The _Wack's_ through time from Buffalo to West Troy, with boat in tow, is
the same as the _Baxter's_ average without tow.
The _Ruggles'_ net time, from Buffalo to New York, with boat in tow, is
only 21 hours in excess of the _Baxter's_ shortest net time without tow.
The through times of the _Eclipse_ and _Gold Hunter_, from Buffalo to West
Troy, without tow, are just equal to the _Baxter's_ first and second trips.
The _Rotary's_ through time up, with half freight, is nearly one day less
than the _Byron's_, _Baxter's_ or _Newman's_ shortest through time. Her net
time is 17 hours less than the _Baxter's_ shortest net time.
The net time of the tugs, each with three boats in tow, is nearly equal to
the _Baxter's_ without tow, from Buffalo to West Troy.
Therefore, by this comparison of times, the one day extra allowed for the
greater steam resources of the former era with a boat in tow, is ample; and
the policy of that era is plainly more economical for freight than that of
the past two years.
* * * * *
WE THEREFORE OBSERVE: That the policy of introducing steam canal-boats as
carriers of freight, is illustrated in the _Niagara_, _Eclipse_, _Gold
Hunter_ and _Rotary_. The policy of carrying and towing one boat, in the
_Wack_, _Sternburg_, _Ruggles_, _City of Buffalo_ and _Viele_. The policy
of screw-tugs in the _Gov. King_, _Bemis_, _Washington_, _Lafayette_,
_Stimers_, _Dan Brown_ and the paddle-wheel tug _Fall Brook_. Under each
policy steam was a failure on the canals under the agencies tried. The
single carriers died first; the tugs second; the carriers and one boat
third; and last, the carriers with three-boat tows.
In 1861 and 1862, the policy of using the powerful canal steamers,
_Ruggles_ and _City of Buffalo_, to carry freight and tow three boats each,
was introduced to supersede the former policies. During these years the
privilege of priority at locks, by paying double toll on the boats, was
suspended, and soon thereafter steam was totally abandoned.
It is noticeable that the steamers for carrying, only, had less vitality,
and were less economical, than those for carrying and towing, and those for
carrying and towing but one boat had less than those for carrying and also
towing three boats.
Hence, the carrying steamers, or the automaton policy of 1871 and 1872,
can only compare with the automaton policy of the former era, and they must
have less vitality, and be less economical, than those other for carrying
and towing one boat, and still less than those for carrying and towing
three boats.