1893.] WARNER— IMPROVED CANAL NAVIGATION. 233 



what is done by steam, and is more or less expensive according to the 

 methods by which it is generated. It is certain that animal power 

 which is now in almost universal use will soon be superseded by 

 generated power ; but exactly what that power will be is of little 

 importance as compared with the other questions involved. 



It is highly probable that electric energy generated by water 

 power will be used on the ground of economy. There is sufificient 

 water power, at the present time, running to waste between Buffalo- 

 and Albany to do the work of the Erie Canal for many times its 

 present volume of business. 



The question of the manner in which the power is to be applied 

 opens up a wide and important field for study and experiment. The 

 successful introduction of generated power upon the water ways will 

 depend largely upon the manner in which the power is applied. 



There are four methods presented by which the power may be 

 applied : first, the power may be applied by the revolution of paddle 

 wheels or propellers acting upon the water ; second, the power may 

 be applied in connection with a rail or cable suspended over the 

 canal and above the boat ; third, it may be applied in connection 

 with rails or cables submerged and lying on or near the bottom of 

 the canal ; fourth, it may be applied to a motor or other device on the 

 berm bank or on the tow path. 



The propulsion of canal boats by steam power is in common use 

 It is open to the objection of being injurious to the canal unless the 

 entire prism of the canal is rubbled. The banks of an ordinary canal 

 are washed down and weakened and the bottom is correspondingly 

 filled. The power is largely wasted in agitating and pushing against 

 the elusive and unstable water. Should the same power be exerted 

 with a base or purchase upon terra firma, as, for instance, in pulling 

 with a rope secured to a fixed object, a far greater speed would be 

 made. 



It is far easier to push a boat forward with a pole than to propel 

 it with oars. Study and experiment on this line will inevitably lead one 

 to the conclusion that the canal boat of the future will not be moved 

 by a paddle or propeller, but will either have the motive power on 

 land or upon the boat and acting upon a fixed object. 



It is undoubtedly a practicable scheme to move a boat either by 

 power, carried by the boat, acting upon a fixed rail suspended above 

 the boat or by means of a moving overhead cable. There is na 

 reason why a suspended moving cable drawing the boats might noL 



16, Proc. Roch. Acad. Sci., Vol. 2, July, 1894. 



