New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-01
r1FcTRJc TRACTION ON CANALS.

Whether or not the type of electric motor
tested on the Erie Canal at Schenectady within
the last few days is the best which can be de-
vised for such service, only time can tell This
much however, is already probable: Before
many years have elapsed electric power VIII
replace horse power for hauling canal boats
almost as completely as it has on street rail-
WAYS In the one as in the other, the
change will be in the interest Of economy.
After the necessary installation has been pro-
yided. it will prove cheaper TO do the work with
electricity Increased speed is another adj
vantage which will result from the new system
When hauled by mules, a canal boat travels
about a mile and half or two miles an hour
Already four miles have been made where cleo
tric motors were in use At the Schenectady
trial several loaded boats were moved stimuli
taneously for a short distance at the rate OF
five miles and something even better may yet
be deemed practicable For the class of mer-
cbandise transported by canal, high speeds are
not essential. of course, but when the country
sees the time required for that kind of service
cut down twothirds it will wonder why the
thing was not done before.
One reason for delay is that the art Of cleo
trio traction as applied to canals is yet in an
imperfect stage of development Within the
last fifteen years score of different plans have
been suggested, and most of them have had
a trial. Even to-day electrical engineers are
feeling their way with considerable hesitation.
At one time it was proposed to stretch trolley
wires over the canals, and put the motive
machinery into the boats. Such an arrangement
would have made it necessary to put screw
propeller on the stern of every boat. Again, It
was thought that tugs similarly equipped could
haul several barges at once. Probably they could
1fra
against the screw propeller. because it wastes
power. Besides, unless the canal in which ii
was employed was considerably enlarged, the
commotion which it created in the water might
prove destructive TO the bottom or the banks
At present therefore. both Of these expedients
are in disfavor and apparently have been aban-
doned. OF late years attention has been con-
ceptrated on schemes for hauling the boats
slngly or in groups, with cable attached TO
some sort OF machine on shore.
Here. again. remarkable diversity of coun-
sells has prevailed 1t was seriously proposed.
for instance, to construct an elevated tramway
of stout poles and wire rope, and have a piece
of mechanism weighing ton or more traverse
The aerial highway. That IDEA, too, has been
discarded. When it came to placing the motor
on the towpath, the question arose whether 1t
should operate like an automobile without a
track. run rails Experiment shows that
the former plan is practicable only where an
exceptionally fine road has been built On the
other hand, if the machine is mounted on rails,
like the little locomotives which haul cars out
of mines. it must be very heavy in order to
adhere effectively to the rails. So there you are.
Other questions have also arisen which are
not satisfactorily solved. Hitherto. In most
experiments, a direct current has been used
On the Miami and Erie Canal, in Ohio, this
last summer, the work was done with an alter
mating current motor. Which is better2
The corporation owning the fellow Canal, IN
Germany. nearly forty miles long, offered
prize of $1,000 for the best system Of electric
towage last year. and over a dozen plans were
submitted few months later for trial AL
though il is not yet clear whether the prize
was finally awarded, il Is asserted that system
worked out by CAM & Co. involves the lowest
cost of installation and also The chea pest opera