New-York tribune., 1902-01-12
BUYING CANALS IN EUROPE
AMERICANS WORKING FOR ALL-WATER
ROUTES FROM THIS COUNTRY TO
INLAND CITIES ABROAD

London Jan u.-One of the most important of
American commercial enterprises in Europe has
just eliminated here. 1t consists in the securing
of all-water routes for American cargoes of grain
and other commodities from inland ports in the
United States to inland ports in Europe and en-
braces the purchase by American capital of sew
eral British and other canals.
Frank w Hawley. vice-p president of the Erie
Canal Traction Company, has been this side sew
era months quietly securing concessions for the op-
Grafton of European canals by electricity. The Erie
concern to-day secured control of about five thou
sand miles of canals in England and the Conti-
nent. As result, cargoes will shortly be shipped
the same bill of ladng from Duluth Mimi to
Brussels, Bruges. Ghent and Cologne, and later to
many points in the United Kingdom. France. Ger
many and Italy.
British legislators will be asked grant permis-
sion for the erection of central power stations for
the propulsion of traffic at least British
canals These will be operated with American
capital. though their control will nominaly remain
in British hands.
Mr.. Hawey said to-day to a representative of
The Associated Press:
Yes. it is true that the traction company is
routes by electrically operated canals throughout
EnrPsh ten 2T @ t dT tne in of the
There are in the United Kingdom 1,lSS miles Of
very good financial showing but 276S miles Of Eng
lish canals independent OF railroads show earnings
by many American railroads However. we have
q
cause their operation and maintenance expenses
are over 20 per cent of their gross receipts. The
ham. Grand Junction, Leeds and Liverpool and
sources OF electric power supply at least nothing
like so far removed as is the canal at Oakland,
Yuba River. distance of 40 miles. Therefore it
Sem of n04 It tb sconveva v con con
electric energy before the English canals will be
electrical energy has resulted in increased faciii-
ties with corresponding reduction in the cost Of
operation,
The officers and directors Of the Erie Canal
Electric Traction Company. according a recent
list, Louis A. Hoffman,. Of L Won Hon-
mann & Co, president; Frank W. Hawley. vice.
president; A. B. Donaldson secretary; Charlton T.
Lewis. John G. Carlisle, Thomas c. Platt, Frank w.
Hawley. Alfred S. Hedelbach, of Heidelbach, Icke-
heimer & Co.; William H. Baker and James Virdin.
The only director who could be reached yesterday
was Charlton T. Lewis. who said that he knew no
more about what Mr.. Hawley had accomplished
abroad than he had read in the afternoon papers.
Asked as to the electrical equipment purposed for
the European canalboats. Mr.. Lewis answered that
the system would probably be a trolley which had
been invented for the purpose and had been tried
successfully the Erie Canal
Mr.. Hawley in interview long ago as Oc-
tober. 1899, said that it intended operate
electricity on the canals of Europe as well as
been in Europe for nearly a year. The system OF
electrical propulsion which has been adopted is
interview referred TO. That device is invention
OF an American, H. a. Alden, and consists of
trackleSs trolley motor, or tractor" which moves
along the canal towpath and which gets its power
from an overhead trolley wire through flexible
wire. The Erie Canal Electric Traction Company
is a Delaware corporation. capitalized 5000 900
II is the successor OF the Erie Canal Traction Com
pany and controls the Cataract General Electric
Company, which was incorporated under law en-
acted in 1893. permitting the OF electric
power on the state canals and which took a con-
tract to operate canalboats by electricity for a
period OF fifty years The law OF 1898 required that
a motor must be provided which would be approved
by the State Superintendent of Public Works. and
the company consumed good deal of time in
perimentng before satisfactory electrical equip
ment was perfected. II is said that the Superin-
tendent of Public Works takes the position
that the fifty year concession has lapsed. owing TO
alleged violation of the contract stipulation that
improvements must begin within three years. al
though no deduction allowed for the period
during which the canal was unfit for Improvement
and 1T is reported that the company may begin
legal proceedings establish the present Integrity
of it's concession.