The evening times., 1900-09-20
BOATS DRAWN BY MOTORS.
Interesting Experiments on the Ber-
Iin-Stettin Canal

Richard Guenther, Consul General of the
State Department on the subject of eiec-
trio traction for canals. lie writes:
Some interesting experiments in boat
traction by means of electric locomotives
were recently made on behalf of the Prns-
sian Government by Messrs- Siemens &
Ha1ske, OF Berlin. The scene of opera
fions was a short length of the Finow Ca
nal. which forms q portion of the water
way between Berlin and Stettin and Is
traversed every year by about 25io00 TO
26, 600 boats each way. TIE craft used are
in the main barges, some l32 feet long ey
Is feet inches beam, carrying l50 TO 10
tons. There are also few steam barges
employed. which carry about $50 tons ana
can tow second barge. The traffic to
Berlin is much heavier than toward Stet-
tin. and as a consequence three-fourths OF
the barges return light from the netropo-
lis. Traction is generally effected by
horses. there being a towpath on each
bank. but on the down journey man trac-
ton is not infrequentIy relied on. In any
ease the speed is low and, including stops,
does not average more than about l Ii
miles per hour.
THE section of canal used for the ex-
periments was selected owing TO It's
physical difficulties, presenting, as IL
does several curves in one Or which
with only 32S feet radius the waterway
is spanned by a railroad bridge the
line laid down for the towing engine
was of 328 feet gauge, the outer Iali
weighing 1872 pounds per yard, while Ia ?
inner. which was fixed on the inner edge
of the towpath, weighed 81 Poun Is Ter
yard. These rails. which were OF TIE
fiange type, were laid partly on sleepers
haIIasted with gravel and partly Cn
blocks of concrete. weighing Z2j POUNDS
each in the case of the heavier prin-
cfpai rail. and half this in case OF the
other rail This arrangement cests Elore
per mile than the sieepers. but has been
found less expensive TO MAINTAIN
Though ne wharf actually existed on
the length of canal experimental OF, the
arrangements necessary were fully test
ed At one point, the line Was raised
to height OF feet 6 inches above the
level of the towpath. being carried on
posts and brackets. The carrying pests
were twelve inches in diameter. AID
were spaced at IS feet inches. A cap
piece spanned the gap between the posts
and the principal rail was laid directly
carried by stringer. supported At each
post by brackets
The conductor for the current was sup
ported on pine posts % feet long, located
So to II yards apart. 1t consisted OF s.
milimetre wire carried by porcelain IN
suIators. The principal rail served as con-
ductor for the return current. The source
of power was Z fifteen horsepower portable
engine driving a nine kilowatt dynamo;
and a large storage battery was also pro-
yided The extreme dimensions OF the
towing locomotive were feet 10 inches IN
length by 4 feet 10 inches wide Its total
weight was two tons. but the motor was
SO placed that only one-ffth Of this total
came on the accessory rail The motor
provided was much more powerful than
necessary for the work in hand. as il was
capable OF working at the rate Of fourteen
and fifteen horsepower. Since, however.
these experiments were merely preliminary
enes. intended to test the possibilities of
electric traction for large barges. the ex-
cess power was supplied Intentionally. and
the resistance requisite TO call forth the
full powers Of the motors was in some OF
the experiments provided by RATS These
experiments showed the system to be ca
pabIe of meeting ali needs, working, as it
did. with safety and economy