New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-19
4 C.fN1L TROLLEY.

One who observes canal boa. moving
lazily over the waters of the tranquil Eric
drawn by the contcmplativc mule. is apt To
be overcome by the conviction that this sort
of navigation. though in keeping with the gen
cral tenor of things in the metropolis of the
Empire State, is still distinctly behind the
times. For good many years attempts have
been made to get rid of mule and horse power
on our State canals substituting steam in their
place. steamers are occasionally to be seen
which draw after them from three 10 five
boats. But these are the rare exceptions
Most Of the canallcrS rely. as their fathers did
on mule or horse power. Intelligent friends of
the canals believe that the steam canal boat
has a future. Perhaps but the fact remains
that it has not much Of present. The same
remark applies 10 the scheme which looks to
the towing of boats by means of locomotive
running on one of the canal banks In his
annual report for 1892 the State Engineer
spoke of the almost complete failure of
policy heretofore pursued offering rewards for
the adaptation OF steam TO canal nayigatl0n.'
In the circumstances il is not strange that
electricity, which is rendering man good and
faithful service in other fields should be looked
To 10 solve the problem. In the report re-
fcrrcd to the State Engineer expressed the hope
that some efficient and economical means for
the application of electricity To inland water
transp rtation might 80 II be discovered The
Governor, inspired by the same hope made
suggestion looking to electricity as the motive
power of Il canal boat in his last annual mes
sage and the Legislature acting upon il voted
an appropriation of 81 5000 to pay for the
necessary experiments. 1t is announced by
the Superintendent of Public Works that these
experiments will be made at two points, one
between Rochester and Farport and the other
lust above Albany. Before they are cX-
haustcd it is confidently to be expected that a
method will be devised of Harvesting electricity
to the canal boat by means Of some sort of II
trolley. In multitude Of counscllors there is
said to be wisdom-it is reported that ten in
vcntorS will attempt t. solve the problem by
means of their respective systems
Ii is needless to add that every citizen of
Ncw-York who takes an intelligent interest in
whatever is designed to conserve her prosper
ity necessarily awaits the outcome Of the OK
pcrments with lively concern. For while the
anti-canai' counties complain that the
"cana" counties are bent upon spending too
much money on our great artificial water
vays. the level headed mn of all the counties
realize that the material progress OF the State
has been and in all probability is to be, great
" promoted by the Eric, the Oswcgo and our
other canals The Constitution prohibits the
I legislature from selling the main canal lines,
dccrccing that " they shall remain the property
Of the State and under its management for
over" 1t is doubtful if any attempt will be
made by the coming Constitutional Conven
t;cn 70 abrogatc this provision. But even ii
tho attempt should be made and succeed, the
ncoplc. we may be sure would decline to
ratify il. Tho canals have come 70 stay and
II electricity can be successfully applied TO
,h. boats, it is to be expected that they will