New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-07
IMPROVED GATES For cANAL LOCKS.

To the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Observing in an article on the subject
OF cheap transportation IN your OF the 18th inst
that improvement is referred to for improving tho
capacity of the canal by a OF gates for the locke
take the liberty OF informing your readers how the
gates operate, and how much they Will increase the
capacity of the present canal which is large enough TO
do several times the OF business it now does
provided il be improved propose OF which there
is doubt, 1t approved by engineers OF celebrity
and by practical canal men.
The improvement consists of straight gate extend.
ing the lock at ts head, moving vertically i'm a
groove in each side wall, in lire with the lower face Of
the breast wall and balanced by weights like 4 window
sash. 1t is operated by shaft extending the LOCK-
in cut in the lower face the breast wall,
which pinons placed, within the depth OF each
groove, break into vertical racks placed opposite
them permanently on the gate On turning the shaft
the gate raised lowered. When open the gate has
descended vertically the boat passing It on entering
or leaving tho lock. The substitution Of this gate OBJ
vates the necessity Of the mtersl wall, winch would
be removed therefore contributing not only the I'VE feet
Of space it occupied, but seven feet OF the well"
Wea total OF twelve feet at the head OF the lock To ts
XIV lower sate is hinged to the lower proectn g corner
or VERT al cut m the lock wall. point
70 feet below the present lower gates. The eyes The
hinge are placed So me 10 OF ~ inches from the extreme
end OF the gate, that when Is cOSrd that of
the gate win rest against the masonry OF the lock. On
the other end the gate. leaf OF tie same
hight OF the gate and iva feet wide, Is hung TO it in
hollow groove, just vessels rudder hung for the
PURPOSE OF fastening IL when closed 10y turning into
vertical IN the opposite side wall This leaf Is
operated 10y rod aud lever On the lock door circular
rack permanently laid, into which piniOn breaks.
being operated By SHAFT extending from Top tho
bottom OF the gate The weight o the gate rests on ono
or more wheels which traverse more circular
amNays laid on the lock door. When IL - desire TO
Opcn this gate, the lock Is emped, the Leaf j. then With
drawn from the recess, the shaft turned and open
the gate, wheeling outward OF Downstream.
The result Is that not only give mlch letter moro
easy ana ncky operated gate, but accomplish tho
great desideratum OF adding "a feet % the chamber OF
the lock AT It's FOOT indeed all the space 20" required
for the sweep Of the cumhrOus aud uuslght} balance
beam inter gates and feet that Is now used mere
ornament than utty-making grand total OF 50 feet
that redeem 10 ulnesS aud Aod 10 tue available
chamber OF the lock. ny the simple suDs!tut OF
system OF gates that easily he ADJUSTED 10 the locks,
and moro easily aud quickly worked than the kind now
ia use Another great advantage deriyablo from lher
adjustment Is the rapdity wlth wheh II can Do done,
only one year and an expenditure OF only one
quarter what il would cost 10 Increase the lock chamber
lis achievement is all the canal needs to reader
a. canal ~ moving 5o0OCCOQO bushels of grain eAch
se,.,n The 1tct rs 10 Will develop The capacity OF tue
canal and remove tho difficulty now att,nd!hg canal
ru.unrtution This Increased length of lock CHAMBER
vt ernIt an the boats being made $50 feet long, aud
III a. 1neei This length OF boat Will greatly increase
i",r toIlace OF capacity, enabling them 10 carry at
tt nm "a bushels OF wheat each. beside Increasing
er sed IA 70 enable them 10 make from eight TO ten
INNS eleh season, Inls Improvement NIL HYuluhouiZo
a commerce the canal ana add to the commercial
,rosp erify OF our state and eItY. ROBERT TAILOR
: Nag YOIk, Sept. 20, l9iA