The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-05-31 00:00:00

STEAM TRAFFIC ON CANALS.

Ws reported, last week, an experiment which was made
on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, for the substitution of
steam-power in the haulage of coal-flats or barge, for the
horses which are now in use. The great difficulty to
overcome was the damage to the banks of the canal, from
the swell caused by the steam-vessel ; but it was then
shown that in the haulage of above 150 tons of coals, at the
rate of two miles and a half an hour, by a screw-steamer
constructed by Mr. Inshaw, of Birmingham, no percep-
tible swell was created, and the experiment was so far
successful. On Wednesday last, another experiment
was tried in the presence of several of the directors
and the manager of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
The steamer started from Appley lock, drawing five
flats, with two hundred tons of coal, belonging to the
Ince-hall Company. After proceeding four miles, two of
the flats were cast off, and the steamer drew the remain-
ing three for the next three miles with no very great
increase of speed. Two more flats were then cast off, and
at the end of another three miles the remaining flat was
loosened, and the steamer completed the distance to
Liverpool alone in order to try the effect of her accelerated
speed upon the banks. It was then shown that at the rate
of three miles an hour there was no perceptible difference
on the surface of the water, whereas when the speed was
increased to between fourand five miles an hour there wasa
rolling swell following the stern of the boat, which washed
the banks to the extent of about a foot in height. So far,
therefore, as the application of steam-power to canal
traffic is concerned, it was clearly demonstrated that a
speed of three miles an hour might be attained with per-
fect safety ; and though this rate was not accomplished
when drawing a heavy load, the deficiency was solely owing
to the want of power in the steamer, which was a small
narrow boat, built for canals of less width than the
one or. which it is proposed to apply this valuable
agent. The advantages which are anticipated from
the use of steam in the haulage of coals can hardly
be over estimated. In the first place it has been shown
that it will diminish the cost more than one-halt, reducing
the present expense of haulin; coals from the extensive col-
lieries at Wigan, which is 10d. per ton, to little more than
4d. or sd. In the next place it would tend, by increased
speed, to add considerably to the traffic, as the journeys
which are now performed about three times in a fortnight,
the rate seldom averaging more than one mile an hour,
would by steam be augmented to at least three jour-
neys a week. By this means a considerable impetus
would be given to the export of coals from Liverpool ;
there would be a greater certainty of supply to consumers,
and the vast resources of the Wigan collieries would
be virtually brought within half their present distance
from this port. But what, perhaps, is of more import-
ance than all in a moral point of view, would be its re-
formatory effect on a portion of the population, which
are now a blot upon civilisation, and a national disgrace.
It is difficult to find, in a Christian country, a race of
human beings so near to a state of barbarism as those
employed in canal navigation. With a total oblivious-
ness of moral obligations, the Lord's Day forms with
them no exception from the rest of the week ; no acces-
sible property near the canal is safe from their depreda-
tions ; and the violence and intimidation which were
exhibited on AVedesday last, when a number of them
turned out for an increase of pay, tend to prove
with what reckless and lawless characters those en-
gaged in the coal-trade have to deal. Should, how-
ever, the power of steam, as in every other indus-
trial pursuit, be made to perform the duty of draw-
ing Vie coal-flats from the collieries to the port, the
practicability of which has been so clearly demonstrated,
we may hope to see this barbarian class brought under
that wholesome discipline which will be of as great advan-
tage to themselves as to the community who now suffer
from them. We must not omit to state that the whole
credit of this movement is due to the spirited enterprise
of Mr. William Laird, the manager of the Ince Hall Coal
and Canal Company, who has, by his energy, persevered
until, by actual experiment, he has proved that such
an important and desirable improvement is eminently
practicable.