Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-11-11
THE OHIO RIVER,

The Government Of the United States
has, it seems, at last turned It's attention
seriously 10 the improvement Of the
Ohio, and has recently directed two Of
6cers Of The corps Of Typographical En-
gineers to examine Ohio rlver-the one
from Pittsburgh 10 MlssissiPpi-lbe 9th
or from Louisville 10 the mouth. andthe
Mississippi from thence 10 S. Louis the
latter having been con6ded TO the H.,
Col. olthe corps.
Captain Hughes arrived on Friday
night, having lett Pittsburgh on the 25Ih
uIt in a skif. He is accompanied by an
intelligent and experienced steamboat
Captain, with whose assistance he has
carefully examined the different obstruc.
tons in the river, and The condition Of
the works heretofore erected, and The
effects produced by them on the navi-
CATION. Captain Hughes was requested
to report the progress of his Teconnols.
sanoe, from time 10 time to head quar-
tiers, and although he cannot, from mo.
lives of official delicacy and etiquette, DO
expected to communicate the exact re.
suits Of his laboTs, yet kHowing the deep
anxiety lelt by a large portion Of his
fellow citlZens in this great national i'm.
prOvement, he has with some hesitation
permitted US to state, that his iOslruc
ltnna nau lAN ~ data ~ - oil n,aEk
for an estimate, describing localities and
other operations in detail; I'd, 10 exam
ine work that has been done, and the
dams that have been constructed their
effects, good OreRil, upon the navigation,
and Sd, to suggest whatever may appear
10 be desirable or necessary.
The plans heretofore pursued have
been directed, we understand. 10 the re-
moVaI OF snags, sunken logs, isolated
rocks, wrecks and other impediments
of this character forming distractions in
the channel way and 10 the cons!ruc
ton Of low dams, intended TO throw the
greater part Of the water 10 the river
during its low stages into one channel.
This plan o Cooperation so far as II re
CARDS the concentration Of the wster in
TO n undivided volume, was attempt
cd at the Two localities, which present.
cd the greatest difficulties, In refer.
ence TO this Captain Hughes says
Island Shoals was formerly the
worst pass between Pittsburgh g. Wheel
ing, but since the improvements have
been made it is better than many other
The works have undoubtedly
been Of great service here, and prove
most concluSively the practicability Of
ameorIlarting the condition Of
The navigation These works have ad.
1ed ia t he extreme low stages Of water
at least six inches, and at medium STA.
ges a great deal more, while they have
prolonged the season of naviga'
ton for boats OF 3 TO 4 feet draught Of
water, and he thinks il the dams were
repaired and Iightened, it would add 3
or four inches more water in the chan.
mel.
At Captina Island the dams have not
been 50 effective; hut he thinks this is
10 extensive breaches IN thom
which much water is wasted,
and that if they were repaired, the most
satisfactory results might be anticipated
And referring generally TO the subject
ne feels no hesitation in saying, that
there is no physical difficulty in secur.
ing a navigation which shall never be
less than 2 feet in the lowest known
of water, and generally not less
than 80 inches-und frequently as dur.
ing seasons like the past, not less Than
three feet.-Cin. Ga2.