The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-13
From the New York Commercial Advertiser.
The Wheeling Bridge.

The litigation between The citizens of Wheeling and
those hostile to the suspenson-bridge the Ohio
has been the means OF ecitng much valuable inorma
ton, Ex-Chancellor Waworlh, who appointed by
the United States Supreme Court commissioner to take
testimony on the lsse whether The bridge did or did not
obstruct the navigation OF the river has made long
por, the subject and from that source, with the
count OF the bridge published by Mr. Ee,, the engineer
we are enabled TO gather all the facts essential 10 proper
understanding OF the question.
The length OF the bridge, from centre 10 centre of the
supporting towers at each end, is I,oi0 feet, and the
height OF the hoorng al ts greatest elevation is o. feet
above the ow-waier surface OF the river
This is near the eastern shore, from which the road
way descends towards the shore. where it is 62
feet above the surface, at angle of q degrees
The highest reshet known at this point the river
IN 1892 when Il rose An feet aoovc its loves, level
There s sufficient height, therefore, to permit steam
boa, with pipe so feet above the water to pass the
top OF the food OF 1882.
This does no, seem to be sufficient The testimony
taken by the commissioner shows that increase the
height Of cblmneys by increasing the daugh increases the
speed and modern built boats therefore, carry chmneys
of gigantic proportions The great heights OF OF
the steamboat chimneys may be seen in the following
examples:
Buckeye State tpackcp IAN. 8 in
Keystone State do : II I" /"
Cincinnati do 81 :" z"
The passageway OF the Wheeling suspension bridge is
feet above the Wheeling bar; and there
fore the Keystone State would strike her chmneys when
the water above Is feet, and the Cincinnati when
the water was above feet.
The average stage OF water is stated in the following
table. made up from twelve years observations at Wheel
ing;
Days which the Is above ifteen feet 4sA
Days which the water Is about feet 10
Days which the water Is above eight feet IS9
Days on which the water is extreme
height ~
Day. which the water s at extreme low water II
II thus appears that the Ohio is in good navgable
order than iwo-thirds OF the year, and that il s
at its extremes OF high and low water only FIVE days
in the year. There nineiy-seven days at Wheeling
which the water either below four feet or frozen
II il evident from these statistics that either the chin
neys mutt be lowered the bridge elevated and the
speed Of steamboats, is great public convenience, Mr.
Walwortb ponounces IN favor OF the latter alternative
The project of lowering the chmneys when passing
ing under the bridge considered difficult, il not mprac
ucsble ,..rsE#
The flooring Of the bridge must therefore be elevated
feet above the highest point OF the present
bridge and sixty feet above the elevation of the bridge
At the water abutment," the eastern side, a. 10
.give eighty feet headway the usual high foods OF
the Ohio" At "estimafed cost Of S2Os 600" When
this sum s expended the aggregate cost will exceed
the estimates made by Captain Sanders, United States
engineer for the construction Of bridge in the same 10.
cation for the national rosd.
II The report OF the commissioner be confirmed, as in
NIL probability will be, the citizens Of Wheeling will
scsrcey abandon valuable improvement. but will
promptly acquiesce in the decision and raise the bridge
70 the reqared elevation Taxing the average OF transit
during the sbor period the bdge has been open, IL ia
computed 900 passengers 100 900 wagons 900
cattle and 10000 hogs will in tbe course OF year
Readers may thus form some idea OF the utility OF the
structure,