New-York tribune., 1874-03-14

horse boat making SIX round trips carrying go tons
at trip going east and 81 tons going west carries
total of $40 tors once over the canal; and tWelVe
times the length of the canal being 4OO niles tue
sum paid for towing, at thirty cents per mile, is
81 ,2G0, which divided by the tons carried, makes
seventy seven cents and seven mills per ton once
over the canal Thus steam towing s ten and half
cents cheaper than horses, and much is saved on
every ton moved over the canal he 21UO tons car
Tied by the steamboat, multiplied by the l0l CENTS
gives 1892 80. III this comparison no account Is
taken OF the river towaee, the price pad by the
horse boat IS about equal TO cost on the steamboat
or OF advantages the steamboat has IN harb0rs
The capital employed earns, IN case OF the horse
boat, to make 10 per cent dividends and TO meet e
pairs and provide sinking fund. IN all 20 per cent
just $1,000. The same charge on the boat itself is TO
be made to the steamboat; but in the of the
steamboat it is TO be divided by the $500 tons car
red making forty cents per ton. The horse boat
must pay this out Of the earnings of 12O tons, and
TINS each ton pays sXiy-one cents and seven mills.
The difference ~ twenty-one cents and seven mills,
Which, multiplied by the years business OF the
steamboat, gives Ji2 80. These two items OF saving
amount 20 SS05, which is little more than ten per
cent on the cost of the steamboat in its favor IN
comparison with tie horse boat.
lheso estimates have been based upon the per-
fOrmances Of Mr.. BlXter's boats Ii would take too
much space to over the ground with like estimates
in regard to the performances OF the William New
man after the trial exhibition, reported by the
engineer Mr.. Greene, who showed that. in view of
the 81 600 less cost Of the machinery of the New
man, and her greater carrying capacity. compared
vita the boat Baxter, her greater consumption of
Newman die aud could transport property at the
rate of three miles and more per hour, carrying
more than the 200 tons required by the law aud that
this was done much within the cost OF transpOrta-
ton when animal power was used.
COMPARATIVE EXPENDITURES AND RESULTS.
To compare the consumption of fuel by tho Baxter
and the Newman take the best performances that
have been made public of each. Immediately after
the trial exhibition the engineer of the Commission
and two Of the Commissioners went on board the
Baxter at Utica and remained on her to st. Johns
vile in a dark and rainy night causing many deten
tiOns IN passing bOais and IN going through II
locks The coal was served out bv Mr. Greene, being
carefully weighed by him, and Tor the 81 miles there
was burned Gl1 pOunds-ela TO IS lJ-lOJ pounds per
mile. Averaging this witn the coal consumed per
mile from Syracuse 10 ca gave lG 400 pounds per
mile from SyracusC 10 ST. townsville. When the re-
pairs ana alterations made TO the Newman at Utica
before referred to) had been completed Mr. Greene
went on board that boat and accompanied her east,
and found her coal consumption to be very exactly
- pounds per mile. Thus the fuel OF the two boats
may be put at rs 100 for the Baxter; and AT 30
pounds per mile for the Newman under the most
favorable circumstances In the foregoing estimates
the }aXters coal consumption was put at > pounds
per mile Im on the canal and rivers intending TO
cover all the seasons consumption Ia harbOrs and
during delays, and to meet any and all possible
contingencies.
tain of freight cars goes dashing along at the
rate OF perhaps twelve miles per hour, carrying less
average tonnage than canal boat, and drawn by an
engine costing $3.50 having say twenty ears each
loaded to their maximum OF ten tons, making Tor
tine train 200 tOns these ears costing 500 each,
giving a tOtal cost of $4,000 against canal steamer
costing seven to eight thousand dollars. The fuel
consumed by the locomotive Is not much less than 90
pounds of coal per mile. These facts give the neccs
sary data for any peron 10 make an estimate OF the
comparative cost OF railroad and canal steamboat
transportation.
In view OF the foregoing facts 1t appears to be
dtcult to give any good reason why steam Is not 10
prove success on our canals, and that quickly, with
the result Of doubling their capacity shortening the
time of trip fully half and ndcOnSlderaby lessen
iug the rates OF charges OF giving the owneIs OF
the steamboats, enormous prOltS.
The boy drivers VIII spend few more years than
now in school, and when they appear on the canal II
will he as engineers apprentices. The muchabused,
iaded aud over worked horse Is TO he replaced by
IRON sinews that never tire. As measure to pro-
mote morality and humanity, the general use of
steam power ON canals would be OF value beyond
any money estimate.
10 Mr. Baxter's genius and skill az an engineer,
and his perseverance, through three OF very
hard and expensive. and thus far unTequited toll,
the public is largely indebted tor TINS result Ills
original comprehension Ot the whole problem, ap-
pears to have been correct and the Improvements he
has made on his first wOr. have only been in things
of mere detail and have not touched any Leading
principle: aud yet his second boat Is a great inn
proveInent on hIs first. These improvements have
been made by looking less 10 tue exact requirements
of the law aud more to the true solution Of the real
difficulties in his way, and have been but WISE
adaptation of we'll known principles to the accom-
plislmont of the object so much desired
VIII Legislature Commensurate INN