New-York tribune., 1903-03-16
sAvTNG OF MILLIONS.
yohn Murray Mitchell argues fOI
Canal TOrrsmg by Electricity.

In snrpoF4 Of tue towing device by which he
AFopSseG te imprcve the Erie Canal. Ss noted in
lAst Wednesdays Tribune. JOHN Murray Mitch
En- counsel for the international Towing ana
Fewer Company, has made estimates showing
shst the operating expenses would be under the
aystem. The plsn as laid before the canal COM
usittes at Albany, was for an electric motor car
which travelling on a rail at the tovpaths edge
sS,arid tow boats at speed of four miles an
At,ur. The entire system would be leased on
ruysIty basis to the State. which would rent the
motors 70 the boat owners. The -Generai h'ee-
trtc Company lie backing the plan.
The cspactty of tie canal. Mr.. Mitchell says
,-ouId be increased practically without lni'' Oe'
cause the boats could be run half q mile 1p~'' >
aad the locks enlarged. II necessary.
The Wood electric system, Mr.. MitcneH ue
rl.-As would be superior to the 1,COO-ton oaIse
canal proposition. The interest on the COST o' VI.
barge canal, 800 100000, at . per cent ""uiu
aautp the Erie Canal with the Wood system "e
ssvx. and further, it would take five years az
eordinS to the State Engineer. TO deepen u"
canal suflcientiy for 1.OO0-ton harses' ana oui
ing those five years the canal wouIa De iu'e'
losing business amounting to Si.'Ooooo year
>,ot only would this income be lost nut 'ie
q oooono wear now paid for maintenance
,,o,,ld sIso he q loss, ne points out. as 'he en-
,~,se of the canal establishment "ouu k'
r4ght nu Other canals connecting VII" "e
Erie he a<serts. would be seriously haiiip
while the railroads. strengthened pS 'ne s'cp
,.re of canal operation. would De aoie u t''0
t-eIght rates and divert freight to other cna"-
neIs 'ieopardizing the supremacy tnat New
York has had. NJ
x.t.,hsu ssvs would solve ali difficulties Inc
1,rsr.ttop Of the system would not interfere WIN
the Use OF the present towpath; the power ''
or,erafe the motors could be acquired from 'he
mower plants along the canal OF lie So
couya use water power The cost OF l'VVo-loii
steam aarge S23.Og0, would debar individual IN
vestors and most OF the present canal operators
Mr. Mitchell says.
The following tables have been prepared by
Mr.. Mitchell in cola boration with F. o. BLACK
we'll Of the General Electric Company and 81.
Holm Clark engineer of the Rapid Transit Com
mission:
eIpsT cnmriea With WOOD electrical towing system
SiIf Sisfirinsy 'UgT euipeG for 50 ~.
Tee Hundred motors go horsepower 70eooo
Total ss,I72, 400
operatine expenses and earnings to handle
tonnage Of 1902. 2.1O5.ST6 tons:
EXPENSES.
ogF p g 3 Sn' osSS1s on s9giPet atven months use at
So horse p5ser psTsnIvsxe motors three men
each eight s4.s2o 800
Tssekmen si 900
-o,., ......................... $s445e6
GRosS EARNINGS
:Io5sT6 At 50 cents 81 933 33 Sfs sss
Expenses operating '11''oO
Ne. earnings ................. $5os,372
Operating expenses and earnings in towing
100000 tons. operating four miles an hour;
EXPENSES.
loyr 5er cent Of equipment $Z46oS6
Cost 81 horsepower and seven months use 80 ooo
e5S horsepower q year -t''Voo
NsxSss n1.SfHen fSF S- i9h tftts to- ihOo 1Sa OoO
-r-s-l-..z sAS'' ""l o --......-...... 500
Rc-atr1 100 600
GROSS EARNINGS.
Five rAHlion FOUR hundred thousand tons. at 80 ~,
cents q e.
Operating expenses and earnings in towing
10,So0000 tons. operating four miles an hour:
EXPENSES
-Four equipment S246 S96
Cost Of 24.9O0 horsepower seven months al $55
horsepower per 4S0OO
Wages Of motormen 800
escbl. eight hour shifts 3Ison
Salaries repairs 10000
TotsI. 81 278 236
GROSS EARNINGS.
Ten million eight thousand tons
Operating expense 12Ie2S6