The wonders of modern mechanismA résumé of recent progress in mechanical, physical, and engineering science . hat interior waterways are sufficientlyesteemed by civilized nations that they will be builtwherever demand arises, if the contour of the groundpermits. Their advantage as a means of cheap freighttransportation, and for quickly gathering the vessels of anavy, cannot readily be overestimated. It is very possible that barge-canals may receive a sub-stantial boom because of electrical propulsion, which hasbeen tried successfully of late. If trolley railways cancarry passengers cheaper tha
The wonders of modern mechanismA résumé of recent progress in mechanical, physical, and engineering science . hat interior waterways are sufficientlyesteemed by civilized nations that they will be builtwherever demand arises, if the contour of the groundpermits. Their advantage as a means of cheap freighttransportation, and for quickly gathering the vessels of anavy, cannot readily be overestimated. It is very possible that barge-canals may receive a sub-stantial boom because of electrical propulsion, which hasbeen tried successfully of late. If trolley railways cancarry passengers cheaper than steam-railroads, why cannottrolley canals carry freight cheaper than the steam-rail-roads ? This is the question which those who are studyingthe matter are trying to solve. During the latter part of CANALS, OLD AND NEW. 53 1893, F. W. Hawley, of Pittsford, New York, beganexperimeuting with street-railway motors mounted on acanal-boat and operating a propeller-screw placed at therear, the power being derived from double overhead trolleywires. A fairly satisfactory result was obtained, and a plan Fig. THE TROLLEY TUG ON THE CANAL DE BOLRGOGNE. was then devised for allowing such boats to pass each otheron the canal. This is accomplished by supporting thetrolley-wires on cross-wires so that the trolley wires arefree to slide sideways on the insulating connections. As itwould be expensive to fit up all canal-boats with motors, ithas been proposed to use propeller tugs, or to make a de-tachable stern-post, bearing the rudder and motor. Theprincipal objection, however, to the whole project is thaturged against all methods of power as applied to canal-boats—the banks would suffer from wash, and it wouldcost more to keep them in repair than would be saved byimproved methods of propulsion. If we are to have trol-leys and screw-propelled boats on canals we shall iiave torebuild them with permanent masonry banks that are notaffected by wash. We might then run the canal-boats attw
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