History of Steam on the Erie Canal

"History of Steam on the Erie Canal" by Anonymous is a historical exploration from the early 1970s. The book investigates the evolution and tribulations of steam power utilized on the Erie Canal, presenting specifics concerning the layouts and achievements of diverse steam-operated boats spanning from the late 1850s to the early 1870s. It inspects the difficulties encountered while trying to embrace steam technology for canal commuting, notably accentuating mechanical flaws and the productivity of pre-existing horse-powered schemes. The book delivers a thorough assessment of countless steam-fueled boats, for example, the "Charles Wack", "Cathcart", and "Baxter", assessing their practical records and scientific particulars while bringing into contrast the effectiveness of horse-powered boats. The author methodically archives different designs and inventions experimented with as time went on, focusing on their inadequacies and ineffectiveness, arriving at the requirement for extraordinary mechanical enhancements to make steam-energized vessels competitive with conservative horse-led transportation, backing consistent support, and original methods to enhance steam skills on the canal. This serves as both a knowledgeable reference on a distinct historical time and a judgment of the technological shortcomings of vapor drive in channel carriage.