Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-01


Messrs ALLEN u GENTRY, on Broad street-prce two
cents.
Mr.. Ellst's Scheme Of Keeping the Ohio Maui
gable.
We are glad to see that Mr.. Underwood has
revived, in the Senate, the proposition, which failed
in the hurry of the adjournment of the last session,
to appropriate the necessary sum to test by prac-
teal surveys the relableness of the magnificent
project of Mr. Charles Ellet, the distinguished
Civil Engineer, for maintaining at all seasons
navlgabe depth of water in the Ohio river We
have read, with much interest the pamphlet on
the subject, prepared by Mr. Elet, and which re.
ceised the high compliment of being published by
the Smithsonian Institution amongst its contribu-
tons to ''the diffusion of knowledge among men,,
The plan Is the simple expedent of OBTAINING
sufficient quantity of water, in ponds or lakes upon
the upper tributaries of the Ohio to supply during
the dry seasons, the quantity required to keep the
river at navigable depth Mr.. Ellets argument.
In behalf OF his scheme, is readily comprehend
cd as the scheme ITSELF Whilst residing at
Wheeling, during his superintendent of the con-
struction of the suspension bridge at that point
ne used the opportunity of measuring the velocity
andvolume of The stream at various stages of wa
ter from the top of high food to stage of great
depression. Fortunately Tor his purpose an off.
cia register had beer kept OF the height of the
river at Wheeling for each day of series of
years. If the elements obtained by his personal
observations were correct, he had, therefore, only
10 apply them TO the measurements of the height
of the river, to ascertain the quantity of water dis
charged at Wheeling in each day of each wear in
the series, and, of course, the quantity discharged
in each period of low water, and the quantity ne
cessary to supply the deficiency. The next ques-
ton was, how that supply could be secured p
Mr. Eet answers confidently, by damming the
Monongahela and Allegheny so as to form large
ponds, which can be drain ed from the bot
tom. These ponds, he says, can readily be
made of such size, that water, gathered in
them DUNG wet season, will, upon being dis
charged in proper quantity during dry season,
raise the river TO the depth of three, four or five
feet, as may be desired The elements of his
calculation of the capacity OF these ponds or re-.
servoirs, are we'll understood, and practically
applied by engineers. The extent of country from
which the rainwaer is drained into the reservoir
can of course be accurately measured. The aver
age quantity of water that falls in year, in any
given dis rlct, may also be ascertaned with approx
innate correctness by experiment. The dimensions
OF the reservoir itself are certain The amount of
loss by evaporation, absorption. &C., may be rea-
bly, calculated. If then Mr. Elletis right in the
data obtained by his observations at Wheeling, and
In his estimates of the capacity of the reservoirs,
it's impossible TO doubt the practcability of his
plan. But it is obviously important that the rea-
bleness of those data and estimates should be
tested with much certainty as the nature of the
subject admits, before the Federal Government
embarks upon the scheme itself. 1t is there fore
proposed only to appropriate sum sufficient to
defray the expense of thorough examination into
the premises of Mr.. Ellet's grand conclusion, by
corps OF the most competent engineers. We
trust Congress will have no difficulty in thus far
extending its sanction to the scheme if the policy
of appropriations for Internal Improvements is to
be maintained. Aside from the political view which
would deter us from approving any such direction
of the common resources of the Union, whilst the
Northern people are threatening to subyert the
common compact, we think that no enterprise
could be suggested, which would be better entitled
to favour.
We subjoin the remarks of Mr.. Underwood, in
submitting his resolution:
Mr.. UspgRwoop. In pursuance Of notice ask leave
70 introduce resolution provide for surveying the
Ohio river and It's tributaries in order to test the prac
cabiy OF improving the navigation by reservoirs. The
plan which propose to carry out is that suggested by
Mr. Charles Elet.
Mr. Elet has by his diligence acquired very accurate
information in regard TO the height OF the bar
at Wheeling during series OF years. From the tables
contained in his memoir presented to the Smithsonian
Institution the following facts appear: That during
period OF six year, ls43 lS4S inclusive, there
but two hundred and twenty four days during which
the water under three feet depth the bar and
" thirty elghi days in these TWO hundred and twenty
four during which the depth below feet Ihave
constructed table showing the months during each of
the six years when the wasr the bar less than
three feet and the number of days in euch month which
will read Tor the information of the Senate
1.-THE table shows that for so days IN Is43 90 in 1874
IS in l643 80 in 1916, Is in lS47 and aS in l646 the
water on the bar at Wheeling was less than three feet
Now, sir the problem to be solved 10, whether, by
tanning portions OF the surplus in times Of freshets
and supplying II in times OF drought the depth OF the
river be KEEP: up the bars height not exceed
ing three eetl permanent depth OF three feet would
be an immense advantage TO the commerce and naviga
ton OF the western Stales and it. upon proper exami-
nations and surveys, should be found practicable to
increase four feet the benefits conferred by the accom-
pishment OF Mr. Eiiers project will exceed computation.
My Dill only proposes to appropriate S25 600 make
the necessary surveys, obtain the information upon
which We may act with full knowledge hereafter IL is
certainly small sum compared with the great magni.
tude othe object.
Leave was granted TO introduce the BILL and it was
read tirs and second time by It's te aud referred to
the Committee on Roads and Canals.
IRE House OF DELEGATES yesterday met at 12
o'clock-present As members-and proceeded 10 the
transaction OF some formal business communication
was read from Judge Esti in response the charges
preferred against him by certain memoraists from Wash
ington county, which ordered to be- printed The
storm yesterday will doubtless delay still farther the