New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-31
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE BELGIAN TOWING SYSTEM.

THE BELGIAN TOWING SYSTEM
OBJECTIONS TO 1.-THE PROPELLER AND BARGE
SYSTEM MUCH HETEROGENEOUS OF AN OLD
CANAL MAN.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: The Belgian system of towing is the
biggest humbug record, and will totally kill the Erie
Canal If its friends succeed in getting It adopted
know from several years experience, that rantowing
is failure. have in the canal-boat business for
80 years on the Erie and Illinois and Michigan canals
during OF which years have owned and run steam
canaboats Therefore know whereof speak on this im
portant question. know II Is matter OF vital impor
lance TO millions o. people outside OF NewYork State
who are very anxious about the welfare of the Erie
Canal
In the first place the Belgian system Is advertised as
having been thoroughly tested But has not been tested
short levels and among locks The test was made
on long levels where there nothing 10 delay Here
is deception lies And even the deeeiyers VIII
be deceived when they undertake TO handle train Of
boats on short levels among locks. The boatmen can
tow themselves cheaper than the lowest price the Bel
eium Company propose charge, and make better time
on an average through the canal and avoid the horrors
ard trouble which attend train towing among locks
These propose start and stop train OF boats
with 2,40O would wagon. The horse boat
is towed into the ock under full Roadway and IL easily
stoned with big line 10 the posts on the locks
II the Belgium tow boats 10 go into lock in this
way their whole tow would pile right TO the lock and
possibly they would sink one another therefore IL Is
necessary stop the tOwboa far enough away from the
lock TO let the boats lose their beadway But ills great
deal easier start than 10 stop train OF boats THESE
people have largely exaggerated how quick they can
a OF boats.
Another very important item which has not been pup
lshed is that the Belgian system Will monopoize the
locks. Nothing up the side where boats are
going down. Consequently il will require rs much again
water 10 supply the canal il would with the propeller
and barge system in the Illinois and Miehi-
gan Canal which has superseded horse boats altogether
and grain and lumber cheap the railroads cant
touch H. and pays "a mill toll at that ms system
has been in eight yea and genuine improve
meut i'm canal navigation When person takes INTO
consideration the the Hudson River tOw-bOaS
able profit II with nothing To delay them now
can they expect make the cable tOw-bcat pay when
from five to ten boats III the canal Win every
thing III tie Wayi The cable tOwbOat Is run expressly
for towing. The propeller which pushes the barge
carries bushels Of wheat and water is wasted ny
locking the propeller IL Is BY locking the cable tow
boat Tie propeller and barge will carry 1000 bushels
of from Buffalo to NewYOrk city III seven days,
which quicker than average hOTse-DOat uhc
Tie propeller and barge by crew, and can take
lock both locks II they ready Ihe coup
LCs, which hold the two boats entire boat, are
instantly attached OF detached.
think somewhat of getting up circular stating facts,
figures. &C., ng the propeller aud barge also eX-
posing the fraud about be perpetrated on the Erie
in Providence aud TIE NEw-l ORR TRIBUNE 10 a.
III establishing the propeller ana barge sem On
Erie Canal NJ DE FJl
Chicago, March %, 1877