The New York herald., 1845-01-13
Steam on Canals.

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The recent action of the Schuylkill Navigation
Company in determining, forthwith, to commence
the enlargement Of their improvement, for the pur
pose Of adapting it to the most advantageous appl
cation ofsteam, has impaired new and deeper in
terest to the subject of the employment OF this
power on canals. The success which has attended,
previous efforts for the effectual use of steam fo
this purpose, has been SO many triumphs Of the
conquering agent itself over the impediments pre-
sented, by arrangements intended for the employ
ment Of animal force. There is net, in the who'll
history Of canals, single instance Of the construc
ton of work with an eye to the adoption of this
motor. The canals, both of this country and
Europe, have been uniformly prepared for the EN-
ployment OF horse power; and the substitution Of
steam has always been an after-thought, forced
upon mems minds by conviction OF the economy
attendant upon its use.
The Schuykill Navigation Company have the
honor--and high honor it will be hereafter reck
oned-of being the first to come forward with
consistent and comprehensive plan for preparing
their work expressly for the use of steam, and ap
plying steam to a work expressly prepared for it,
use.
The Schuylkill Navigation extends from Phila-
dephia to Potsvle the great centre Of the anthra
cite coal basin of Pennsylvania The present an.
tons, and the same region sends off from 4OO, 900 to
SOC, 900 tons by rival work, the Reading rail
road. A great competition is carried on between
these two improvements, each aiming to monopo.
ize the whole trade, and the trade itself annually
increasing an amount much more than the aggre-
gate tonnage on any railroad in the country. The
Canal Company are row making new and bolder
and better move than any heretofore contemplated.
They go, this time, openly for monopoly, and 10
effect the object they propose an immediate en-
largement OF their navigation, for the purpose OF
permitting boats Of 200 tons burthen, and propelled
by eteam, to pass freely upon it, and to convey the
mi fYunG lu tn Man Vu~L
and all along the coast of New England. The
work has been carefully surveyed during the las
two years, and the Cost Of efecting this great OBJ.
ject is estimated at 81 ,O6O 900.
6The great competition which is carried on for
this trade creates little surprise with those who are
familiar with its present magnitude and rapid In.
crease The trade on the Schuykill navigation
alone this year, js about eight times greater than
that on TIE Western road in Massachusetts. and
the whole trade Of the Schuylkill. now upwards
OF million OF tone, s increasing at the rate Of 25
per cent per annum. The plan Of the Navigation
Company isto take advantage Of the existing com.
petition to enlarge their work while the rail road
Is yet able to carry share of the tonnage TO
keep the olsow while the enlargement isprouess'
ing, SO az to encourage the growth OF the trade;
and, i possible, bring il up to twelve hundred and
hity thousand tons this year; to commence trans
porting on the new work in 1886 with q trade OF
million anda-hal of tons TO begin with, and ply
sical advantages which will enable them TO con.
rol the prces and il they choose, the quantities
to be conveyed on all other lines contendIng fof
the coal trade.
The mere anticipation of this measure since il
was frat broached, has reduced the value of the
bonds of the Rail Road Company from 75 to 65,
and has recently almost destroyed the demand for
them
credit but the exhibition OF such receipts and pro.
FITS from their last years extensive operation az
will Justify the belief that they will be able to
cope withhe Improvement which the Canal Com.
panv are preparing
While thi. strife is in progress, the public may be
gratlfied with the evidence that il offers of q con-
tinuaion OF low rates, and permanent establish
ment OF price for coal below all previous expe.
rlence and anticipation
The locks of the enlarged navigation are TO BE-
OF the same length and width az those Of the new
locks on the enlarged Erie canal, an arrangement
which is intended to form direct connection be-
tween the great anthracite basin Of Pennsylvania
md all the principal citiessoi New York II is diff