The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-11
HOW AN IRON FLEET VANISHED
BOATS DESIGNED FOR CHEAP
CANAL TRANSFORMATION.

Built 70 Accept All the Advantages Of
the Canal Enlarged by the %, O0O.'
600 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS They're In
the PM llppines-Pronts were Meagre.
II Is the theory OF the honest advocates
Of the i,OOO-ton barge canal that when the
$i0i 600 900 has been spent in enlarging
the ditch there will be great rush OF ship
ping interests to construct 000-ton barges.
Something like the same idea was enter
tanned whsn the plan Of 1906 was adopted
and the people taxed themselves 5000 900
for q scheme Of canal enlargement. A
fleet Of eighteen whaleback boats was put
on the canals. Are they there now? No.
John N. Partridge, who was State Superin-
tendent OF Public Works. in his report for
the year 1901, sent to the Legislature last
year. wrote:
The plan Of deepening the Erie Canal to
nine feet has been regarded as the deter min
Ing factor which resulted In the construction
OF a triple feet OF steel canalboats. eighteen
In number. which were completed and placed
I'm commission In 1905. This enterprise. at
the time Of its inception was regarded by
all friends OF the canals everywhere as q
hopeful sign indicating a return Of the canals
10 their one-time glory. These steel boate,
though looked upon as an experiment. had
come TO be regarded as q permanent addi-
ton to canal facilities and 1t was therefore
with much regret that the news OF their with
drawal from the canals was received.
As various rumors were sent out regardin 9
the reason for their withdrawal took occa-
sion 10 communicate with the former owners
of the feet The information which this
inquiry elected has so direct bearing on
this whole subject OF canal Improvement and
canal facilities that. with the permission OF
the offcias OF the company, i quote from the
statement made to me OIL the subject.
After advising me that these steel boats
had been sold to the Philippine Trans ports-
ton and Constru ction Company and that
the purpose was primarily. to use them In
the Philippines for liRhteraes purposes at
Manila, and also for partici IA ting In the inter-
island trade. the statement was made that
il ia not the intention OF the company TO re-
plaoe these boats with others IL IL further
stated. after acknowledgment Ia made OF
courteous treatment from the States of1cials.
that there has been NO year when the boats
did not make money. but the returns have
been 40 measre as compared 70 the possi-
bilities In the Philippians that we have not
besitated to take them there
The head Of this new enterprise In the
Governments new possessions. Mr.. Charles
3. wheeler, adds this significant statement:
my own experience has been that the Erie
Canal Ia destined TO be . failure unless the
state addresses itself to the question OF
terminals both at Buffalo and New York.
There has been . steady decline In rates
The business interests which tried the
speculation Of building craft especially
constructed to take all the advantages Of
the Improvement made by the 80 600 200
appropriation found the scheme profitable
In 90 small q degree that the boats were
sent to the Philippines and no others were
built TO take their places.
Tho I, ., ton barge will bear the same
relation to the SOL 900 900 canal that the
iron whaleback bore to the canal after the
% 900 900 improvement had been made
Shipbuilders are wondering whose capital
will 20 into the experiment OF the I. w.
ton barge.
Not q line In the Davis bill suggests i'm.
proved terminals, without which even the
favorably disposed owner Of the whale.
backs predicted that 'the Eric Canal II
destined to bo q failure