New-York tribune., 1870-12-03
STEM on CANALS.

The George G.. Barnard, q canal-bOat pro-
PEELED by steam, constructed by Messrs. Nam
g. Mcmillan, PiermOnt, Hudson River, recently
made trip up the river and through the Erie
Canal to Schenectady, with results which are
summed up by Mr.. Main, in letter to TIE
TRIBUNE, as follows:
"I That steam can be applied to ordinary canalboats,
so as to propo them three miles per hour or twice the
speed OF the present loaded boats, without
any Injurious actiOn on the canal banks whatever
q That the speed OF the boat Is the same on the canal as
on the river s. That tho boat eau 60 through lock IN
ak minutes or about Onehalf the time loaded horse
boat takes; for owing TO the screw being IN ho Do"'
when going up the boat can be drawn against tnc upper
gate against the current allowing the lower gate 10 DC
promptly closed L. That the boat will pass over the
tow-nes OF other boats. 8. That 1t can be handled
I'm the locks by three hands 8. That loaded boat can
be run n miles per day, tun Of coal, costing 60
while the towing for horsSoat has cost 10 cents per
mile this season. ts so for n miles and they take TWO
days to 40 distance and have to pay the crew Tor
two days instead one. That II desired, this boat VIII
tow one or more loaded boats moderate speed CShe
towed boat loaded with lS5 tuns OF cargo at Rondout
at the rate OF q miles an hour) That steam can be
applied any canal boat at cost OF about 5000 Tor ate
ing the boat In addition 10 the cost OF the machinery
and then she will be capable of doing twice as much
business as before o. That such boat can go on inc
canal river, lake, with her own steam, anu 80 us-
pense with all charges for owage. 10 That steam can
bo advantageously applied to a canaboat OF barge with
smaller reduction Of the carrying capacity, on this
plan than on any other the boat be built very u
and yet the water flow to the screw and go from 1t
very readily H. That boat carrying 200 tuns OF cargo
on this plan with 16 horsepower engine, and burning
one tun OF coal In "a hours will go treo miles per hour
while carrying capacity only reduced ten tuns by
the application OF the machinery and II greater speed
IA desired 1t bo obtained by applying more power
r. The steering qualities Of tho Barnard when loaded
on an keel all that be desired aud she be-
hayed very well throughout the trip; the only thing
found to be needed jet In tho smokepipe so that
the steam pressure could be maintained when cleaning
the fire. or when the smokeppe lowered to under
the bridges. The action Of tho engine and boiler
was perfect; in fact. the engine was never
stopped until the destination OF the boat was
reached each day The action OF the screw on the trial
has been found to draw current into the opening at the
bow force along under the bottom and replace It at
the sern thus allowing the vessel to glide along without
making any cOmmotiOn in the water. The boat passed
through a locks her way. She passed three loaded
horse boats above COhOe and beat them three hours
run OF nine miles; thus showing that there is now
difficulty whatever in successfully applying steam to
canaboats on the Erie, Champain, the Hudson and
Delaware Canals"