Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-04-04
IMPROVEMENTS OF THE
OHIO RIVER.
Prom the National Intelllyeu

IMPROVEMENT OF THE
OHIO RIVER.
Prom the National 1ntelllgeneer.
on the Improvement Of the Ohio Navigation,
6g ELLwoop MoRR1s, Cirit Engineer.
Ii must be admitted by all who are familiar
with our country Cand is indeed sufficiently prov
ed by the vast outlay inrailroads) that the great
est boon which could be conferred upon the
Middle and Western States would be the Teduc-
t;oa toa nainimum of the cost Of transport ofmen
and things.
The railroads have achieved wonders in the
carriage of people, but in the transit OF heavy
freight they have never reached, nor never can
attain the economy possessed by steam naviga-
ton upon waters of adequate depth and breadth.
These two great facts tits rot necessary to c.
Isborate-the elegant cities which adorn our
Western waters, and which to these waters owe
their greatness, arc standing witnesses to the
truth Of both propositions.
m aintain in the Ohio River, for instance depth
ofwater throughout tho year capable OF Heating
freely, steamboats, of the first class, the benz
ticiai results which would flow from that ciTcum-
stance to our central States would be incalcula-
bic =,
free navigation of the Ohio river by steamers of
adequate size and power; and for at least the
half of every year, upon an average, VIC have
that depth, or more, proceeding from the natural
drainage oftiIe country; hut for the other half
year the scoter .t's!a, and Nth 1t fai5 the nart-
CATION; 1,,.. ;. r.. o;ri, orci.
o,,,,;y,o,co laid before The
Smithsonian Institutions remarkable paper up
on the subject, which has received the approba-
ton and commanded the admiration of all pro-
fessiOnal men.
In that celebrated essay t.le noIH "." .t%e
ground was Tor the nrst 1Ns ea9ci, Ina; ~
tam the Navigation OF 'he -
throughout each ana every ys1 ~ U",y
necessary 20 eqe'att:e stS ~ "'-'-'s
Of aff!EeetG! RESERVOIRS. ,..,.:s a. .o.,,,., on
proposition 50 ~ 1900
grand, surprised ule pvolS llhI SUI i,s't
TO the HnlnstEuC1e 70 &c Nor, and
seven years OF scruuHy " 49,
others nave only eonurheo, anu u. t':o t
unanswerable essay .,l..., .-....,,,..,.,,
The writer IN ms Proisssionsi
tn.the vclmtY Oh Tue UNIV Ilse.1 arp
tho vast lnpo!tan OI tLts - 80 .oo,ie
the commercial VI ~ t;cli IPna,
ana stlmuiate9 oy Wy I'D
experience IN nyurannc ensihseis I w.,
ally led eIamneq TINS s-o M tot
nexton with ME- Gets pan! anu LOse t.0t e ss;s
study with strong vi us
bihty at q very moderate COST: .,.;,.. ao.. &c
Eleoorate measurements e so,;'
She ONO L'eI, .at the noi9t If Wbeenrs
ILo'e N'sAk'J r. n. Ela,,i6
Gor instansel u IF
hs natural fo'' Of the stream e0HEa 0Hty De
e7MI!tised. ,-.,..-...:...
This raises two leaalng quesllotls: AZ. 80.
]. Can we, by artificial lakes, atTest 1ne sur
Plus I LOO ""'e's'' ''''" '''''' W '''''-
drorghtss A.. .o,,...,,,.
2 Can we lind suitable sues ioE Shc
ton OF reservoirs OF inc megnltu .l =; ~,
These are the man quesuons, .e .ess 80 t ~.
detail That we wo1la ares "at sor
hood-waters Of the country N We sS'.sHs ;os
use IN dry ones cannot oc t1'.
Of sufficient magnltaae can ~ os lnnOsod nrovc
Inc ;.a, =. ton rcInccs Itself
nent OF the ONO river
10 one simple proper" VI. ~
could be settled IN ~ ~ 20 "
engineers TO VII: can d0eq0'.'s S'ss'J0 's'''+
co!Es DC S0"aas hoe MT tho
That they san sLe y son5g IN.
der the auspices OF tns =. IN. 6nnor.
states mas airey oee 1s,o s.rs s;ncsSo Of
able senate IN ILS TONS far the de-.
osl inh nSeisu";nory and controlling oues.
cision o. ln zap haasa , rs lost
.oni botSreen the Two Houses on
IN lstta ,ssttsr of difFsrcnce which II
some ,sas contemSiibIy
nay oe s =. an object 50 great
nlcans ~ Of the navigation of
q ~ ~; work destined to confer the