New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-23
FOR CANAL IMPROVEMENT
PLANS TO COME BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE
GREAT INTEREST AROUSED BY TIE SUCCESSFUL
TEST OF ELECTRICITY AS A MOTIVE POWER
NEED OF CAPITAL TO EXTEND TIE
sYsTEM-A GOOD SEASON FOR

sYsTEM-A GOOD SEASON FOR
THE BoATMEN.
.vpox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNA
Albany Nov 22-One Of the subjects OF STATE III
forest which will come before the Legislature io'
careful consideration In January Will be Inc III
movement Of the canal system of the state "e
recent trial of the electric trolley ana the eieo
trio motor nj Rochester as a motive power LOT
canalboats has aroused keen interest in the matter
OF improving the canals; and the Caha' '''
which will shortly hold its annual meeting III ->e"
York doubtless will debate the wisdom oi 'a'io"'
plans for canal improvement. The union ioi %
eraI wears has pushed the scheme for lengthenlhe
the canal locks. but large proportion OF '"e 'o'
have now been improved in this manner anu
therefore II Is turning it's attention to other piaS
for improving the canals.
1.-The test of the electrical canaipoa' d. NOM
on Saturday last" said Superintendent Ii" -
the State Department Of Public "orHS' QUA
was perfectly satisfactory state Engineer -
and myself had a private trial OF the po"' Il" u"
orntnr before the nubc witnessed the expert
mont later in the day, and both OF us were hhuei
pleased with the performance OF the ooa''
then had more electricity at our coniia"u r'o'
the wires of the Rochester street Ha"""S ~
pany than was obtainable later IN the uas' anu
The boat behaved better. For instance we turned
curve in the canal where later several niue UNI
cul,ies was experienced with the poa.. we "au
tho boat loaded with 100 bags Of sand. ana she
snod along at a great rate of speed thihh nov
the problem is induce private captaI 10 afone
in the enterprise of stringing trolley! WHeS
the bank Of the Erie Canal and to induce the oW Io
ers of canaboats 10 alter them by p uE IN
in examining the experimental boat 10 ,sct ricai
much space was saved by using ahe Iees NOT
take a quarter of the space OF steam eiSii h "
of stable for horses and mules on cana! u9ar'
Moreover two men can run a boat and It's ten0eI'
where under the present system eisht are fea'' e'
That would be an economy. ,,s ont tho diff
cnIties in the way of the establishment of elec.
tricai propulsion upon the canal ana ,n ,h canaj
Sda ms nsh Psn hU%ever
preparing to supply the cities aons and e possiby
the Erie cana1 Mh may be Induced by business
reasons put up trolley wires Tor inc fo "a
the cities between Niagara Falls and Albany which
evidently intend to attempt to supply
s ssd,1 ssc pdser sf from an? NaFsTa Falls
George Westinghouse said to Governor Flower on
that IN his opnon to send
miles for factory and street-car use ana ior uSs
in lighting streets and houses and that au ns %ho
ns aeed the display Of the canabOat
Saturday has been the ,iss fr the use
OF the electrical power from Niagara ras, anu ,h
therefore it can be suspected WIN chsm a
ness Niagara and convert It's gdgaH thev NAV sell
electric power are ar tn the canaboat men OF
'The canals have been exceptionally Prosperous nus
the canalboat men have rarely had so good a sea,
The canal rates for poo m whea haVe
been transported find, over the Erie Canal alone
This is splendid record for the canals and justhes
the States steady support of them. =,
There has been scheme for the erection by the
State of trolley wires and the construction OF elec-
clares that he is opposed to it, and is OF the opinion
that the should more go into scn an enter,
prise than it should undertake to construct state
railway.