Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-24
STEAM AS THE MOTIVE POWER IN CANAL
NAVIGATION.

Very good evidence of the popular impression pro
duced by the introduction of steam on the Erie Ca.
nal ia afforded by the fact that the last number OF
Frank Lsslies Illustrated Newspaper contains an
iliustraon" Of the inaugural scene. 1t purporrs to
be from sketch, taken on the spo Of the procession
OF boats four in number, with Governor King and the
Canal Commissioners on board crossing the reservoir
West of Rochester, on the 9Th of August. The to
lowing editorial is from the same paper:
STEAM ON THE ERIE @ASAL.-Wthn the last few
weeks All innovation, falling litils short Of entire
revolution has been wrought in the internal naviga
iion of our State The noble water high ways which
she owes to the energy Of De Witt Clinton and few
other suc men, the great artificial channels which
connect our rivers and our cities bring The waters Of
the giant lakes to The banks of the Hudson, and the
produce OF the West to the markets Of the Atlantic
and of Europe though fallen into decrepituds and
vauntingy pronounced obsolete, have felt reviviiy.
ing touch. After lapse OF half century, the in
vention of Wait and Fulton has been applied in ear
neat TO ths sluggish canal boat and henceforwsrd it's
adoption will be rapid, and will speedily become uai.
versal.
The project Of introducing this motive power 10
canal navigation is by no means new, but some ad
veree interests, or the apathy Of those in office, has
hitherto prevented the adoption Of manifest all ad
vantage. The principal objection that has been
urged against the Of the propeller has been that
its outward motion has caused washing away OF the
banks OF the canal. thus filling up the bed OF the
waterway but an ingenious invention, recently sp
piled with has removed this obstacle and the
canal boat propeller now throws the wave inside D
stead of out and the commotion produced by the
passage Of the boat at apeed Of four miles hour,
is greater than that which is caused in the ordinary
method of towing by horsepower.
To the persistent Zeal and energy Of Mr.. Ruggles.
one of the Commissioners Of Hors'io Allen, Eeq, E
practical engineer. and of Governor King this bene
fetal innovation ia principally due. Mr.. Rugges has
especially distinguished himself by his activity and
perseverance, having pursued for years the object
which appears now for the fret time in fair way OF
uiii ment, OF procuring an addition TO the depth
wIdth OF the Erie Canal. He proposes 10 increase
the width 10 seventy feet and the depth TO seven, thus
creating an artificial river upon which the bountifui
produce Of the teeming West may be foated eIpedi-
tously 10 the Atlantic shores.
Propellers having been introduced upon the canals.
an inauguratlng excursion took place on Thursday
August 5th in which Governor King, Commissioner
Rugges, and other State officers participated. Th.
new steam canal boat Z. L. S'ernberg, and the steam
tugs Governor King and 5. 5. Whallou having in
tow the scow Repair, left Rochester about 10 A. n
on their way TO Buffalo. The trip was satisfactory i'll
the highest degree, the Sternburg making tour miller
| All hour without difficulty, while creating no more
commoliOn than ordinary tow boat. The con
sumption of fuel ia stated ss having been an econom
cA feature. Wherever the boats passed an Inhabited
point. the population came forward TO lend their ap
psuse and rejoicing TO the almost festive procession
On approaching Buffalo in the afternoon of Saturday,
demonstration Of the highest interest took place SO
utes we're fired town and hsrbor were decked with
sgs and the vast assembled crowd gave vent to their
enthusiasm in successive rounds of cheers.
| The State officials having landed, they were con.
iucted TO platform erected for the purpose where
hey were welcomed by Mayor Lock wood, and at
forwards addressed by the Hon. George w. Clinton
Governor King then delivered brief address to the
assembled citizens, and was followed by Mr.. Rugge,
and by Commissioner Jayco1. These gentlemen in
their eloquent and enthusiastic speeches, augured
the bappiest and most comprehensively beneficial
consequences from the new Improvement. The result
pf the experiment made said Commissioner Ruggles,
that a steam propeller has ascended from Roches
Buffalo, adistance of ninety three miles, carry
'ng eighty tons, at a speed of nearly four miles az
nour, and raising wave on the banks not exceeding
TOUR inches; and Dir. Jayco1 assured his audience
hat, when the canal completed, instead Of wit
Messing half-fed horses and hs-fed urchins driving
them, we should the largest Glaze of boats pro-
PEELED by steam upon an average OF five or siI miles
III hour, and the great purpose OF the canals would
os accomplished without any violation of the princ-
plies of Free Trade and without interfering with the
ypstpd rig hta of corporate comDBpies,