The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-13
FATHER MATHEW has arrived at Mobile, and il
the guest of the Catholic Bishop at that place.
COMMUNICATED
WAsHIroros, March I2, 1850.

WASHINGTON, March IL, 1850.
To the Editors of the Republic:
see you have admitted into your columns at
communication from subscriber" from Wheel
ing attempting to extenuate the late disaster TO
the steamer Keystone, in attempting to pass under
the Wheeling bridge. The apology is founded en-
trely in misconcepton of the case. The SUBJ
scriber says "the chimneys of the Keystone, the
highest ON the rirr, about eighty feet above
the surface of the water" By looking at the tes-
timony in the case, now pending before the Su-
preme Court of the United States, you will find it
proved that the chimneys of the steamboat Anne
RIGA, running from ST. Louis, eighty seven feet
four inches high, being seven feet four inches
higher than the Keystone, and that there are many
others The keystone is not the first boat that has
been stopped by the bridge, although it has only
been finished few months By looking to the
testimony, you will find that the Hibernia, on the
18th of November last, was stopped by the bridge
sat nothing more than common freshct in the
river" and that she lost her trip; and again "she
was injured W the extent Of three hundred dollars
on her do,cn,chrd trip" The Hibernia was de-
tanned once 'about thirty-two hours" and one of
the boats had to be "scuttled. This is but the be-
ginning of wrecks disasters and explosions If the
bridge is to stand. The Legislature Of Pennsyl-
vana have unanimously resolved, in both branches
that the bridge would be ruinous to cher public
works." and "publc nuisance" TO vessels and
steamers What is more, they have proved it in
the report Of their Senate committee, which has
not been and cannot be answered. As to the fix
torres, derricks, &C., which your subscriber says
the boats can use to lower their chimneys, what
right has Wheeling to command their use by a
licensed vessel Of the United States Besides, it is
proved conclusvely by Col. Long, Of the Topo-
graphical corps whose whole life has been devoted
70 the Improvement of the Ohio river, and who is
Louisville and not Pittsburg man, at page l3s,
that this lowering apparatus, independent Of its
original cost, Of ts wearing out the chimneys, and
of the risk Of life TO passengers and crew from its
use, creates a minimum" expense to each boat
surs time it passes under the bridge, ofthrteen dol
lars This is but one Of the tares imposed already
by the Wheeling Bridge Company on the COM
merce Of the country; and, IL this bridge is TO
stand, and similar bridges to be erected, in time,
every five or ten miles apart on the Ohio, with
the dangers and stoppages at each bridge,) the
navigation of that river will be eventually destroyed
Col Long tessfies, that even this one Wheeiing
bridge els serious obstruction 10 the navigation OF
the Ohio river;'' and might mention thirty more
witnesses, who prove the same thing.
Having admitted communication in favor Of a
wealthy corporation against the State Of Psnnsyl-
vania and her foo millions Of people, presume you
will not hesitate 10 publish this reply, and also per-
init an answer to any other communication against
the State on this subject.
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