The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-28
NOW A MOTOR TO RUN BOATS
Anew Electric Appliance That Will
Aid Navigation.
Mr.. Frank w. HanieY Talks Of the
Galloway System, The Plan Used
i TO be on the Erie Canal, Will
Not Damage Banks and
Viii Minimize Expenses.

lpUt fhScS luo lAulOuS tSSU winch ne
made in November, 1898. was so salts
factory that it became thereafter only
question Of time when the countless
5arges that float upon our great w-atar-
ways would be propelled electrically
and whom the canals would be lighted,
the bridges turned and the locks opened
by invisible force.
Mr.. Hawley, in speaking of the QUE
look for the speedy introduction of elcc-
trioity upon the canals Of New York, re-
sently said:
Electrical propulsion of boats upon
our inland waterways is now IN assured
fact. Many tests have recently been
made in search of the most practical and
economical method Of applying this en-
ergy TO the requirements of the canals
Perhaps the best plan yet made public
is that which it is proposed to put III
operation upon the Erie canal 1t is
known as the galloway sysann and has
Been heretofore used in the humber dis
tricts of North Carolina and for ,farriage
purposes to an extent that fully demon
stcatee its feasibility.
1T may bo briefly described Ms fol-
lows: A line of hollow steel poles is
placed along each bank of the canal
They are imhedded in cement and stand
IL feet above the towpath- On top of
this pole line n steel calile of great
strength and measuring l "a inches in
diameter is, strung. Resting on this ca
blW}s Il traveller, suspended from which
is a car containing an ELECTRIC motor
and. accommodation for ~ motorrnan.
a l,,.I. .,t.1 -.
placed two feet below ths first one.
THIS makes three turns about horizon
tai shaft with which the electric motor
is directly connected. Ev cry movement
OF the motor III either direction turns
the shaft and every revolution of tho
shalt moves tho car along, the lower ca
BILE, the traveller moving ahong the upper
Cable a. tie same time, ;md acting both
as support 10 the car Mad as IA trolley
Tor the transmission of the current to
the Md.or. This motor, of course, will
be aarcils:ly operated as hhe,motor of an
ordinal! trolley car on q street railway.
10 II. : suspended cabls trolley car may
be attached Il towline from any boat or
raft 1"'l in this way single craft or
whole I!ae" may be moved along as rap
idls ai'itiS Practicable todaavigate the
canal The current of electricity passes
1ntp the motor from tho upper cable
anu - discharged fcom tho, motor over
the lever cable ard III this way @ per
iect nictc,lic circuit is seen red.
1Ilrs'plan setms to meet the essen
tial requirements Of pre- ctical system
OF Towing, It's operation will not tend
To injura. tho banks. It doas not reon;re
inc purchase OF any equipment by boat
owners 1t permits uontinuasion of
present methods by those who desire to
nse them 1t TENDS to lie Hzn greatly ex-
peEse and laborrund is absolutely relia-
Bile BY it's aid produc ts can DO trans
porteu at traction of the present cost.
IL %lH enable the canals hereafter to
compete with the raj iways under most
favorable conditions and render exorbi-
tant trelSht rates asthitP of tho past.
line electric power tusodswill be general
ed by tho falls mt Niagara.
1t is probable this system will soon
be In use upon the Ell lie canal, thus af
fordtng to Chicago an the great wost a
cheap and speedy out let to tho sen for
those vast and varied products which
sesk the seaboard by the shipping of the
lakes
But the introSfuotion of electricity
upon our waterways means far more
than this. twill man gurate IN canal re-
ylval such as the world has never seen.
transportation hy~water is INCIDENTALLY
cheaper than by land, and with i'm
proved facilities.andI more rapid transit
they VIII Naturally become the favored
onannel for the tra admission of bulky
merchandise and I'll articles not of n
peflshabie nature The opening OF the
twentieth century will doubtless see the
numerous canal lines now projected
either completed or in process of exca-
satlon. expect 10 see Lake Erie Joined
10 Lake Michii gan by waterway run
ming From Tols 40 to Michigan City; to
see Chlcago's magr ificent canal com
pleted, furnisl ling highway for Amer
1cah shipping to the heart of the CONT
nent; to sec the Nicaragua undertaking
accomplishe q by American enterprise
ana mainta med hy American protection,
opening to fthe valley of the Mississippi
new out Aet for it's commerce into rich
ana hthrrfo unattitinahle regions.
IN III these great achievements cleo
.rleisy VIE. neccss nily play ali iInpor.
tant part 1t can e 1cavlte the channels.
propol the. boats t5nat PASS along them
anu line Che banks with shops and fac
tories. iihiswondt rfuI force will speed
'iy nsper in an az e Of magnificence, of
gigantic Duhlic x ,nrl-, ,n5 ..,,,,o, ! -,