Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-28
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for the navigation of rivers and canals, we'll as oil
the ocean, seems 10 indicate, that metal WILL IN Inc
course of time supersede wood in this sort OF con-
s,ruction The following article will be interesting 10
those who have turned their specuaiIons TINS way.
[Nec Orleans Courier.
(From Albany Arsus)
craft Of this kind on Tuesday lying IN the
Albany Basin
AS we understand the "Ncc Era is the first iron
boat that has ever the canals oil this State. we
believe few particulars about the relative advantages
of IRON over wooden boats WILL this time, be exceed
ingly interesting to the public. Attention is no" d.
rected TO this question: and while the attention IS fer
men,ng any facts will be doubly appropriate and USE
full.
II has seemed to US that no subject can be more
important 10 the commercial interests, not only OF
this State but of all lhe Western States, Tor 1t 10
indissolubly connected with the great desIderatum
reduction i'll the price OF transportation ana
penny saved in this, is penny earned IN me pro
ducing classes of the whole Union II IRON ooa's
can be made so as 10 draw less water, carry more
freight, and at the time tow easier, tha! ls
have less traction in the wafer, and with but niue
additional expense we cannot but believe thot lhe
introduction on the canals OF New ork VIII save
millions OF dollars 10 the farmers Of this as OF other
States 1t is manifest that these results Of the
first magnitude, and such worthy oil The al
,ention of the first minds of this country
The facts we have gained from Captain Trepiny, IN
relation the operation of this iron canal boat are sucn
lust give rSt u
came in from Oswego with freight of 81 tons and $50
lbs the largest load yet carried on the canal nd
then her drau ght only three feet three inches When
unladen she Only draws ten inches. Bet IN our est :
NATION, the marked superiority OF iron over WOOD, vs.
the diminished tac 1t manifest thst even II the
boats carried heavier load, but required more power
10 draw the community would gam but r,tie; on me
cont -ary results already prove that heavier Load IS
drawn by the same, by less power This IS easily
explained, philosophical principles 1t well known
tht even The best seasoned boat timber absorbs more
or less water. This it to drag, u use COM
mon phrase, to stick Wood sucks something like a
spon re- when much exposed TO the acton OF the water
Iron has fortunately of these properties 1t at
serbs no water, and consequence, while an IRON
boat gides easy through the water OF cana wooden
boa, drags.
few words az TO the expense. The original cost 10
double An iron canal boat like the "New Era, costs
SO O00-a wooden boat but 81 5C0-but the Durability
of and The cheapness OF repairs Infinitely counter
balance the additional expense 1t is supposed that
an ron boat will last fifty years-whIle hard usage in
The locks wooden boats TO pieces. 1t is well
known tba, the expense Of repairs of painting and
carpenters work canal boats is annually very heavy
This item must be a mere tris in iron boat.
From this it will be perceived, that iron boat is
ultimately far h5aper If it lasted only 20 years, it
would be cheap but it lasts 80 years, it is really
more than twice cheap.
The first outlay seems large; but as capital is daily
becoming more Abundant from the increased produc-
ton oil The country uno as the interest OF money WI"
not likely range high again, investing money in these
boats, a, so long tune, will not exceed either The pre-
sent abilities Of country the expectations OF ca
pitasts.
We have given this subject an extended notice, be-
cause hope to during the next Spring number
Of iron craft on the canal of New York We con-
6dent that public attention need only be directed to
this subject to be convinced of the cheapuess as well
as the superiority Of these bonts.
We may ndd that the "New Era is boiler IRON
three .eigh,hs Of an inch plate The Captain thinks the
boat is heavy for the canal that onequarter OF IN
inch plate would be amply sufficient for The heaviest
freight bonts canals, while oneeighth ola incf
would be ample for passenger boats. II will be per.
ceved, that if the weight of the boat be thus
duced the weight of the cargo can be correspondingy
ncre ased. The weight Of the "New Era" is % 7-lC
toms 1t is probable that boats easily be made moi
TO weigh ID tons.
We will conclude With remark of no little inter
est Capt TrepDy insists that -four is kept s1ceete,
in iron boats than in wooden ones-not being so IL
abe to dampness eiluva from bllge water. If th:
be So il will be extraordinary consideration TO the
heavy -four dealers OF Western New York. for the Loss
in sour and damaged -four is VIGOROUSLY heavy item
in their forwarding expenses.
The New Era" is owned by WIN. II. Vandewata
g. Co. Of New York, forming Of the New York ane
Oswego line. We understand that she fu6s every
expectation of her enterprsing propretors-beng par
ticnlarly on the river most desirable bcatcarry
$50 tons of freight being so more than The heavies
lake boat that goes t, New York.