The _Dawson_ and the _Cathcart_ have both made and repeated through trips
from Buffalo to Troy, with 5/6 of horse cargoes, in about 7 days, total
time.
The _Port Byron_ was 5 days 10-1/2 hours, total time, and 4 days 7 hours,
net time, with 117 tons of freight, from Troy to Buffalo, from Oct. 29th to
Nov. 4th. _The more important down time_ was not published.
The _Baxter_ was 5 days 14 hours, total time, and 4 days 9 hours, net time,
with half freight, from Troy to Buffalo, from Oct. 29th, in the morning, to
Nov. 3d; from Sept. 30th to Oct. 5th she was 5 days on her up trip, and
early in September was 5 days, also, from Troy to Buffalo.
On her first trip down she left Buffalo Sept. 12th, and arrived at West
Troy, the 19th, in 7 days 4 hours, total time, and reached New York the
21st, in 8 days 13 hours, total time, with 200 tons of freight. In some
way she reduces her 7 days 4 hours to 4 days 8 hours, net time, to Troy;
and her 8 days 13 hours, to New York, to 5 days 17 hours.
Second trip down was from Buffalo to Waterford, when she was longer upon
the canal than on her first trip of over 7 days.
Third trip down, left Buffalo Nov. 9th, and arrived at Troy 15th, and New
York 17th, or over 6 days to Troy, and 8-1/4 to New York, with 5/6 horse
cargo. This canal trip was during the horse epidemic, and the large number
of boats laid up made it very favorable for steam.
But the _Baxter's times_ have been developed by a model which would require
_one-third of a common boat to be rebuilt_--one-sixth at the bow and
one-sixth at the stern--it is, therefore, proper to state, that if we put
her machinery and steam capabilities into a common boat--and the seven
thousand such boats cannot be dispensed with--it would be _very slow_, as
her speed would be reduced by three causes:
1st. Because of an increased velocity of bow displacement at a reduced
speed of boat.
2d. Because of an increased velocity of stern replacement, at a reduced
speed of boat, against the mechanical or counteracting propelling currents.
3d. Because the percentage of wasted power is increased, and of utilized is
diminished, by greater resistance to motion.
The _Wm. Newman_ left New York Oct. 30th, and arrived at Buffalo Nov. 7, in
8 days, with 120 tons of freight.