Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-09-07
STEAM ON CANALS.

STEAM ON CANALS.
The propriety of propelling boats on our canais'
with horses or mules, is about equal 10 that OF pa'
cling good old "Connes,osa team slow but sure
iu competition with the Iron horse" on our rail
roads, and about as efectual. Our boats aud OUT
canals of course mus, DO built for the use OF stes
a. our rail roads are A canal navgated by horse
Dower il about on level with team way quill
especially Tor the horse or the mule aud Inc chanse
which may be- effected by steam in favor OF canals Is
equal to the difference between primitive "teSIn
way" worked by horses, and u modern rail- ROAD
worked by steam.
Canals even now worked by the horse. are not be-
bind rail roads worked by steam; for it is fact,
which cannot be disputed, that canals, under ordina-
ry navigation, are the cheapest avenues Tor inaLd
freight, and next to rivers and lakes and We have
advocated even under present facilities, the canal IN
preference 10 the rail road. II, then, aack water
navigation, on river or canal, propelled by horse
power il equal superior for heavy transportation
or the chief articles of commercial Intercourse 10
rail road transportation in its cheapest form, what
may we not anticipate from our great water lines
under the iHusno. Of steam, particularly hers where
coal il PLENTIFUL and where il be, and will be pro-
duced with the greatest economy The recent trials
OF the New York and Erie Canal are not the fret
successful once that have been made canals, though
l. appears they the frat to convince people gene
raliy-if they are yet convinced-that steam can be
used with economy. in the plars OF horses or mules on
our inland navigation Neither can the test in New
York be- considered the most favorable on the score
of economy, since tha cos, of coal there, Is much
greater than it would be the Pennsylvania canals,
on the Chesapeake and Ohio or even on the James
River aud Kanawha Canal. when completed Yet
this navigation in point OF sizs, has he sdvantage Of
those lines except perhaps the Schr !klnaviga''on-
between the coal mines of Schuylk county and Phila'
d-lpha-wh;ch is large and well 5ult line, and des-
tined 10 become under the inHuen 9 of steam, one OF
the greatest avenues in the world. /; lies parallel to
one of the best built and best equipped rail roads in
this or any other country, with the most favorable
grades that any road could possibly enjoy and yet
with all the facilities that capital, experience and
tremendous trade can command, together with
grade epsn more )apornbi, than dead levti-ihe
Schuyk navigation, has competed successfully with
the Reading rail road and ia even now leading II IN
freiyhts aud has forced down liza rate to ruinous
standard. This has been done by horse power in
competition with steam and that too, where the wa
Tor il limited and where the navigation s locked Up
with ice four months in the year. This Is the mort
favorable comparison that could be made."n the part
of rail roads, since il s seldom indeed that any rail roed
can be favored with level grades and much lesS with
grades that are s favorable to the trade, than
dead epei In Virginia our most favorable roads have
70 contend with grades which range from twenty to
e.. 10, milk
trsde whilst here, is possible 10 have an abundance
~ w.;e. aa a.. al ~, perpetual navigation as far
rs ics is concerned. If such rhe facts, ana they
are evident to every observer, what mighty change
will yet be Elected in transporting agencies, when
steam shall exert canals. tho power it now exerts
on our railroads. That this must follow in til. course
OF common events, no practical man can deny, how.
ever his interest otherwise may incline him to doubt.
Since the days Of Fulton, very little Improvement
las been made, or attempted in the mode OF proPe-
ling boats by steam particularly our slack water ma.
vrstion. Ii is true, engines and machinery, gene
rally have been improved; the screw propeller has
b.sn Invented and many models Of boats and steam.
ships float on our rivers lakes and our seasi but
no one appears TO think Of remodelling our clumsy
canal boste, with view to suit the size and nature Of
canals. OF adapting propelers for canals and canal
boats especially. Our canals TOO frequently mere
a;,ehcs built with their narrow sighted policy, which
Looks at no probabilities in the future beyond zone
horse" concern.
The James River and Ksnawha Canal has every
facility, however, that coud be desired for sfeam
navigation throughout ,rce the greatest part oil the
us in fact nearly all OF it might be, and in reality IL,
slack water navigation, capable OF Improvement
- any extent, aud Of carrying eteam tugs equal,
ar eyen SUPERIOR to those on ths Erie Cana,
iie expense of completing which would, if en-
.rye,ically carried through, be much less than
the cost of the New York aud Erie. At Richmond
it crosses splendid coal formation, where fuel can
be had at lcss than half its cost on the New York
canals In Bote,ourt county, on entering the noun
tains, it would again fnd supply of cheap fuel and,
in its route through the Kenawha II would be in and
through the greatest coal region known 10 the world
aud where fuel be had for less than the third part
of the price paid in New York. But, after ali, ii Is
not actually necessary that we should he coniued TO
the James River and Kauawha line, since the waters
Of the New kiver oGsr line si more favorable Tor
the of steam, since that stream con be made navi
gable for the steamboats, that float on the
Western waters. Without unloading the ordinary
buats of the Ohio and other tributaries of the Mis-
.issppi. might ascend 10 the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad at Central" aud FROM themes portage is
now built to Lynohburg, where it again meets the
water whioa might be msds from thence to Norfolk,
uubroken fox steam barges. Or, the connection might
be made at ibe head of the present csnaat Buchsnsn
siuce the distance from Bufords Gap or Bonssck's,
the Virginia aud Tennessee line to this place.
but shot and the total portage in this case would be
-hort Of seventy miles, with favorable grades except
Tor short distance in ascending from the New River
nj Central"
If Virginia would prosper, che must take bod OF
the golden opportunities offered {or Providence only
helps those who help themselves. In vain are our
coal fields and our mountains of ore 10 vain or riy
Cow aud our waters roll, it they made to al
.iwer no purpose, aud bless no people, serve no
capss. The advantages We possess are valueess and