New-York tribune., 1893-12-24

tAan the towpath and some little work would need
10 be bestowed upon 1t to fit it for track-even
such owgaugC affair as Mr. Davis cOntem-
plates.
Should the bernie Dank be thus utilized, the
fender-seering appliance will make another pro-
vision necessary at least desirable II Is sug
gested that places where boat Is likely to stop
often. to load unload, bridge pier be built in
the canal about one-hird Of the distance out from
one bank, and storehouse be partially supported
thereon. The remaining support would be afforded
by the bank. The stationary boat. then. would lie
the outside OF the pier in mid-stream, while
discharging: and any passing boat boats on
that side OF the canal would go under the store
house. under bridge. without obstruction.
By mu,e-power IL usually takes loaded canal!
boat ten da-'s TO so from Buffalo TO the Hudson
River; and It goes back light in from six 70 eight
This Is equal 10 one and forty-four one-hundredths
miles per hour In one direction and two miles in
the other. With this motor, Mr.. Davis thinks tnat
a boat make three miles an hour easily when
loaded and three and half when light; ana he
also asserts that the cost would be reduced while
the speed would be increased There some Of his
figures: 51G lock-tenders at $40 month make the
cost per day $685. 1924 motormen (of whom li
are extra hands,, at so month, would cost 81
873 "a a day; total. $264 81. which. If assessed on
1900 boats. would make 81 81 per boa, daily. or
S3 20 for a ten-day round-trp. This gives 81 G5 for
100 bushels of grain or adding in the cost OF
steam power or the electricity is generated in that
way). s. 80 per 1000 This is said to be saving Of
cents bushel.
The OF a rail track, laid in good style. with
80 and 90 pound rails he former for the side OF the
track gripped by the motor is put by the same au-
thority at $.Oo0.000 electric plant. Including 800
hfty-horse-power motors and poles and wires.
$l.00c0o0 contingencies. sl.0c0OO0. Nothing Is said
here about building up the hcrme bank properly.
However fast a boat travels. though. the ef-
ncicncy OF the canal depends the locks In locks
Of as q "
II Is estimated By Mr. Davis. only 10 boats now
ge, through in twentyfour hours. lie proposes two
expedlents for improving upon this situation First
he would have the boats tows OF boats. leave the
ends OF the Erie Canal on schedule time. say half
hourly. or other regular intervals TO prevent
congestion any one lock- And second he has de-
vised electric apparatus for quckening the service
OF the locks almost loo per cent and permitting he
believes. 200 boats to pass in twenty-four hours.
Incidentally, II may be mentioned that Mr.. Davis
has also thought out scheme for trans-shipping
grain brought from Buffalo TO Troy. in special basins
at the latter place TO large barges instead OF having
the canalboats go down TO NewYork. This he re-
CARDS more economical to the boatmen.
Whatever be the merits OF this or of any other
towage scheme certain IL IL that the Idea OF using
creasing attention. 1t viii not ony be considered
this winter at Albany In connection with the Erie
and Oswego canals but the MANAGEMENT OF several
Others, partly entirely. outside OF New-York
says that the Chesapeake and Ohio. Delaware and
Hudson, Iehigh Navigation Company and Schyl-
kiln Navigation Company mediate adoption OF
electric power before long.
ELECTRICITY FOR HEATING STREET CARS