The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-08-30
Steam Power on the Canals.

A correspondent, w. j. b., Of Ind, eH-
presses his belief that any means Of pro
pelling canal boats in which the water is
used as a fulcrum would produce so great
an agitation Of the water as to prevent
their use. He proposes two continuous
rails on the bed Of the canal, one for boats
going in each direction. Tha boats are to
be lifted with driving wheels in the center,
with deep hanges the axles Of the wheels
resting on frames which could be moved up
and down in curves concentric with the
main shaft Uf the engine. In addition to
the weight Of the wheel, pressure on the
rail might be given by steam cylinders
which would slightly raise the boat in the
water The boat could be guided by rud-
der wheels with fianges, which should also
work in frame. variable to suit the draft
of the boat. Thus both wheels could be
raised from the rail- to allow the boat to be
drawn by horses in the ordinary way
:" As to the power required, considering
the great disadvantage under which horses
work at the end of long tow line, from
the obhque direction at which the force has
to be applied, (this being also considerably
augmented by the necessity of steering the
boat from the tow path and running it OBJ
hquely through the waterl the boats on the
Erie canal, now drawn by two horses at IL
miles per hour, would attain a speed Of
three or four miles per hour, by the means
l have suggested and the application Of the
power Of SIX or eight horses and the cost
of running canal boats, per mile, would be
one-third of what it is now.
But the consideration that must have the
greatest weight is the increa 30 Of the freight
ing capacity of the canal Almost any plan
that certainly secures this must have the
preference over all others, regardless the
cost OF construction. When the plan |
[hropose first occurred to me, it was seen
IA at its cost would then be an insuperable
ID ectIon, and, for the time, / let il rest ;
A. at last my anticipations are realized,
now the cost should not, in my iudg-
:, be any objection. The whole eI-
E would not probably exceed five mil
K ollars for the entire length Of the
u nal. Generally / would think it
lrive piles. say 200 to the mile
track and As 1--WE or six tons In all
- would have to bear, iron of forty
20 the yard would be sufficient
y would give q traction force Of
unds, equal to the draft Of twelve
My estimate Of the power required
ed from the consideration Of the
lTen ts Of power a. usually applied in
boats by horses, and the unavoid-
advantage Of using paddle wheels,
oSl's they do against q yielding full
One may appreciate this loss Of
walking over q sandy road.
, time. necessarily drives the water TO
ht ahead Of itself and then, il
.na AkAppied by wheels to force the
mard, . depression in the water
boat must result, bringing the
4rer the bottom Of the canal and
oia.A increasing the draft. The boat
pwn into trough, M il were,
|. ently climbing hill that sinkl
''dsnf' QAYbefore it. In the plan pro-
'. - ae necessary swell in front Of
srsmer. &oduced, and this in slightly
rehsss a lifting Of the vessel BY the
Frsieht s@sing pressed down on tn,
sA--' w 'A''A 0m of the canal. ."-ScieR
ur,l8 H.. A. -.