New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-17
NEW GATES FOR CANAL LOCKS.
ROW TIE CAPACITY OF TIE BOATS MAY BE IN
CREASED.


CREASED.
TO the EditOr NJ Ihe tribune.
SIR: Aware Of the interest yOu have aroused
An the puhlis mind in rotation TO the canals, venture
to sy few words ,e necessity Of improving TIE
EIe Canal IS vii render il commensurate with the eAi
sences " commerce and prevent lis becoming tax
upon tie state. Tho Introduction Of railways 50 caan cd
te current Of traffic that tie tonnage Of the Canal was
j. so tons les in IsC9 than il IN 1sol while
at tie parallel railways increased from $500 ton
in $50 t. ~ 500 tons in 1850. Notwithstanding the
much higher rate ~ freight attributable to the Nne OF
time IN commercial transactions. The cause OF the dc
cline In canal traffic Is Observation-Disclosures of ansIt
while IL Is admitted that canalIc GIFTED grain il dcliv
slvl in better order than that transported by rail,
AMI commands Detter price on Change. It's ua'c viii
eou.irus 81 decline until its speed made IN asma.e
70 th, OF slow freight trains railways An ellrge-
M ut Of the canal to ship Dimensions w5nld not obvat
The difficulty the boats traVersing II would he made
correspondent ~ large and thus slcvnc's Of transit
would be perpetuued. An enlargement vi the canal to
shp dimensions would require expenditure OF $50.
100000 aud at least ten years for completion, and
no part OF such enlarged canal could DC used by large
vessels until the entire work was completed lconend
a tbe present canal has sufficient water capacity To 10
five times the business il now does OF ever has DONE
md j. only prevented from its accomplishment by the
shoncss OF the chamber Of its locks ANA this propose
rsInedying by the adjustment thereto the pr, sent
locks NJ system Of gatos by which their chamber can
he Heightened some 81 feet that boats measuring 100
feet can traverse the canal propelled by steam ana
CARRYING 10000 bushels OF wheat such length OF lock
chamber would admit o. the present boats being length
encd AMI shalponcd and thus prepared for speed IL
R welasccItainod fact that il speed be desired in
boat must prepared for H. AMI as We have the canal
with disIroporOmatcly sized locks why not avail our
selves of tho means o. Utilizing them, that the present
canal can he developed.
Mr. Baxter La. demonstrated tho feasibility OF rapid
transit on the present canal by steam propulsion at
sacrifice Of 1000 bushels If Wheat-Ios,t-each trip.
Now II he could make his boats 81 feet longer, with
sharp bow and stem, that they would cary 10000
bushels wheat zach trip instead OF GOO0 woull not the
era of rapid transit the canal he established
tend that this key by which the problem of rapd
transit the canal il In be solved The power of steam
aud the agcnci, for boat propulsion the canal would
be developed IN very brief PERIOD; aud what Mr. BlX
ter has demonstrated dozen boats wOuld be
applied "a thousand. Canal men-thlt is boat owner.,-
unwilling 10 maze sacrifice Of 1000 bushels fiClt
speed They say, cngheu The chamber OF the locks
that can leH.tAcp and sharpen our sas. and Will
show yOn how will PIT engines into our boats.
BY Frightening the chamber of TIE locks, propose,
there will be sacrifice OF carrying capacity ia he
beats but of fully 2J per cent besides the
advantage Of preparing tire bOat for speed, and ample
for engine, boiler and propeller
Any one 40 al familiar With the operation OF canal locks
viii readily perceive that tins - the system gates
fOF canal locks, and thai their adjustment tO the Ere
can3l locks at lnc localities named Viii con- iuuc all the
space nov required for TIE of the eaes and
them 1872 feet lUng. W. Al. 4.
keU- York; July 10, 1870