Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-31
CAN AIS.

Tho .,n.xed account of an interesting expert.
mont with reference to acceeratius the movement
Of boats on canals, will be found worthy 'ne a''
tention of those who take direct interest Ia the
concerns of Internal Improvement In Caha'''
as used in this country, speed may perhaps De Of
less consequence than regularity IN trans mission
uf freight, though certain it is, that IN almus1 all
transact tons time is money:-U. ). GaS.
accelerated Movement upon Canals.
INTERESTING EXPERIMENT On Saturday al.
,o,nonn a trial was made upon the PaddIngton
Canal. of the new canal bpa, The object of the
trial was to show that boat built in different
firm and constructed Of other materials than the
ordinary canal boat, might, by using superior
horses, he drawn along the water al inc ra'e OF
10 miles or more in an hour, instead oil TWO miles
an hour, the pace of the boats now IN use. Inc
day was remarkably fine. The portion OF The
canal more particularly appropriated to the ex'
nerimrut was from the third TO the seventh m''e
from Psddingtun. The boat was constructed OF
sheet Iron, rivelted hct 1t was 20 feet long. ny
:, feet wide; and painted green and white. The
hoat was provided with an awning made Vi white
twilled cotton cloth, which had been rendered
scmitransparent with oil. The awning was so
set that the top was extended over light wooden
arches, which rested upon thin upright frame
of rod iron; and the sides, in the form oi cur
tains, were made to slide at pleasure upon Para'.
leled rods placed at the upper and lower ends OF
the curtains. The rudder was Of single sheet
Of iron. of about yard in length. and 1t was
moved bv a tilier made of about two yards OF
stout rod iron. Two steady hunting horses. each
mounted by lad, and the two harnessed to
towing rope of about $50 feet in length, c"nsti
tuted the moving power. The number Of per
sons on board the boat was 49, including the crew,
the gentlemen making the experiment, some O
the principal members u the Grand Junction
Company, and the visters amongst whom were
Mr.. Telford. Mr.. Babbase. Capt. Basil Hall. MIR
Hclyer, and Mr.. Gill; lady also made one oil
the party OIL this interesting occasion. Certain
distances were measured on the canal bank, and
marks set up at the ends Oi them. At each o
these places, also. man was stationed win
cuaeed rod in his hand, which he so held, as that,
upon the boats passing, he might instantly read
off the height q! the wave caused by the dlstur
bance Of the water. When all things were rea
DIV on the shore, and the party had embarked, the
boat was put in motion. The speed from one
station to another, taken by seconds watches,
showed, for some time, progress at the rate o.
thirteen miles an hour. The horses, however
soon began to tire, and the speed fell to eleven
aud ultimately. in returning for the third time
TO ten and quarter miles in the hour.
The experiment, rs far as it goes, was attended
with complete success. The motion Is Tie east
est imaginable. The boat slides along the wa
ter so Smoothly and noseIessly, that its progress
is all but imperceptiole to those on board whose
attention i, not extended to external objects A
relay of horses will be required at the end ct eve
~ four or five miles. The banks OF the canal
will have to be edged for nine or ten inches above
the ordinary level If the water With hard mate
rails. and the tu"ing-path to be slightly sloped
aut~arJs. Improvements, nu ,iuut'' will Also w
made TO facilitate the passing Of locks, and ia
the mode of attaching the horses to the boat, SC
that the animals NAV exert their power upon the
boat disembarrassed of the awk wardness Of the
direction in which, under the present form ol
towing, they are made put forth their strength.
rLondOn Albion.