Erie Canal Tidbit - Ep. 417: "Horse-power"

Until 1918, mules and horses provided the main power for barges on the Erie Canal. A team of animals, attached by a long towline, walked along a designated path on the side of the canal known as the towpath, pulling the barge behind them. 

But maybe you’ve asked yourself, “Why mules were used?” 

While horses were initially the main source of power, mules quickly became the animal of choice for most barge operators. This was due to several factors such as:

Intelligence and sure-footedness: Mules are a hybrid of a horse and a donkey and inherit the best traits of both. Their intelligence and smaller hooves made them more sure-footed on the often-slippery towpaths.

Strength and efficiency: A two-mule team could tow a 140-ton boat for eight hours a day. Pound for pound, mules possess greater endurance and strength than horses.

Stamina: Mules were capable of working long hours, which was crucial for the continuous operation of the canal.

Temperament: Mules have a more even-tempered and cooperative disposition than donkeys, making them well-suited for canal work. 

The daily routine and live for the mules and the crew was a constant cycle of work and rest:

Shifts on a typical boat would have two teams of two or three mules. The teams worked in shifts, usually six to eight hours on and six to eight hours off, to keep the boat moving 24/7. The off-duty animals rested in stables that were located in the cabins at the front of the barges.

Mule drivers or “hoggess”  typically handled the mules. They were often the children of the boat operators but could also be hired on. The drivers developed affection for their mules and were known to care for them meticulously.

The mules pulled the boats while walking on the dirt towpath beside the canal. And a barge could only travel as fast as the mules could walk, which was about four miles per hour. 

The end of the mule era took a slow downward as canal traffic waned, partly due to the rise of railroads, which could move goods and people much faster. In 1918, a major rebuilding of the canal created the New York State Barge Canal System, which accommodated larger, motorized boats and no longer relied on mules for propulsion.