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steamship will operate much faster than a fleet, but the expense of maintenance and operation of the individual self-propelled ves- sel is much greater than that of a steamer and its consort. It can readily be understood that no one type of vessel could be con- structed that would fill the needs for the various services now being rendered. Private operating com- panies are now prepared to provide the following different services: Freight vessels, generally motor- ships, in through cargo. services; bulk cargoes; tank barges and tank motorships; salvage operations and diving; shipments to intermediate points in boat loads; and package cargoes. There are also offered barges suitable for heavy machinery and boilers; vessels for towing; deck scows for handling lumber, steel and iron; and barges with removable eross beams for handling long pieces. Maintenance of the Canals At present the department of pub- lic works of the state of New York is maintaining the canal channel with its own equipment, under the supervision of the commissioner of canals and waterways. Sweep boats are continually in operation, search- ing for spots where silt or other foreign matter may have caused the depth of channel to be less than the statutory 12 feet. Banks are being rip-rapped to prevent wash by pass- ing vessels. Equipment and machin- ery are rigidly inspected at frequent intervals to forestall failure at any point. Due to the 12-foot limitation in the depth of water there are 29 self-propelled vessels and many more barges in operation, all of which are unable to load to full capacity. These same vessels are also unable to sail MODERN barge canal terminal. Erie basin terminal warehouse at Buffalo Length, 502 feet; width, 80 feet. Built on a pier 600 feet long by 150 feet wide the effect of increasing the tonnage carried an additional half million tons annually. This latter type ves- sel with its greatly increased carry- ing capacity could operate with the same personnel, and at only a nom- inal increase in fuel and other *p- erating costs. It would open the way for many of the smaller Great Lakes vessels and it would attract more tonnage than is now handled via the Atlantic coast and St. Lawrence river as it would cut the time enroute between New York and Great Lakes ports in half. Also, the hazards would be less, the insurance lower, and the operation cheaper. Canal System is Free Pleasure boats are allowed to navigate the canals. Permits may be obtained on application to the com- missioner of canals and waterways at Albany: Ni -Y., Oreat- any port of entry to the canal. All that is neces- sary is for the owner to make appli- cation, describing his craft. Al- though rowboats and canoes, wheth- light on account of the low fixed bridges. To go under these bridges they are compelled to carry ballast. Tank vessels must be thoroughly cleansed of this ballast so that it will not contaminate the product to be loaded, Loading ballast takes from 2 to 4 hours while pumping out bal- last takes from 4 to 8 hours. If the canal channel were deepened to 14 feet and the fixed bridges raised to a minimum of 25 feet, vessels of a capacity of 4000 tons could op- erate. This would undoubtedly have Above — Tug and fleet of 5 barges, west- bound, on the Mohawk river At right—Diesel tanker Albany Socony, one of the fleet of the Socony - Vacu- um Transporta- tion Co. MARINE REVIEw—January, 1935 er or not they are equipped with mechanical power, are allowed to use the canals without a_ permit, the locks will not be operated for their passage The entire canal system is free as the state constitution provides that no tolls shall be imposed on persons or property transported on the canals. It is mandatory, however that per- sons using the canal shall strictly observe the laws, rules, and regula- tions governing navigation thereof as may be promulgated. Appointments Made The Reading Iron Co. well known for its manufacture of genuine pud- died wrought iron products has re- cently announced that C. T. Ressler, formerly manager of railroad and marine sales has been appointed specification engineer in the sales di- vision, with headquarters at 40F North Broad _ street, Philadelphia. R. I. Fretz, formerly district sales representative, with headquarters at Columbus, O., has been appointed manager of eastern railroad and ma- rine sales with headquarters at 401. North Broad street, Philadelphia. Bryant Myers has been appointed to the company’s Pacific coast sales force with headquarters at 213 Shel- Gon building, San Francisco. He will report to J. K. Almer, manager of sales, Pacific coast region, whose headquarters are at Los Angeles. . Oe ALBRHY SOCIRY 13