New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-30
TO KILL BARGE CANAL ?
State Engineers Look zcith Suspicion
on the Electric Motor Test.
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I

Albany. Oct 29-AsseTtiOns were made mere To-
day to the effect that the test OF the electrical
mule" al Schenectady yesterday was for the pur-
pose OF influencing electors to vote against the LOO
ton barge canal proposition Several members or
the engineering staff in the office OF the state En-
gineer and Surveyor Witnessed the test, and they
all declare that the demonstration was a failure
An electrical system almost identical with the
one tried Yesterday was described in detail in the
State Engineers report for 1894. when the PROPOSE
ton to spend 80 900 900 for 9-foot canal was asl-
tated The purpose OF that invention was primarily
to manufacture sentiment against canal improve
ment The system of 1894. which was condemned
by engineers all the country. is declared by
experts in the State Engineers office TO have been
better in many respects than the tried yester-
day For one thing it was more economical
W r. Davis the chief bridge designer in the
State Engineers Department. who saw yesterdays
test said to-day that there was a s to inch wash
on the bank from the boats propelled by the cleo
trio motor He said.
Before that system can be applied TO the canals
the banks will have to be rebuilt or rep pare
resist the wash that would oe made by ooats to@ed
by IN electric motor. They would have to be paved
and strengthened. and that would cost the state
at least 100000.
In Europe canaIboats are lowed by electric loco
motives on narrow gauge tracks laid on the banks
The cost of such a system would be half the cost
of the system tested yesterday, and 1t would give
not long ago made tests OF the towage OF boats
by electric locomotives. and that the tests were
pUTfeCtlN
system Of towing. j careful and extended series
Of should be made to determine whether boats
cannot be more cheaply propelled by propeller
Ii has been figured out in the State Engineers
office that it will sl6cco.Oo0 alone to build the
traction way for the electrical system all the
canals This sum does not include the cost OF
motors OF power.
Ludlow Meiius. another member OF the state En-
gineer's staff. who the test. said:
The demonstration failure One boat was
run into the bank the curve. The man handling
the steering wheel could not control IL. and the
boats only half loaded. and were not near the
bottom Of the canal If the boat that hit the
bank had been loaded IL would have sunk As IL
was, the sheaves Were broken. IL Is impossible
to get a hold the wheel Of his boat at
curves other bad places. II fOtilla of four
boats say. coming way and another flo
tiIla the other both at the rate of four miles
a hour the combined momentum would be eight
miles hour. and If they should happen TO come
together through little carelessness the part
OF the at the wheel nothing could them
from sinking.
Any towing system that develops d speed or more
than three miles hour. it Is claimed. Is eco
nomicAl.
The promoters OF the electrical system propose
that the State develop its water power TO produce
electrical power for towing purposes. Water power
It is argued, is worth more IN the factory than
lao NAL