The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-01

pendous-a magnificent work. It's advantages to
the people OF the West almost beyond compu-
tation. No one, who 10 aware Of the delays and
vexations occasoned at this point in crossing the
Ohio. especially in tho winter, fail to regret
that any effort should be made to disturb the per-
manencc of this structure, which at once removes
so many and 90 formidable obstacles to communi-
cation between the East and the West.
Admit that, at times Of very high water, the boats
which have very high chimneys are compelled to
lay by or lower the pipes-what thens IL neces-
sary for the public commerce that these sky
scraping pipes should be erected? We think not
We have prosentiment, and that ia founded on
knowledge of tho progress making in railroads,
that the time ID about past when passengers will
take steamboats, up and down the Ohio If they are
In any sort Of a hurry. All the power OF steam
all the conccntxated heat that be made by pipes
sweeping the very clouds, cannot be applied to
ProPei boats 20 rapidly as the iron horse on land
VIII drag tram OF Cars; and the man Of business,
to whom time il an object, will very soon desert
that this view has force, and ought TO have weight
with the court last resort. ett
The case will probably be decided next winter,
and we trust the deep interest Of the great West
may not suffer by the result.
IFrom TIE Richmond WAig.]
THn WHEELING BRipGE.-A brief telegraphic
despatch, published in this paper few days SINCE
has made known that Mr.. Walworth, ofNew York,
the commissioner appointed to take testimony in
the case of Pennsylvania %. the Wheeling Bridge
Company, has made report, expressing his opin-
ion that the bridge is obstruction 10 the navga
the House Of Delegates few days ago, it was init
mated by the delegate from Ohio county that he
had little hope Of favorable report from the com
missioner, though confident ola favorable decision
We have now before us the report Of the COM
missioner, accompanied by the testimony taken
before him, (amounting, with the report of an en-
ginecr appointed by the commissioner, TO 100
pages) and find it well calculated to justify the in
timation given to the House of Delegates. Instead
of inspiring any apprehension that the Court will
decide against the bridge, the contents, even Of
the commissioners report, lead to the belief that
this magnificent work will withstand the attack Of
its powerful adversaries.
The commissioner Expresses his opinion that the
bridge 10 an Construction" to the steamboat navi-
cation, under qualification which much impairs
its force. He says that upon full examination. or
rather such an examination az have been epabled
to give il, ''in limited time, soithouf the aid coun
sei" Elsewhere he says, In relation to the princi.
more extended and better examination than my
very limited knowledge on the subject Of steam
navigation, and the restricted time within which
deemed it my duty to make this report, have ena-
blod me 70 give it, Iregret, too, that have been
obliged TO examine and decide question of this
very great importance without any aid from tho
arguments of counsel ON either side, and without
even the submission of written points, or any sug-
which were made Incidentally in the course OF the
examination Of the witness upon the reference
The public have reason to share in this regret,
inasmuch a. they are thereby deprived Of the ben
eft OF reliable opinion from the commissioner.
II 10 asserted, indeed that he has overlooked or mis-
conceived the purpose for which large part Of the
testimony on behalf Of the defendants was intro
duced. Besides the volume already mentioned,
there 10 another of 422 pages, containing the evil
dence taken before the appointment of this com
missioner. To examine and report upon 90 pages
Of testimony sin q limited time, and without The
aid Of counsel" was scarcely satisfactory mode
Of disp0sing OF such q cause. The counsel for the
defendants, on whom the task Of presenting their
views of evidence devolved, was engaged during
Of the General Assembly, and the commissioner
deemed il his duty not to delay his report until the
adjournment of that body. 'N ,s
Notwithstanding these circumstances, and the
marks of haste upon the report, careful cxamina-
ton of that document shows II TO be in many points
favorable to the bridge, and not materially differ
ent from the report Of the committee of courts of
Justice recently submitted to the House of Dele
gates. The commissioner comedies to steamboat
chimneys greater rights than the committee al
lowed, and what the former calls an construction"
the latter qualified by milder terms The facts
We shall exhibit an outline of the report OF the
commissioner. We think it will convince our
readers that tho bridge ought to stand without al
teration. We do not propose, after the manner Of
the Bostonians to offer opposition to the laws Of the
land, or the authorized adudcations of the courts.
But we feel It duty to lay before the public the
facts and reasoning under which it is proposed to
destroy the trade of city in Virginia, with the
effect If not with the purpose, of building up city
in the State of Pennsylvania. NeA
Tho report thus describes the bridge: tThe sus-
pension bridge, which the defendants have caused
kkc k-~~x ~
at Wheeling. is beautiful and splendid structure,
not only crediable to the architectural of the
distinguished and justly celebrated engineer who
projected it, and superintended its erection, but
ing who subscribed TO tho stock of the bridge COM
pany. The length of the bridge is $50 feet between
the faces Of the two abutments and l,Ol0 feet be-
tween the centres of the towers at each end, which
support the cables upon which the flooring of the
bridge ID suspended. The eastern towers, to the
top Of the saddles, are l53s feet high, above the
level Of zero Of the water gauge, which indicates
western towers are 1921 feet"
Details follow, too long to be extracted here,
showing that the mean detection of the Catcnary
below the top Of the eastern towers is IS 5l2 feet
that the ascent of the flooring from the eastern end
10 little more than one foot to the hundred, and
from the western end about four feet to the hun
dred; and there 10 clear Roadway of 80 feet above
zero Of the water gauge throughout space Of 81
large boats may run when the river is at stages
of Is feet and upwards. The commissioner justly
Observes /" Certainly if this beautiful and benef-
cial structure which has been thrown across the
eastern branch ofthe Ohio at Wheeling at 90 much
cost, can remain as il is without injury to the
merce and navigation of the river, no one should
desire its removal or alteration"
The first allegation Of the complainant against
the bridge il, that il obsrcts the navigation Of the
river by sailing Vessels. The commissioner re-
ports that such Is not the fact.
The compliments counsel insisted, that for the
relief Of the steam navigation, the flooring should
have been level all the way across the river and
high as to permit the passage Of steamboats,, with
out stopping or lowering their chimneys, upon the
highest food ever known-which was ~ feet for
for one day in 1892. "But," says the commission
er, "thc mere fact that the bridge ght prevent
the passage Of boat for single day, or even for
two or three days, in one of those extraordinary
floods which only occur at intervals of several
ycars, would not, in my opinion. make the bridge
such obstruction 10 the navigation of the river as
was contemplated by the court in the order OF ref
crence in this case.'' "Nor is it necessary" nc
remarks elsewhere. "thnt the level headway should
be extended over tho whole width of the river,