ly profligate in expenditures of power--_to double the average
speed of horses, or lessen the general average of ten days on the canal to
five days_, of which the down trips may overrun and the up trips fall
short, as with horse average.

When a single tug shall equal 30 to 50 horses on the tow-path, it equals 60
to 100 of supply, as all require the alternate team.

The automaton system of steam is a hinderance to horse-boat navigation,
besides increasing the risks and dangers, whilst the towing system, in
substitution for horses, greatly improves the navigation and lessens the
risks and dangers. Averaging the total mileage of a season with horse-boat
times of transit, and boats meet each other every twenty minutes, night and
day including Sundays, for seven months. To carry this tonnage, there must
be eleven meetings of steamers to nine by horses, which increases the risks
and dangers twenty-two per cent.; on the other hand, tows to the same
tonnage would only meet each other about every three hours, hence for long
distances they have an unobstructed water way.

MECHANICAL INVENTION, to adapt steam to the heavy resistances of canal
boats, is therefore the first and greatest necessity of canals.

A second necessity will be AUXILIARY AND CO-OPERATIVE POWER AT THE LOCKS
AND SHORT LEVELS.

These must be local, and may be by stationary steam-power, by water-power
from the upper levels, or by horses.

Thus, there would be only one detention of a tug through all the sixteen
locks from West Troy to Cohoes--only one wherever there are two or more
locks near each other, and at all locks there must be an independent local
power to handle all boats. In this way tugs will lose less time between
Buffalo and Albany than horse-boats do in changing teams from boat to
tow-path every six hours.

Following these necessities, new rules, regulations and customs will be
established, protecting the rights and equities of all.

* * * * *

A third necessity will be a CENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT, or control of all tugs,
train-movements, and local powers at short levels and locks.

This is essential to a harmony of movements, to a proper distribution of
motors, and to a proper adaptation to all the ebbs and flows of trade. This
is just as essential for the tugs of a canal as for the locomotives of a
railway. Provided the control of steam shall be held, _upon the merits of
some invention_, protected by Letters P