The New York herald., 1872-12-14
CANAL STEAM TRANSPORTATION.
To TIE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD:-

To TIE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD:-
see by the papers that certain parties claim to
have solved the problem OF "steam on the ca
nals." They, one and all, demand the money
offered by the State for '.just the thing" adver-
tised for. They all assume distinct points of merit.
and certain peculiar advantages in their pet in
ventions. Onc at least, boasts OF having made
trips from Buffalo to Troy in the space OF five OK
six days, with 200 tons OF freight; and, further
more, to have steamed from Buffalo to New York
in the extraordinarily short period OF eight days
and few hours, and, but for some delay made by
the inspectors at Troy, would have made the
through trip in less than eight days. This looks
well In print, as kind Of "dust for
the eyes" OF the people. comparatively
few OF the many who have expended money and
time to facilitate the moving OF freights from the
East to the West and the grain and other Oducts
in return from the West to the East through the
canals, understand fully the nature OF the dim
cutes to be overcome, to say nothing OF the generar
public who only know that the canals do not de-
liver freight from East to West and utce oersa a.
speedily as the railroads. They are therefore,
liable to be deceived and miscd by the statements
made from time to time by ingenious and inter-
ested schemers with large resources In money and
influence. This Is unfortunate for the poor, but
more worthy and more scientific inventors, who
can neither command nor buy such hearing
through the press, and such other adventurous
aids as might result in the eager acceptance Of
their plans on their merits alone. The most de-
serving OF these, though rich in genius and skin,
are usually wanting in the pecuniary ability requi-
site lor the building OF boats and pet engines.
and then making "mock trials" with the proper
flourish Of trumpets, and the added music OF pop
ping corks." One question here. Did the parties
who made the quick trips from Buffalo to New
York give the public the sg htest intlmation that
long before and az the time they left Buffalo, there
was scarcely single horse belonging to the canal
service which was not the '.sick ust2" Not D
word on that subject. 1t seems to them SUFFICIENT
for the public to know that they made the time,
for which they clamor for the 100000, and roy
atty for their invention or idea when applied to
other boats. They suppressed the TACT that they
experienced no delay until they reached Troy, al
the entire feet OF canallers were, SO to speak,
"animie bound" The steamers, OF course, had
no trouble in passing the up and down boats for
they were as m0tiOnless as II they had been laid
up for the Winter. II these horse canalcrs had
shown their usual activity, the steamers could nos
have slipped by them or around them so easily or
SO speedily. They did not even have to walt their
turn at the locks but had clear and unobstructcd
track from Buffalo to New York.
Give horse canaller the same clear sailing, and
promise him the same bounty, and he Will most
likely make the same trip IN Iour or i've days less
than when the canals are crowded. He would not
be justified, however, In setting up claim for
any special improvement in navigation.
The parties representing the steam principle
propose to adapt it to the present horse boats in
cluding their own improvements. The necessary
alterations, they say win cost the owner three OF
boilers Is not definitely stated nor OF the propeller
or paddlewheel. one thing is certain, however,
the owner OF the horse boat must expend, at the
start nearly as much for the necessary changes in
single one as IL would cost TO build two new
o one ne canaer must make
twice as many trips In the same time as the old
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This, under the most favora-
BILE and tavoring circumstances they have not been
able to do.
The Commissioners representing the State should
consider well and carefully investigate all these
points and others that naturally suggest them
selves, before they give or throw away hundred
Thousand dollars OF the peoples money, and force
upon the owners OF horse canaers an invention
which Is not only unnecessarily expensive but
which, on q more severe and prolonged test and .
more patient and careful examination, may prove
comparatively worthless and unreliable.
Let the Commissioners call Tor pans and specih-
cations, thus aordng the poor as well as the rich
inventor an opportunity to be heard and con.
sidered From the designs submitted, after reason
aole n9ce es tnem ss.eG ,s, Say .alee % OF avc
bracing the most desirable improvements; then
let the state build or alter the three or nve boats
needlu for testing the same number or plans Sc
ected by the Commissioners Tor trial, the whole
cost of the experiment to be deducted from the
bounty OF 100000, or in other words, to be paid
by the successful competitor or competitors, who
would be speedily reimbursed by the proceeds OF
the royalty interest, to which they would then be
entitled. Up to this time many poor but meritOrt
Gus and skillnl inventors have been, undes9nediy.
perh ips, but unavoidably excluded from all compe-
tition in this important matter, by reason chiefly
OF their inability, IN a pecunary sense, to build
boats and run them on the canals, and possibly
demonstrating the iact, which the world seems re-
luctant to acknowledge. that men poor III pockee
may lie sometimes rich in brain and culture.
What better service to the cause OF practical
science as well as the public welfare can the Com
missioners render in the discharge OF this special
trust than TO throw this proposition open to the
broadcast and most impartial compeutlony
TERRAPIN.