Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-02-09

IMPROVEMENT OF TUE OHIo.--W We have receiv-
ed a copy os the report of the 'sCommittee on
Commerce, in. the Q. S Senate, relative to the
improvement of the Ohio. This committee ar
que at length the feasibility and urgent necessi-
ty of improving the Ohio. It viii be seen from
the bill, published below, what steps they rec
ommend AQI5
A bill to 0rOpide .J6p q surrey Of tie Ohio rirer
ind It's principal tributaries.
That there is hereby appropriated, out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise appropria-
ted, the sum of fifty thousand dollars, or so
much thereof rs may be required, for the pnr-
pose of making Typographical and photographic
al surveys, and other examinations, on the Ohio
river and its tributaries, to determine the prac-
ticability of establishing a system of reservoirs
on said tributaries, for the purpose of impTOv-
ing the navigation of the Ohio and its principal
branches by reserving the excess water, to be
supplied to the channel during the dry season
of the year, on the general plan heretofore sub
mitted to Congress by Charles EIlet, ir.
SECTION 2. And be it further enacted, that
said surveys and examinations shall ascertain
the most desirable location for such reservoirs,
the area of land which each would cover, and
the amount of water which each would hold ;;
also, as far practicable, the probable effect of
such reservoirs upon the surrounding country,
both as to health and prosperity and whether
such sites could be purchased, and the probable
cost; and also to ascertain the amount of water
which would be required to raise the Ohio river
from low water mark to a navigation of two and
a half feet on the most shoal bars, also, the
amount necessary to raise it to three and half
feet; also, the amount required to raise 1t to four
and half feet; and,s other information as
may be calculated to determine the practicable
ity expcdiency, and cost of sustaining the con-
slant navigation of the Ohio river by such sys-
TEN of reservoirs; said surveys and examina-
tons to be conducted by competent civil or
military engineers, to be selected by the Presi-
dent, and under such general rules and superyi-
sion as he may prescribe.
SECTION 3. And be it further enacted, that
there is hereby appropriated out of any money
in the treasury not appropriated, the additional
sum of twenty thousand dollars, or so much
thereof as may be required for the purpose of
surveying the Ohio river, from its mouth up to
the point where the surveys made by the Gov
ernment in eighteen hundred and thirty-seyen
and eighteen hundred and thirty-eight ternna-
ted, with view to determine the praCticabiiity
of improving the navigation of said river by
a series of dams, so as to cause slack water, of
sufficient depth, on the bars; said surveys and
examinations shall, as near as practicable, aScer-
tain the aggregate cost of improving the river
by the proposed system of dams; also, the effect
upon the surrounding country, and whether
said dams would be likely to cause foundations
or not, and whether locks can be placed in such
dams of sufficient capacity to pass all the steam
erS and other crafts at certain seasons of the
year, and furnish such other information as may
seem calculated to throw additional light upon
the questions involved. Said surveys and cX-
aminations to be conducted by the Topographic
cal Bureau, under the direction and general SUI
pervision of the Secretary of War.