoll & Shelley.-Inclose specifications and drawings for refrigerating machinery.

No. 201, May 21. Sherman, Hon. John.-Transmits letter received by his department in regard to refrigerating machinery.

No. 202, May 22. Waring & Winter.-Transmit drawings and specifi cations for refrigerating machinery.

No. 203, May 22. Jones, Geo. O.-Incloses communications of S. C. Reed, regarding refrigerating machinery, and Roach & Son, regarding cost of vessel.

No. 269, May 29. Mayor, O. G.-In reference to refrigeration.

No 319, June 9. Knott, Proctor.-Calls attention to the Shelley refrigerating apparatus.

No. 365, June 13. Smith, David, chief engineer.-Returning corre spondence in the matter of refrigerating machinery.

No. 369, June 3. Bell Coleman Refrigerating Company.-Forwards description of refrigerating machinery.

No. 377, June 14. Shellabarger, Sam'l, et al.-Ask to be heard in the matter of the Shelley refrigerating machinery.

No. 380, June 14. Thompson, Hon. R. W.-Transmits copy of report of the board of engineers regarding refrigerating machinery.

No. 434, June 20. Ingersoll & Shelley.-Request to be furnished description of refrigerating vessel, &c.

No. 456, June 23. McCullough, W. W.-States he has information that John Gamgee has failed to produce adequate results in all attempts to produce cold.

NATIONAL BOARD OF HEALTH, Washington, D. C., June 24, 1879. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, inclosing a copy of a resolution of the Senate of the United States of the 23d instant, calling for a report of all action and proceedings taken by this Board in connection with the act of April 18, 1879, for the pur

chase or construction of a refrigerating ship for the disinfection of vessels and cargoes. Referring to your request that the National Board of Health will send copies of any papers which pertain to the matter, I have, with respect to some papers, namely, the plans and specifications of Prof. John Gamgee and some others, to refer you to my letter of this forenoon in reply to yours of June 21, 1879, in which it was stated that Professor Gamgee claimed that these papers were his private property, and that he was unwilling to publish or disclose them to rival inventors and contractors. I am informed by the secretary of the Board that other parties making proposals have taken the same position and have withdrawn their plans. As to the remnant, it will not be practicable to have copies taken in time to suit your purpose, but the origi nals are submitted to you with this statement of the views taken by the parties as to their rights of ownership.

Along with these papers I send a copy, marked A, of a letter addressed on behalf of this Board to the Secretary of the Navy, dated April 30, 1879, requesting him to convene a board or commission of experts to consider questions of engineering and ship construction, so as to enable the board to form an intelligent opinion and to arrive at a definite decision as to what kind of ship and refrigerating machinery would be best calculated to serve the purpose of the required disinfection.

The Secretary of the Navy having acceded to this request, issued on the 2d of May a letter of instructions to the president of the board of engineers, a copy of which, marked B, is herewith submitted.

The board in question, having duly organized in accordance with the order of the Secretary of the Navy, addressed a communication to the National Board of Health, May 10, 1879, propounding several questions "in order to limit the capacity of the machinery required."

These questions were answered by the secretary of this Board in a communication dated May 10, 1879. A copy of the letter of the commission and of the reply thereto is herewith transmitted, marked C.

A copy of the final report of the commission, dated June 12, 1879, was forwarded to this Board by the Hon. Secretary of the Navy, and is herewith submitted.

In view of the indorsement by the board of naval engineers of the plan of Professor Gamgee, I was directed by the Board to recommend to you to make a contract with that gentleman, understanding that it would be on the basis of that plan, and accordingly addressed to you my official communication of the 17th instant.

I also submit a copy of a letter addressed to the Board by R. L. Shelley and his counsel June 14, 1879, and the reply thereto, marked D. Also, a second communication from the same parties, dated June 20, with reply, marked E.

Also, a communication from W. W. McCullough, of June 23, 1879, to which there has been no reply.

Also, a copy of the order of the National Board of Health, directing me to address you a letter recommending the plan submitted by Prof. John Gamgee, and also a letter from that gentleman dated June 21, 1879, which are herewith appended, and marked, respectively, F and G. I would respectfully request that the originals of papers sent be returned at your convenience.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. L. CABELL, President National Board of Health.

Hon. JOHN SHERMAN,

Secretary of the Treasury, &c., &c.

A.

NEW YORK, June 18, 1879. SIR: I beg to inform you no formal bid was given with my plans and specifications for the refrigerating ship, as I understood it would not be required until the plans were in your hands.

This being the case, I do not understand how the board could report on the relative cost of the different plans.

I desire to bid on the plans which have been submitted to you, which, if I understand the law, I have a right to do.

I am in position to do the work and give bonds for its immediate completion.

Respectfully asking your attention, I am, sir, yours, truly,

JOHN SHERMAN,

E. G. WHEELER,

51 Exchange Place, New York.

Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D. C.

B.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 19, 1879.

To the SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY:

We most respectfully ask that you shall not adopt the recommendations of the board of experts, communicated to you on the 17th instant, under the act of Congress of 18th April, 1879, as to the purchase of refrigerating machinery, &c., until after we shall have had opportunity to lay before you such evidence as is desired to be submitted to you, showing that said recommendation ought not to be adopted.

Should the Secretary indicate a willingness to receive such evidence before he acts on such recommendation, then said evidence will be submitted in such short and reasonable time as may be named by you.

We respectfully ask to be informed whether such opportunity to present evidence will be afforded, and, if so, what time will be allowed? RICHARD L. SHELLEY, R. G. INGERSOLL.

C.

WASHINGTON, D. C., June 19, 1879.

SIR: I regret exceedingly that Judge Shellabarger is not ready to go before you to-day.

A communication is being prepared, and will be submitted to you during the day.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

SIR: Under the act of Congress approved April 18, 1879, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to contract for the purchase or construc tion of a refrigerating ship for the disinfection of vessels and cargoes,