The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-23
STEAM ON THE CANALS.

A Now Steamboat for Use I'm Navigating
tho Canals-Description OF tho Vessel
which is offered to Take the New York
State Prize.
PouaHKERPsIE, August o. 1872.
Ever since the State OF New York passed the law
Offering premium Of 100000 for the successful
application Of some motive power other than
horses to the propulsion Of boats the Erie Canal
the public has been constantly supplied
with reading matter on the subject.
The scientific journals, the daily press,
the learned engineer and the natural genius have
advanced their opinions on the subject and method
Of solving this great problem. Some have told us
the Bottom Of the canals and tow the boats as IS
the towpath; still Others to have an elevated track
should be placed on the bottom Of the canal
and the boat run on wheels. Among the
81 ese Water 81 naUe s
Of propellers on the bow OF the boat and two iml-
tations Of fishes tails and ducks feet Nearly all
the devices, be 1t said to the credit Of the invent
proved in any way successful; true, some have
on might appear to be tie Very thing that is
y anted; but the great stumbling block, for all
bs a yn With s s. q
more expensive.
boat has just been completed at Fishkill Land
osrsG Ss ~ the s State Ssss W. and
:asss ss sss ssssnsa w'H
this Fishkill Landing canal boat was built BY Mr..
Ssam feet ho and has
spsS q 1900 Ou sssas her sS tons o
the stern Of the boat and is compound one, hav-
ing two cylinders, the hgh-pressure cylinder beng
and the low pressure twelve inches in diameter
and tweve-inch stroke The steam Is generated
BY vertical tubular boiler Of peculiar construc.
side, the whole forming the most compact and
economical power we have ever seen.
The power Is applied by means or two screw pro-
peers in the stern Of the boat four feet six inches
In diameter and four feet pitch, attached to the
at bs stroke nn
f0rmty OF motion and to prevent the possibility Of
getting fast on the centre.
tuard which prevents the lines OF passing boats
from catching on the wheels. There are ample &C
commodations for the crew. Just forward q the
tilated staterooms furnishing good accommodation
sse.S se sssSU f9 nfs e Se gns 2SS
spring beds and hair mattresses. The cabin Is
Handsomely carpeted and contains q stove chairs
convenient closets. The tmbers Of the boat are Of
oak and the planking Of yellow pine.
and the Is SHssd e drop for low
bridge 1 wSss v e the usual er FOR the Plot
The body Of the boat Is painted red the deck straw
color and the outside Of the cabin white. over the
latter is spread . large parttcoored awning, and
ON the decks numerous camp stools are distributed.
THE ERIE CANAL.
The Erie Canal is so2 miles in length and is open
for navigation 215 days out OF $685. boat towed by
horses traverses one mile and half per hour, and
the tOwaQe costs from 80 cents to 10 cents DER mile
Asteam canalb0at will run three miles an hour at less
expense In answer to the oier Of the State OF New
York nearly two hundred boats have already been
built TO compete for the generous prize The Fish,
Kill Landing boat is named william Baxter" after
the inventor On Thursday she left the dock OF the
Fishki Landing Machine Company, and proceeded
TO the dock Of the Newburg Cement and Plaster
Company, where she took on 500 barrels OF cement,
weighing 100 tons, with which she will on Monday
start for Buffalo. Previously, however, she
win make trial trip in NewburgI Bay
on Saturday. She can make easily Tour
miles an hour, which is one mile more
than required. She was ont q few days ago In the
Bay, but not being loaded with freight, her pro-
pellers did not take hold OF the water as lrmy as
they would otherwise. number Of invitations
have been extended for saturdays trial trip, and O
Nlsasant time Is Anticipated,