New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-04-03

The WHEELING BRIDCE.-The litigation be-
tween the citizens Of Wheeling and those hos
been the means OF elicitipg much valuable infor-
nation. Eek Chancellor Waworth, who was ap.
pointed by the IT, s. Supreme Court Commis-
sioDer to take testimony on the issue whether
the bridge did or did not obstruct the navigation
Of the river has made long report on ths sub.
ject and from that source with the account OF the
bridge published by Mr. Ellet, the engineer. we
are enabled to gath or all the facts essential to
proper understanding Of the question.
The length of the bridge, from censer to center.
Of the supporting towers at each end, IL Ol0 Feet
and the hight OF the flooring at its greatest eleva-
tion is 81 feet above the low water surface OF the
river.
This is near the the Eastern shore, from which
the roadway desceRds toward the western shore.
where Il is 90 feet above the same surface, at an
angle Of 4 degrees The highest freshct ever
known at this point on the river was In 1882.
when il rose "a feet above It's lowest level
There is sufficient hight, therefore, to permit
steamboat with pipe so feet above the water TO
pass at the top Of the food Of 1892
This does not seem 70 be sufficient. The tes-
tmoDy taken by the Commissioner shows that On
increase in the hight Of chimnes, by increasing
the draft, increases the speed, and modern built
boats therefore. carry eliminates Of gigantic pro-
portions The great nights Of some OF the steam.
boat chmDies may be seen In the following en-
amples;
Buckeye State (packet) .s..s..ssss.s...s.f
KeyslOne State do..............."..U
Jineinnau do..,.................A o
The passsgew OF the Wheeling Suspension
Bridge is CO feet above the water zero on Wheel
ing bar, and therefore the Keystone State would
strike her cbimneys when the water was above
Is feet, and the Cincinnati when the water was
above feet.
The average stage of water 10 stated ia the fol-
lowing table, made up from twelve years OBJ
servstions at Wheeling
DAYS In which the water 10 above ID feeE...,.s' "
Days warr sboue feet
Days watsr above FEET
paw in pLioh me water extreme low wster....
IL thus appears the Ohio IL Ia good nsvfgsblo
| order more than two thirds Of the year, and that
| il il at It's extremes Of high and low water only
| fee days 10 the year There are " days AZ
Wheeling in which the water 10 either DooW ioor
| feet or frozen. -
Ia ia evident from these statistics that either
| the chimneys must be lowered or the bridge ele-
waited; and as the speed OF steamboats, u great
public convenience, Mr.. Wslworth pronounces in
| favor Of the latter alternative. The project OF
lowering the cbinneys whed passing under the
bridge 10 considered difficult IL not impractioabs.
The flooring Of the bridge must therefore be
| elevated twenty eight feet above the highest
point Of the present bridge and sixty feet above
| the elevation Of the bridge at the water sout-
ment," on the Esstern side, so a. 20 give eisn'y
feet beadvsy on the usual high foods OF tse Ohio"
at an estimated cost of SOS .oOo." When this
sum is expended the aggregate cost VIII not ex'
| eeed the estimates made by Capt Sanders, v. b.
Engineer. for the construction Of bridge, Ia the
same location for the National Road.
II the report Of the Commissoners be confirm.
ed. a. In ali probability II will, the citizens OF
Wheeling viii scarcely abandon 90 valuable an
Improvement bot will promptly acquiesce In the
decision and raise the bridge TO the required eie-
walton. Taking the average OF transit during the
short period the bridge has been open. It IL COM
puted that 100000 passengers, 100000 wagons,
| % eco cattle and $1,000 hogs will cross In the
course Of year Readers may thus form some
| idea of the Utility Of the structure lCom. Adv.