Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-06-18
CANALS.

CANALS.
The xcd account OF an interesting experiment win
reference to accelerang the Of boats on Canals
will be found worthy the attention OF those who take a d.
rect the concerns Of Internal Improvement la
aha as used IN TINS country speed may perhaps be Of
less consequence than regularity in Of rcig
though certain Is; that in almost all transactions time
money:
AccELERArEp MovEMxNr UPON CANALs-L,.
feresting Experimentation Saturday afternoon trial
was made upon the Psdingon Canal, Of the canal
boat The object OF the trial was TO- show that boat
built in different form, and constructed of other
Than the ordinary canal boat, might by using supe-
nor horses be drawn along the water the rate Of
nes or more IN an hour, instead Of two miles hour,
the pace OF the boats in use. The day was
remarkably fine The portion OF the canal par,icu
y appropriated 10 the experiment was from the third to
the seventh mile from Pad,lington. The boat
sructed OF sheet iron rivetted hot II 10 feet long
hy oil feet wide, and painted green and white The
boat provided with an awning made Of white twiled
cotton cloth which had been rendered semi
with oil. The awning set up that the top ex
tended over light wooden arches. which rested upon thin
upright frame oil rod iron; and the sides, in the form
curtains made to slide pleasure upon parallel rods
placed at the upper and lower ends OF the curtains The
rudder was oil single sheet Of iron, Of about yard in
'ehg'h anu II was moved by llcr made OF about two
yards oil stout rod iron. Two steady hunting horses
each mounted by lad, and the two harne
ing rope Of about in length constituted the moving
power The number Of persons board the boat 49,
including the crew, the gentlemen making the expert
nen, some OF the principal members Of the Grand juno
ton Company, and the vsiiers, amongst whom were Mr.
Telford, MIR. Babbage, Captain Basil Hail. Mr. HeIyer
and MIR. Gill; lady also made of the party on
tins interesting OCCASION Certain distances were mea-
sured on the canal bank, and marks up at the ends
oil them Ateach OF these places, also. station
ed with gagged rod in his hand where he held as
that upon the boats passing he might instantly read off
the height OF the wave caused by the disturbance the
water. When all things were ready the shore; and
the party had embarked the boat was pm, in motion The
speed from one station TO another taken by second watch
es showed, Tor some ime progress the late of thir
teen miles hour. The horses however soon began 70
ure and the speed fell to eleven, and ultimately, in re.
turning for the third time, to ten aud quarter mile, i'm
the hour "
The experiment. as for as il goes, was attended with
complete success The motion isth easiest
The boat glides along the smoothly and noise.
iessy that its progress is all but mpercepbe those on
board whose attention is not extended external obe
relay OF horses will be required at the end of every
Tour or hve mics The banks Of the canal will have to be
edged Tor nine or ten inches above the ordinary level of
The water with hard materials, and the towing path TO be
snghi'y s'oped outwards Improvements no doubt will
Also DC made to facilitate the passing of locks and i'm the
mode oil attaching the horses the boat so that the ami
mails may exert their upon the boat
oil The awkwardness OF the direction in which, under the
present form OF towing, they made put forth their
strength.-London Albion.