New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-07
STEAM ON THE ERIE CANAL
Mr.. BAXTERs LETTER TO THE CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE.

IT'S CAPACITY.
To the Frssdetof ne Chamber Of Commerce Of ne City
Of Net1 York.
SIR; My apology for what otherwise might
seem to be desire my part to thrust my views be
fore the public is that large number OF gentlemen,
members Of the Buffalo Board OF Trade, and others,
have requested me to state views IN writing as to
the best and most practicable method or methods Of
speedily increasing the capacity OF the Erie Canal and
making the same equal to the increased and perpetu
ally Increasing burdens which 1t 10 and will he In
the future called upon b bear
During the years 1874 and 1879 my attention called
TO the subject OF canal navigation under circumstances
which led to investigate with the utmost and
particularly everything bearing upon the matter down
to ITS mnutest detail. passed personally over the
whole route several times and 70 the exclusion Of all
other business, devoted several months this. But
while M observations could hardly be valueless, still
should shrink from making them public had / not
promised to do. I will therefore say,
First In my opinion the most important thing TO do
is to push forward the work OF doubling the remaining
single locks with all possible dispatch, the full benefit
OF which great work cannot be enjoyed while one lock
remains single TO retard the procession OF boats.
Seeord The canal should be deepened without delay
eight feet and the effort to keep it at seven has
resulted IN about six this would probably give about
seven feet OF actual water.
Third The canal should be wdened to 100 feet where
the banks are made perpendicular and an average
shall be sloped.
Through cities the banks should OF be walled
up and perpendicular, and at such, and at all points
where Jams Of likely occur basins should be
constructed for relief of the crowd. great deal OF
| time is lost now IN passing through cities.
many It might be found cheaper and better 10
switch or branch canal around the place. through
which boats not desiring 90 stop could pass.
And this is all that would do in the way OF per
manent alterations but would then perfect and sim
pify the management in every possible manner,
70 reap all the advanta yes II is capable Of srortng.
II will be observed that do not suggest any further
enlargement OF the new locks This II chiefly because
fully concur with Engineer Greene the belief that the
present Of the boats sucientIfor inland naviga
ton. and believe that all things considered their pro
portions about right for starting stopping, steering
| and managing with ease The momentum OF boat OF
very great, and IN scant searoon, especially
entering locks requires the greatest care 70 avoid
serious damage In view, also, of the milling and ship
ping interests OF New-York CITY, larger cargOes than
those present carried would probably be UNDESIRABLE
one boatoad being fully equal 70 large train OF cars
/ 10 would defeat the very object OF deepening the
canal II bOats 20 follow n down by corresponding
Increase Of draft, and would prevent this by leaving
the locks at their present Dimensions II the locks are
heightened they also be widened for the proper
tons OF the boats observed and while ten feet
ght probably be added 70 the present length OF boats
without serious detriment and 90 increase or tonnage
to that extent be obtained this slight advantage would
not In my opinion warrant 20 extensive an outlay az
general enlargement OF all the locks would involve.
uness this increase OF length could be obtained by
simple Improvement OF gates Speaking solely In the
light OF the interest OF transporers themselves would
not recommend any radical change from the present
size and proportions OF boats. - ,
The deepening OF the canal OF immense Importance,
and this is what the horse-ooa Interest principally
urges Speaking both that and the steam interest
would urge both the deepening and the widening with
all possible dispatch. SO long as any horseDoats remain
nd hppd Ia "
AT present they keep the ieener OF the
canal aground, and IN passing by them the steam
boat il brought such close proximity as not unfre
quently 20 them around and seriously Affect ner
| progress. All this would be avoided aud each would
have plenty OF room, with the Increased volume OF
water and boats remained limited TO their present ton
In the widening regarding the desirabity II not the
necessity OF which II n presumed there can De no two
opinions the work should be conducted III such way
a. moi 10 interfere with business OF the canal Those
pArts should be taken first that are easiest eartn
c leaving excavations and all difficult points til
the At points side canals would be found the
practicable, and these might be OF lesser width
%ort should be done Rrst from Albany Rochester
int vestward 10 Buffalo In several my trips last
Wear we made from Buffalo 10 Rochester % miles in
| consumed day aud half. owing 70 narrower and
shOaer water and single locks The locks should be thor
eoors should be kept burning at night, whereby boat
men might know as they approached which locks were
/ omen and which closed. Day and night the strictest
vigilance should be observed and men derect in DUTY
should Instantly discharged and punished as for any
/
and discipline Like that OF an army should De perpeuay
observed All Collectors offices should be at locks and
AZ the ends OF the route and as many OF these dc possible
| should be discontinued -
Respecting wegh-ocks, am willing 20 hazard the
onini9n that they should be abolished altogether and
some other system adopted OF ascertalnng tonnage.
| The changes which suggest could be made IN one
vaaT unless the canal banks should be made perpen-
cuar and walled up, and in that ease that portion Of
Work could De done t any os To a
for the universal use OF steam power which assume
! he close AT hand Then up boats moving at uniform
| ~ " DS own
%t,h cana 100 feet wide and feet deep speed o,
tonr or even I'VE miles hour can easily be obtained
| and the trip from Buffalo 10 New-YOrk be made 10
i've days M now be done BY steam in less tnan
The capacity of the canal would then only be limited
by the capacity OF the locks 400 tons each way every
i've minutes and this reaches the enormous figures OF
cb year 995 davs or total OF nearly 10000 GOO tons per
annu against S76OOO tons, the highest ngure
beeve that N the manner proposed the Erie Canal
can he speedily and cheaply converted into a water.
course sufficient capacity to carry the grain crop Of
| the whole world
That steam is TO supplant animal power on all canals
q, any magnitude every one must regard as fixed fact
and II Is due TO those who have investments horse
s tbst the revolution shall be brought about ia such
manner shall be as little as possible to their der
With the reduction OF tolls which will naturally follow
the OF business added to the advantages
time he not distant when the cost OF transportation
from lake 10 viii be reduced at least one half
the West and the consumers OF the East that the sub
4 tect IL dgnlneu INTO a NatlouaI
In CONCLUSION, to RECAPITULATE would recommend
ErM To DOODLE the remaining single locks without
delay. ,-, - - ~, - 800,
eight feet. . 49, =. -. -.
cities wall the banks with perpendicular mason
work also build such basins and branch turnOuts
snail facilitate the passage OF boats at critical points,
Fourth: To abolish welghlocks ana Simplify and sYs
tematze 10 the utmost ali the details OF management
And all things considered. II owned the canal and
was operating 1t on my own private account l would
not do anything else.
am aware that these suggestions, in comparison
With others which have been and may be advanced, will