72 Capt. McKonochie o?i the most effective me of 



den which they impose on the community, and to the sacrifices 

 which have been already made in some places, and, in others 

 are yet to make, to place them on an efficient footing. Neither 

 need any body of trustees, beginning such a system, apprehend 

 that they would thus deliver themselves, or their ferry, into the 

 hands of an individual. If even a half of what has been attri- 

 buted to this tug plan really belong to it, (and it is not believed 

 to be over-stated in a single particular), it requires only to be 

 seen, to be extensively acted on. When the present race of 

 steam-boats shall be worn out, they will be universally replaced 

 upon this principle ; steam-tugs, for every purpose at least of 

 domestic navigation, and for much also which may be called 

 foreign, will be on the water what horses are ashore ; and there 

 will be the same competition for their supply. 



In opposition to so many advantages, I can conceive no ob- 

 jection to the system whatever, except some supposed difficulty 

 in managing two boats together in certain circumstances of tide, 

 current, weather, &c. To this I would answer, 1st, The thing 

 has been already done, on the American rivers, at least as rapid 

 and stormy as any of ours. 2dly, Where there are thus great 

 advantages to be attained, and only one small physical difficulty 

 to be overcome, with common talent and energy, if there is a 

 will there will be found many ways. One at present occurs to 

 myself as very feasible. Let the two boats be connected by an 

 inflexible rod, say of iron, broad, flat, and of sufficient strength, 

 pivoted on the taff-rail of the tug, and extending outside 6 or 8 

 feet to the passage vessel, and 10 or 12 feet inside, till it can be 

 easily commanded by a wheel like a ship's tiller. Immediately 

 outside the tug let it be jointed so as to play up and down, but 

 have no lateral motion except what may be given it by the 

 wheel; and next the passage vessel, let it be fitted with jaws 

 to embrace her stem and be loosely confined to it by a chain. 

 With the fresh way which a powerful tug would give a passage 

 vessel, and which would insure her towing in a right line with 

 this rod, the whole apparatus would, I apprehend, just convert 

 her into a very delicate and powerful rudder in nearly all cir- 

 cumstances; while it would also communicate to her any slow or 



