New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-13
CANAL BOATS md ELECTRICITY.

THE CATARACT GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
SECURES PERMIT TO EQUIP THE ERIE
Albany. March l2.-The most important proposed
Improvement in State canal operations for
maly approved to-day by the State authorities.
Frank W. Hawley. of Pittsforl Farms. near Roch-
ester. was in Albany this afternoon. He is vice.
president Of the Cataract General Electric Com
pany. and when he lef: town had in his pocket n
ffty-year permit from Superintendent Edward
Hannah. OF the State Department Of Public Works.
for his electric company to put In some kind OF
an electric plant along the lines Of the State canals.
by which boats may be operated with electricity.
The permit authorizes the company 10 enter upon
all canal lands Of the State for the purpose Of con-
struC;ing on or under either canal bank
system for propclng canal boats with electricity
without interfering with the present mode Of opera
ton. Central power houses may be erected The
rates for towage shall be subject to modification
and review 10y the state Superintendent of Public
Works. but such rate shall exceed $50 an cleo
trical horsepower for any season Of navigation.
An important provision is that the company may.
so long as the wants Of the canal supplied. em-
ploy its electric plant along the line of the canal In
furnishing electric light heat and power for dis
irritation 20 any point or points beyond the line
OF the canal. ana may thus furnish electricity Tor
lighting and power purposes In all of The cities and
villages along the canal. The company must fur
nish to the State free OF charge, sufficient power
to operate motors TO open all Sideways leading to
and from locks, and also electric hghts Su'hciccht
properly TO Illuminate Such ioCkS al nbHt' ne
company must have its plant IN operation on me
Erie Canal between Buffalo and Albany within
three wears from date forfeit the privileges ac-
corded by the permit.
The permit has not yet been formally accepted
by the company.
The directors and officers of the Cataract Gen
era Electric Company are: President. iIlam
Mertens Of Won Hoffman d Co, bankers. or New
York vice president. Frank W. ii8wley; secretary
and treasurer Charlton T. Lewis. counsel for the
Mutual Life Insurance Company OF New ork 'lty'
Thomas G. Plat and ex-senator 'onmodore l.
Neddcr.
The company will obtain its electrical power at
Niagara Falls from the Niagara Power company;
and will transmit IL to Albany along the I'M" on
the Erie Canal. There is another COMPANY. haVns
the same directors the Cataract Company caIi",i
the Erie Electric TOWING and Power Company, VII, WIN
lis principal Office I'm New York city. This company
will and put in operation as soon aS poS-
sihle half-do2en tugbOatS operated by cIeculCily.
either on the storage trolley system WIN q We"
10 showing the alaptabity Of electricity 10 cana
ma yigation These tugboatS viii also 10" loI b"
moderate consideration any hors"-boats ths cav
tains OF which desire TO aN i themselves ot sum
method OF navigation ,,,,a.to. ., tho
Thes. companies
Niagara Power Company. The prime stoCn
hniders Of the latter company are: j. Pierpont
Morgan. William X. Vanderbilt - {. Mli1S Moh,
X Jesup Isaac y. Seligman. ii. Mck IwoinUpS.
brown BROTHERS August Belmont sfd al i,sIra'
syndicate represented by Nermilye Co. palHe'H'
OF NeW-York CITY.