The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-14

500 ton wooden coal barges for service
between Cordova and Mobile. The ag-
sregate contract price under these con-
tracts for Warrior River was s1.5Os,30
For the New York Canal section Ave
tugs from SIS TO $50 horsepower each
and three wooden barges of $50 tons ca
paeity each were purchased in 1918 at
total cost of S110,8S0, including the
repairs necessary TO put the same IN
service.
Contracts have been let and the WORK
Is largely completed on hfty-one steel
oarges of $50 tons capacity to cost about
sl'ssS.2lS and twenty-one concrete
oarGes of 600 tons capacity, each to cost
about s5s6.664.
Bids have been received and con-
tracts are about to be let for the con-
struction of twenty self-propelled steel
barges of $50 tons capacity, each having
500 horsepower. Each one of these tow
boats Will tow three of the steel or con-
crete barges in addition. to carrying
cargo Itself. The contract price for
these self-propelled barges Is s1.726,200
OF the seventy-two steel and concrete
oarges under construction nearly all are
expected TO be delivered in time for the
opening of navigation May !, 1919, and
the rest very shortly thereafter.
The twenty self propelled harges
which are also to act as towboats are
expected to be delivered in August and
September. Meanwhile additional tow
boats will be temporarily hired to tow
the steel and concrete barges.
Plans to start at Once.
You ask what steps have been taken
or are in contemplation for the utiliza-
ton of the waterways upon which these
boats heretofore authorized have been
operated and in connection with the
railways or separately.
You will see from what is stated
above that in all OF the three principal
operations of the railroad administra-
ton on the inland waterways, namely
the Mississippi River, Warrior River
and New York Barge Canal, the policy
was pursued of purchasing equipment
FOR temporary use in order to begin
operations as soon as possible with a
view to substitution in whole or in part
OF modern equipment, the construction
or which was authorized.
'On the New York State Barge Canal
during the season Of 1918 the Railroad
Administration operated i've tugs and
three barges which II had purchased
and an average of 100 old style Erie
Canal barges ana thirteen small steam
ers under lease.
''As soon as the equipment under con-
tract can be completed It is expected
that the use OF leased equipment will
be altogether discontinued, as the Rail-
road Administration is planning to own
sufficient equipment to transport the
traffic.
You also ask for some details arts
ing from the Operations OF the privately
owned Delaware ana Raritan Canal. and
also OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
THE Delaware and Raritan Canal
came under Federal control as a part
of the transportation system of the
Pennsylvania Railroad and after the
establishment OF Federal control the
maintenance OF tho canal and the OPP
Grafton of the locks was under the
Jurisdiction of the Federal manager Of
the Pennsylvania until December, 1918.
when 1t was transferred to the Division
OF Inland Waterways OF the Railroad
Administration. New York-New Jersey
canal section.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
operated no boats on the canal except-
ing tugs prior to Federal control and
had no through rates except on anthra-
cite coal via Trenton to Philadelphia and
nearby points. These through rates
have eben maintained under Federal
control and during the season of 1918
the Railroad Administration operated
some package freight service via the
canal between New York and Philadel-
phia.