New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-12
FEELING or TIE CANAL EOATMEN

WHY THEY OPPOSE THE TROLLEY oN THE ERIE
CANAL
Buffalo. JAN II (specaD.-An EDITORIAL note printed
IN '.The Chicago Tribune" last Monday is typical
y, the general Misrepresentation Of the Erie Canal
boatmen's position on the proposition to ~" 'i'c
,ricty on the canals. Tho note j. as follows;
THE effort to show what electricity can DO in
propcll!ng boats on the Erie Canal seems to have
excited among the boatmen feeling OF prejudice
and opposition akin to that which ATTENDED the IN
PRODUCTION OF railroad travel half century ago
The trolley wire stretched a,ong about TWO miles
OF the canal gave great offence to the boatmen and
they cut the wires. that K was found necessary
to employ guards along the banks before the *
perlment could be proceeded with. Then 1T was
success fully tustifyng the terms in which it was
spoken Of subsequently by Governor Flower. VINO
IS one of the most enthusiastic supporters OF the
new tode OF propulsion"
The Buffalo boatmon say there are far too many
people in their State who have the same idea
The chief objection to the trolley plan is that the
boatmen fear It will be us-d to cover w their
greatest need the deepening of the canal to nine
feet "Tll tell you just how 1t IS. SAID one Of thom
10 n Tribune correspondent to-day: "Trolloys may
prove to be little cheaper IN! faster than morse
power or steam. but the speed makes little differ
ence to US. especially az troeys would take u3 Only
to the Hudson and then leave Bu; II much money
IS spent on this experiment. 1t Will almost certainly
deepercd enough 20 permit us 10 carry lohH3 ABOUT
hall large again as those We can carry now TN SIX
feet Of water. II IS not an eXdggeraton % say
that II the State should tow our boats from here
to New-YOrk free OF expense. we could not com
pet. with the railroads when they begin cutting
rates. But if the canal IS de- pencd We can com
pete with the railroads at tAoir worst Mics C'a".
the veteran canal man. puts the whole thins IN 4
nutshell when he says that wheat can be carried
from here 10 NcN-YorE for ccrts ana money can
b. made that rate II the canal Is dccpcned 10 nine
feet That Is equivalent 90 sending 1."O-bushel
freight cars to NowYork for 81. which no railroad
dO especially when there - 4 prospect mat the
cars viii have to b. sent back light
THE canal boatm do not, 4 rille think. have
the slightest objection to the trolcytOwing scheme
in Itself. But they do know that Governor Flowers
fine predictions based misin:ormation. and
are ridiculous. Even If II Is fact that boats can
be run four miles hour by C.ectricy-which i
not at al! certain-it does follow by any means
that they will thus be able make trips "A
season. The steam canal boats make considerably
better time than the horse boats. and yet it IL
fact that both make on average only six trips
d season. and can assure you positively that they
could do no better by the aid of electricity. We
have seen figures yet 10 prove that the cost Of
putting in an electrical plant on the canal would
be worth while
Boats to III nine fec; OF water in the canal would
little more than the boats in use. the
insurance would be only tIiie more. and the
cost OF handling would be not cent more"
Other boatmen agreed with this view. one OF
them said: Now that our position Is made pain
hope nobody vii. undertake again 10 charge
with being old fogies. It's unjust and 1t hurts
feelings"