History of Steam on the Erie Canal

Written in the early 1970s, 'History of Steam on the Erie Canal' is an anonymous historical account that examines the development of steam power on the Erie Canal from the late 1850s to the early 1870s. It details the designs and performances of various steam vessels, such as the 'Charles Wack' and 'Cathcart', while contrasting them with traditional horse-drawn boats. The book highlights the mechanical shortcomings and challenges faced in adopting steam technology for canal transportation, advocating for improvements to enhance its competitiveness. This work serves as a critical resource on the technological limitations of steam propulsion in historical canal transport.