The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-06
Here's a Scheme 10 Use The
Old and Save Millions.
ELECTRIC TOWING DOES IT.
Better Results Than Barge
CanaI-Cost One fifteenth.


Commlsslon-It Has william Barclay
Parsons's Endorsement and Is backed
IN by Figures of other Eminent En-
gineers-Not Too Late for the state
10 Recede From the SIOI 900, 900
Enthusiastically Palmer, Who
Sees the Point Says the Motor People
Are Tempting the Taxpayers TO Save
s94 900, 900 Their Canal Gould lie
Equipped in Two Years for More Than
the Capacity OF a Barge Canal. Which
Won't lie Done for Dozen Years
Would DO Away with Canal Taxes.
n was made plain by tho statements
Of eminent engineers. backed up by figures
and the record Of practical demonstration,
at hearing given in this city yesterday
that the building Of the barge canal would
mean the burning up Of at least !5AooO0oO
II was shown that New York State. in
stead OF spending SOL. 900 900, perhaps
twice that, on a work which would take, at
the most favorable calculation. dozen
years to complete, can install within two
years, at an expense Of 81 goo 900. towing
aystem which would provide for the present
Erie Canal more carrying capacity than is
claimed for the 600 ton barge canal
This was brought out at Il meeting Of the
sub committee Of the commission appointed
by act OF the Legislature 70 investigate
systems OF electrical towing for tho canals
The full commission met In New York last
month and delegated the work Of hearing
inventors to a subcommittee consisting Of
f. L. Corthell (chairnanl and William A.
Breckenridge OF the advisory board app
pointed by the Governor. State Engineer
Henry A. Van Alstyne and Assemblynan
George NJ Palmer and Edwin A. Merritt.
II the committee reports to the fun COM
mission the remarkable possibilities Of
elect rical towing. as laid before them
Yesterday. and the commission lays the
facts before the Legislature, it seems almost
impossible that the Legislature should not
take steps to avoid the waste Of millions
and give the people of the State an OPP
portunity to check the wholesale. needless
expenditure Of their money by repeating
the referendum Of 1868
IL is true tcAt the COMMISSIONS sub
rOpltniilet on tildi anu fNpkt NOOh ~ upon
self last month TO declare that tho law
authorizing the Investigation was intended
o apply solely to towage on the new barge
canals Of the Stote out the Legislature
is likely to bark back 10 its own resolu-
ton impossiDle.of such construction. which
says plainly that the commission was APP
pointed -for the purpose Of investigating,
and with power TO investigate and report !
on, elect rical towing systems applicable /
to the canals Of the State Of New York
The facts and figures are before the sub
committee now. and it has TO report them /
to the full commission, which, in turn, is .
responsible to the Legislature
Perhaps the situation was best summed /
up by George NJ. Palmer, the minority /
leader In the Assembly, who said when 4
he had heard the plans and the absolute |
figures OF cost:
you are tempting the taxpayers 10 take |
for about $1,000. 900 that for which they are
expecting 10 pay SOL 10000"
That was the proposition exactly and /
every man in the room knew that the tax
payers would like 10 be tempted tempted
to back out OF the sorriest bargain the
people OF State ever entered into and
that they would yield in minute if they
goa chance.
The hearing was held in Parlor II Of the
Murray Bill Hotel beginning at p NJ
Besides the subcommittee. there were
present Percy Thompson, president Of the
Towing and Power Com
pany OF 20 Wall street; the company's at
torney, ex-Congressman John Murray
Mitchell; one of its engineers. St John
Clarke, formerly under tho Rapid Transit
Commission and Richard Lamb and Adam
2. Schatt. owners OF electrical towing de-
vices.
THE SYSTEM TESTED SUCCESSFULLY
Mr.. Mitchell placed before tn committee
he plans OF the device owned 10y the Inter-
national Towing and Power Company
Il Is the invention OF Stephen W, Wood
inventor OF the tapering cartridge OF ma
ional reputation. The international com
Dany took up Mr.. Woods idea in 1862 and
patented it. 1t ia what is popularity known
AZ the electric mule traction engine
-lnning on an elevated rail along the bank
IF the canal upper and lower wheels grip
1ing the rail 70 securely az 20 secure the
fraction friction necessary for towage
Inventor Woods plans were submitted
o F. o. Blackwell chief engine er Of the
mining and power department Of the Gem
raj Electric Company. who took charge
u the designing and construction OF cleo
nc locomotives for the system. c. W.
arson, the company's designing en-
.ineer, and 81. John Clarke we're associated
With him.
II was impossible to make tho merits OF
he invention known 70 the officials OF the
state before the time came TO vote on the
large canal proposition. for the Inter
rational company was unwilling 10 make
my claims until the mule should have a
practical demonstration In 1908 II built a
rac;ion way = 700 feet long on the outer
'dge Of the towpalh at Schenectady, with
wo electric mules 10 operate thereon.
This place was chosen because Of its curve
md difficulties.
On Oct. 2s, 1903 only few days before
he election at which the canal proposition
vas TO be voted on, public test was given
Nth loaded boats Supt Boyd OF the
Department Of Public Works said after
he test:
L believe that the equipment Of the canal
With the new electrical system illincrease
Is carrying capacity 20 10000 900 tons a ,
ear, the estimated tonnage Of barge
anal. ! was at first sceptical about tho