The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-03
4, N.n Ynth fnrinr ,ha r.n,, r..rnn unr.

| nc Govt Oi tuDtflnten0eNCe. OT0inATN re-
the last nseai ysat was .s1ag0sfIE This is
the lowest eS1endi!gre iot these purposes n
s Gyso ysSd 0n iot sI
| These are now. under way and viii increase
under what is known a. the Seymour pian,
out The Erie Gsnsi' impfSvins iSs Erie Basin
end Black Eock hetbor; dredging the Albany
g"'D the t,o Canal II The . city
Mohawk aqueducts and the schohatie Creek
eaueduct rebuilding the state dam NJ tohocs.
iudlre canal walls AMI bridges. &c More
Appropriations Of this kind will tie required
| Ing them will be su United to the Legislature
| by the proper ofllcers
| SUGGESTIONS ron PROMOTING THE USEFULNESS
| or THr CANALS.
Ihsy. alluded n Other official Z PAPER. 70 r.
csnal system and sxtegndtne ils usefulness
S S aosS 81 wealth Hf the o Wsss
| from outlets to the sea by WAY, OF Canada or
treasures Of the new county vat at the feet Of
Sv N.s Y Ss S.sS iSs , ny sS
| OF substantial waterways. No narrow or short
sighted policy should permit this tide q com;
to contest with us Tor the traflc OF the grcat
IN i@Srovins 'S and building canal.
and in deepening channels. She Is con-
stoTy 8, tho su s nr aao h snd oF
making a channel fourteen feet deep all the
way from Lake Sunerior through the Weilsnd
that ia completed n 200 ton boat can 20 from
duluth TO Montreal Halifax, or Liverpool TO
etnment is making a 81. loot channel through
the lakes to Buffalo. When that Is completed
q 3.OUO-ton boat can come rs far as buffalo.
and from that point freight must lind u cheap
and easy outlet to the seahoard; Hereis where
y Of uHna lie Wset Of tSs Ees
Think Tor a moment OF tho vast wealth CEN
great lakes Here in these states is already
nearly half the population OF the country.
rapid DEVELOPMENT Of this region. Its Indus
trial and commercial possibilities are almost
are there. great areas OF tm6ereG land LAM VIM i'm
inense deposits Of iron, copper and the pre-
cion. metals The cities Of this region mus.
wealth and population in the country. and
the natural ,ps,hwAy Of their products
iakes to the L. st. Railroads alone cannot
ment would be checked II dependence WAS
alone upon them. But railways and water
essential, will, year by year, carry increasing
burdens from these treasures OF weh It'll to tho
seaboard, and take back the products which
the figures Of the lake com 10 cree are already
startling. ~ 1880 the tonnage is said to have
entries and clearances of all the sea-
ports OF tho United States and three
tries and cicaranees o, Liverpool and Lon.
don. Statesmanship would he short sighted
which would fail to take consideration ot those
facts In outlining or establishing \ policy OF
state development. How to attract TO and
through our own state this enormous t. attic
TO establish sht r canal IL. in The opinion OF
most persons VINO have given the suggestion
careful con st'leration. both impricti"aIlc and
unwise The most pract cat Suggestions are
contained In plans Tor increasing tho tonnage
One Of these plans haa he en- In process ~ ex.
ecution during the las, seven years II con.
sists In lenEthenng the locks 40 as to permit
thereby saving expense and time OF trnnspor-
tEtion. lrtcr this policy Nil bat iour Of the
Opinion Of the SUPERINTENDENT ~ fuh.ir Works
have teen 20 heightened. The cost has heen
been Disappointing. for the tonnage OF tho
canals has diminished instead nf Increasing
Ih liz Lon IoGgtheninE Of ne remaining ;onr locks
requires on the average about three minutes
to lock boat. so that The time saved between
hour.
the lenRthening OF the locks 10 the deepening
Of the canal and the raising Of Its banks. so AZ
The deopenInr Of the sspaI WouiI necess Isn
the rebuilding Of all Its structures-an enor-
mopsy expensive undertaking; the raising
OF the banks however, would be quite feasible
Something in this direction should undoubted.
canal proves insairient and az Present T. proc roc
vision should be . made for the prompt removal
so that It's full depth may be enjoyed
ELECTRIC PROPULSION RECOMMENDED.
1t has seemed to me, however, that the most
practical plan for Immediately Increasing the
tonnage OF tho Erie Canal is that which would
tive power. Mules and horses now rropel
CANAL boats at rate Of about two miles an
OF about three miles Tn. banks OF the canal
will stand speed OF about four miles an hour.
j. e after Of
saving in cost and a considera bic in
direction were authorized by the last
legislature; upon my recommendation
feasibility OF using electricity as a motive
power on the canals, Tho only question still
mates are quite favorable to a considora5 abb
reduction from the cost OF propulsion by
steam. just how much Of reduction could
definitely. but very conservative estimates
make the saving in cost OF transportation at
least 30 per cent. The advantage OF elec-
trlcity over. mule OF horse peweF would be
attain Ell the benefit to ihe canal Would he I'm,
medtately greater than the benefit which
would flow from all the proposed enlarge
ments. and need not cost tho state penny
Boatmen could make many more trips in q
season. lever employees would be needed on
each boat no money would be rsquird for
horses aud mules, the large space occup ell by
steam boiler and engine would lie saved for
freight. and danger from fire or explosion
would he avoided. At the, same time The
tonnage and business OF the
canals would provide more employment ami
more remunerattye occupation for boatmen.
Other advantages TeadIly suggest them solves.
1t should DO clearly understood moreover that
the adoption OF electricity as a motive power
does not mean the abandonment ~ horse.
mule. or steam power II boat owners prefer 10 |
have their boats propelled by these powers.
The idea Is that whether the State furnishes
the electric power from It's own piRat. or |
whether individuals or corporations furnish II |
under contract. there Will I've no com puiSiOn TO |
use Il, but the endeavor viii be TO supply 1t nj
such a low cost to boatmen that they VIII nnd |
Il advantageous to apply II to their boats in |
the interest OF economy
This plan need not Interfere. either with any |
proper enlargement or deeneninE Of the canal. |
Indeed II the Plan IL found To operate satisiac-
torllY, The next logical and necessary step |
would probably he 20 81 improve the canal as |
a. enable the use Of larger boats But for the |
present am quite cOuvinceG that the proper |
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