New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
A NEW POWER ON THE CANAL
PROPEULNG A BOAT By ELECTRICITY.
SUCCESSFUL TEST NEAR ROCTESTER-GOvERNOR
FLOWER AND MANY wELLKEoWN MEN
Observation-Disclosures OF THE
STATES GREAT WATERWAY.
rnY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRrbrxE.l


at less cost than the steam engine in canal
boat can prope boat, but at least the fact has
been disclosed that canalboat can be propelled
by electricity. The interesting experiment made
to-day may be said 10 have had its origin in n
message of Governor Flower to the Legislature last
winter in which he suggested that an appropria-
ton be made to try whether or not cana!Doats could
be propelled by electrical force. The Legislature
appropriated $4,000 for the purpose and the Su-
perintendent Of Public Works invited the attention
OF inventors 10 the subject Letters were also sent
to the big corporations which manufacture
electrical apparatus suggesting that they put
their practical men at work to construct
same machinery to propel the canalboats
one company, the Westinghouse. OF Pitts
burg, accepted this invitation. and it was its APP
paratus which tried at Brighton on the
Erie Canal near this city to-day. The State paid
$500 Of the cost OF the experiment, and the West
inghouse Company another $500 The electrical
power was obtained from the Rochester Railway
Company. whose trolley wires run out to Brighton
from Rochester. An old steam canalboat was
taken and It's engine and boiler were removed. and
in their place put large Westinghouse electrical
motor The OF the propeller which the en-,
CINE used 10 turn attached to the electric
motor. The conducting wires ran from the motor
up to two trolley standards OF the same kind that
sees upon the stree,-cars. by the side of the
steering wheel of the boat placed nickel
plated switchboard, similar to those used upon
street-cars The design OF having the switch
board in this place Is 20 enable the steersman 10
apply TO shut off electrical power as he peases,
and thus 20 control the movement Of tho boat.
\ number Of State officials members Of the
Westinghouse Electric Company and well-known
men Of Rochester left this city this morning by
street-cars for the Of the experiment. Gov
Flower occupied the private car of President
Beckley OF the Rochester Street Railway Company.
With the Governor Mrs. Beckley, State En-
gineer Schenck. Campbell ". Adams. OF Utica, the
Republican State Engineer-elect Edward Hannah,
the Superintendent OF Public Works Bishop Nc
QUAD Of Rochester: II. H. Plat, OF New-York;
Anthony Brady OF Albany; George Westinghouse,
jr of Pittsburg; Brayton Ives and Francis Lynde
Stetson. OF New-York Frank w. Hawley. of Pitts
ford Charlton r. Lewis. Of New-York; Nicola
Tesla. o, NcwYork: Henry c. Brewster. president
OF the Chamber OF Commerce. of Rochester; Evan
Thomas. OF New-York Paul D. Cravath. senator
Parsons. Of Rochester: Assemblyman OGrady.
Nice-Presilent Wickes. Of the Cataract Construc-
ton Company: W. B. Rankin, secretary OF the
Cataract Construction Company, and John Bogart'
ex-State Engineer. There also present many
other prominent officials OF the Westinghouse Com
pany and Of the Niagara Falls Electric Power
Company. This latter company proposes TO supply
electricity from Niagara Falls to the cities along
the line Of the Erie Canal and also propel the canal
boats from the same wire. Frank W. Hawiey. OF
Pttsford has been organizing companies In various
cities to use the Niagara Falls electric power ana ne
! II was who also managed the construction Oh t''e
first electric canalboat-the Frank w. Hawley ms
IIawIey was found mooreI TO the shore on
the Erie Canal 20 the eastward or Brishtoh '""sc
More than 1909 villagers crowded the banks OF the
canal. Governor Flower was escorted apoatu '''
boat AMI was followed by the state oi'ciais clec-
tricans and nnancicrs already mentioned y"
American flag sally nuttered at the Prov OF '''c
/ boat I'm IN. cold November wind. The Governor
took his position at the switchboard and waited ior
| Instructions In the historical pictures OF the
future II he be trthfuly depicted on TINS OCCASION
| he will be shown wearing a black stove-pipe mat
a heavy winter overcOat, with the collar turned up
50 az 20 cover his ears. heavy winter trousers
vlnd.splashel boots and smoking with satisfaction
There was some difficulty found at first In getting
INT riftei out into m!istrearn ami then before the
,rolleys could be adjusted TO the glisten'ny cTpf
| wire the boat drifled still further. ana hhaily
against tho opposite bank Then Mr.. Westinghouse
S' "rhat is a mechanical difficulty which can be
easily solved with flexible trolley w're 70 ipIG~
the boa, toward ihe bank to wnSh tina may tInWev
! Into m.Istream There the trolley standards We're
lifted ana adjusted TO TIE wires. ,,.,. 20
Turn ON tho current, Governor SAID FRANK W.
Hawley 70 the Governor.
mo Governor brought around the crank to which
ne had been cllnging, and at once the motor .i o,
The boat began humining ana me propei!er wnees
% the MnisI ThS peSpe eheee
| the hrst electric cana-boat was or upon Us
ha rro gSft When at work churned up
water but little The boat slowly gained In speed
| chIncrv worked smoothly. and the boat moved
aons quietly crowds followed the HawIey along
a mile turning curves and passing canal bridge
ana IN ana out OF a lock; The Governor WAS
| highly pleased with the experiment He SAID
The test has resulted wen. but OF course we
VIII have more OF them am s Si,,,, tna' WIN
/ age speed OF four miles an hour can DE attained
here on the canal WIN horses, nut W ,p nlro
triclans that the expense OF operating a boat
| bv electricity will be about one-half that or steam;
| \ Sho al
by this magic power before many years. one o OF
the ecT9 t csna TI now costs his state $500 go
y YEAR: nearly all that is expended in keeping the
oFF lanh II r. f Hau FS also with the
success of the experiment our pr9peensr, ne
said. us an old one. or the boat would nave gone
Before leaving the canai-boat the people present
Governor in response to the demand, said:
In 1922 when De wit, Clinton tarti from Buffalo for
Albany on caGalboat he had military company q, an
escort bu; there Wa no electricity 10 move boats OF
transmit, news. They sent the fact Of his starting from
| nu,aIo 10 New.YorA IS successive discharges Of
cannons along The bank Of the canal aud the Hudson
River and occupied IN sending the message from
I,f,lo l., SANDY Hook one hour and iniy minutes
The people gathered along the canal rejoicing at the I'M
movement Forty tons froeht all that was taken
nom Buffalo NewlorS the hrst season the canal vas
operated. Now 100000 tons day goes through.
Iv the use OF electricity motive power the tonnage
nav be- ncieIchd $1,000 oco daily without any cost
IN the reor. OF the State When canaSoatS shall all be
prolclrl Nv electricity the horse and The mu" VIII be
GIVEN A rest the greatest medium Tor transporting
hc immense products OF the West 10 the Atlantic greater
than the anadan canal III" Mississippi Kl'ei' VIII
| rc the Erie Canal. consider 1t a great privilege ID
witness this Governor OF the Sa'n oil
craq,s regard this successful demonstration uat oo'''
c,n be propelled ly electricity ~ important an 'loch III
the commercial history the state as was the opening
II tl,. Erie Canal. II the electricians are correct III
their estimates. the expense Of runnlh, boats Oh "c
Eric Canal will reduced to onefourh or ohc'hi,h I"
| the present cost.
The Governor and the State officials then re-
| turned here. ~ ,ho ocoron,v
| ~ running the electric canalboats Il unb'tStan',
he said. that eight men are now r"quli,i 10 ,u,
two men-orc t. the boat at nisht aii o H. ~,
IN. dav Moreover. space vii, be- saved Tor tn'lr
need not be any place left for stables Tor the hos'
I mi