We have then each item of expense reduced two-fifteenths, except the coal consumption, which will be reduced one-sixth. The total expense of the trip, thus modified, will therefore be: Cost per bushel of wheat, Buffalo to Troy.. Cost per ton, 495 miles.. Cost per ton 1 mile... Cost per bushel of wheat 495 miles A comparison of these with the results first obtained for this mode of transportation shows that the reduction in cost, due to the reduction of two days in the duration of the trip, amounts to 14 per cent between Buffalo and Troy, and to 11.16 per cent between Buffalo and New York. If the time of the tug between Buffalo and Troy, with its tow of four boats, be twelve days, the conclusion is, that the first two modes of transportation are much the cheapest, and that, as between those two modes, it is not easy to decide. If, however, the time of the tug be ten days, the costs of movement are so nearly equal that the preference must depend upon certain contingencies which may, and no doubt will, affect the three modes differently, but which cannot be estimated. Considering the independent character of the boat carrying its own power, its higher rate of speed, and the ability which this speed will give it to command paying return cargoes, it would seem that transportation can be effected by such boats with decidedly greater economy than by either of the other two modes. RELATIVE ECONOMY OF STEAM AND ANIMAL POWER. The experience of the past two seasons of navigation has furnished reliable data upon which to base estimates of the cost of effecting the movement of the tonnage, of the Erie canal, both by steam and animal power, and to ascertain to what extent a saving may be effected by the substitution of the former for the latter. These estimates, in order that they may be at all satisfactory or reliable, must be made upon the basis of an entire season's work, and, so far as steam is con cerned, upon what steam might do with full seven feet of water, and with horse-boats out of the way, rather than upon what it has done, in spite of all the obstacles which it has encountered during the recent trials. A season's movement will therefore be taken at 3,000,000 tons from Buffalo to New York, and 750,000 tons from New York to Buffalo. It will be assumed that this tonnage is to be transported annually, and that the question to be answered is, what will be the cost of equipping the canal with the necessary boats, and of transporting this tonnage by each of these two modes? The duration of a round trip, or the number of round trips that may be made by the steamer and the horse-boat, during the average season of navigation, with the same condition of canal, must first be determined. In the case of the horse-boat we have already seen that, under present conditions, the average time occupied in making the trip from Buffalo to Troy is, practically, ten days. Allowing two days each way on the Hudson river, and ten days for the return trip from Troy to Buffalo, partly loaded, against the current, and allowing six days for detentions at Buffalo, Troy and New York, the time consumed in making a round trip will be thirty days, and 7 trips may be made in a season of 230 days. At present it is believed that boats towed by horses in efficient condition do not exceed 7 trips, while the average for all the boats is not more than 6. The estimate will, therefore, be upon the basis of 7 round trips for the horse-boat, allowing one additional trip for the improved condition of the canal. Towing will be estimated at 35 cents per mile on the canal, and at $40 per single trip on the river, in Troy, and in the harbors of Buffalo and New York. In the case of the steamboat, the time from Buffalo to Troy will be taken at 5 days, allowing 10 hours for improved condition of the canal and the absence of horse-boats, and at 30 hours on the river; making the time from Buffalo to New York, 6 days and the running time per round trip, 123 days. Adding 5 days for detention at both ends of the route, the total time consumed in making a round trip will be 17 days; while the number of round trips per season will be 13.1-7, say 13. The coal consumption will be taken at 45 pounds per mile, or a little less than the mean of the rates of the "Baxter" and the "Newman," and the cost of the coal per ton will Le estimated at $5.50. The cargoes east or in the direction of the maximum tonnage, for the horse-boat and steamer, will be taken at 230 and 200 tons, respectively. The foregoing embrace all the items of expense about which there can be any serious question; the other items will appear in their proper places and need not be particularly referred to here. The estimates will then stand as follows: Estimate of the cost of transporting 3,750,000 tons between Buffalo and New York in 7 months by animal power, in boats carrying 230 tons each. Maintenance 10 per cent Total cost of equipment Interest on cost of boats at 7 per cent .. $521,640 00 745,200 00 Cost of towing on canal, 8,998,290 miles at 35 cents 3,149,401 50 Cost of towing on river and in harbors 1,043,280 00 Cost of crew for wages and subsistence, per boat: 1 captain 7 months at $60.. $450 If the boats run light from New York to Buffalo, the foregoing An analysis of this estimate shows that the per centages of the several items of cost are as follows: Or, if we take only the three elements of boat, towage and crew, we have: Boat (interest and maintenance)... Towage Crew .. 15.2 per cent. 50.6 per cent. 34.2 per cent. In the foregoing estimate it has been assumed that the canal towage is to be done by towing companies, and the result of course includes their profits. In order to eliminate these, it will be necessary to estimate the actual cost of towing when the horses are owned and subsisted by the boatmen. Estimate of the cost per mile of horse-towage. Distance towed, miles, 7 × 2 × 345=4,830. Cost per mile, 27.4 cents. If the board of the drivers be added, the cost will be about 30 cents per mile; but as that item has been included in the subsistence of the crew, it is not introduced in the above. Employing this sum-27.4 cents as the cost per mile of canal towage, the cost of a season's work for the assumed tonnage will be reduced to $7,607,411.46 From which we deduce the following: Cost per boat per annum.. Cost per ton moved 495 miles... $4,083 42 2.02% Cost per ton moved one mile 4 mills. 100 6187 cts. If the boat run light from New York to Buffalo, these results, except the first, will be increased 25 per cent, and will therefore stand as follows: Cost per ton moved 495 miles Cost per ton moved one mile. Cost per bushel of wheat, 495 miles The per centages of the several items of cost will be: Interest Maintenance Towage on the canal Towage on the river and in harbors Crew and subsistence.. Total ... 32.3 per cent. 13.9 per cent. 37.2 per cent. 100 per cent. Or, taking only the three elements of boat, towage and crew, we have: Boat (interest and maintenance)... Towage Crew Total...... 16.6 per cent. 46.2 per cent. 37.2 per cent. 100 per cent. Estimate of the cost of transporting 3,750,000 tons between Buffalo and New York, in 7 months, by steam power, in boats carrying 200 tons. Number of boats required, 1,154. Cost of boats at $7,000 each Interest on cost of boats at 7 per cent Oil, tallow and waste... Cost of crew, wages and subsistence per boat: Cost of crews for 1,154 boats, at $2,355 each..... 2,717,670 00 Total cost of a season's work ... $6,088,862 52 |