Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-12-21
Ff6ln the nc hmoIiu L1Is ~
Imn,avetnaIItI II the KanaWha.

improvement a my NUM-
'have recsIyad 4 copy Of Ore report
u, tha impreyefbe III the Kanawha ard
Ef n 81 Tho Chic River, BIZ Ineanso 4
artificial lakes BY Charles Elle., III, Civil
Tha Great motive for improving the
4 y;a,st;Sn IL me lIanawha, a. Stated .oy
n RlIett e III afford a certain, regular.
and reliable outlet for the coil, salt ana
oshsr hea,y PRODUCES of the Kanawliia
valley Is liz markets on :he Ohio.-
Owing to the peculiar condition ol the !.
channel he present outlet is only ayal Ia
BE for boats of heavy buratlhen, dTaW ! ! 9
81 Or 6 feet, FL very high water, aad g
boats of light burthen, drawing . feet g OF !,
lass in yery low water. The efforts OF
10 comnanyEto overcome. these impedi-
- III locks and dains, DC, Mr. Elicit
Isss eyan If successfeI, would only have
5 s} i, their con, rleree at the mouthot
lthe Kanawl,a, where there is no market lli
and consequently their expectations
based upon tho perfection Of the kana-
villa improvement would not have. been
realized. In the opinieh Of this distl y,
4 guished engineer, to make the improve
mont of The, Kanswha. really available. tor
permanent and constant Navigation, the
/ Ohio River must be. made equally aHaiia.
below lie mouth 81 Tie Kanawha; *, that
the loaded coaIsboats f6stiag out of the
| the Kanawha may be- permitted " con-
Etinue on their course without Ainaranee
down the Ohio. i},Hsis Hin
n MI. Elicit proceeds toi unfold ~ length
The plan Of improvement by which he ex
poets to fulfil lhis object. we are rs ulp !,!
to express an opinion at the Prac llty
of the application Of artificial reservoirs
10 the IMPROVEMENT ofthe nasigationoftlie
lOhio, and Kanawlia but the facts stated
I'm III. Eliett's history ", that proposit ion
land his reasonings upon1the subject, Ell.
Hide II rs The respectful consideration
4ofitbe nub1ic. IL was in. i $40 that liz
first suerssted the system Of improve
mont and control for the Mississippi ano
| its tributaries. Though set aside by tht
War Department III In conflict with sup
nosed deductions from. French and. ltal
ian authorities, il was accepted as emu
nently valuable and practicable by seye
al ~ liz most prominent of Mr.. Ellett'l
I nrofass;nnal co,!temparsries, aud Wasiex
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ana CRITICISED inith'
IITn;tad states, England and France
ltrwo wars after, somewhat equiyoca
review Of Mr. ElleEt's work IN the,orgal
Of Imperial School IL French Engineers
/ tho Emperor of the French, issued 9 pa
1 ner from his own pen, in which, be An
/ pounoed 4 purpose of, ordering surYe,
4 of nearly ali the rivers Of bis empire, witt
1 : view rs The construction Of RESERVOIR
/ 10 receive their floods, and prevent FL
lure 5inundalions, and in a subsequen
HsSneech from the throne declared that
l would theneeforth be the proud obect'o
his government !" 70 suppress, rev9ia
4 lions and make ths rivers keep in thei
Ebeds.'' About tho same time, WOE
was published by1 Lieut., Col. aArthu
Cotton, then Chief Englheerf Of the !. Ma Va
dras Presidency,loh theIimproyenlent p
the navigation Of ths great rivers OF lndia
| BY the plan Of reseFy9irs, plan Tor "
Suggestion Of whlch,EsCol. Cotton ac
Il knowledges his obligations 70 Mr.. Elle''
1.-THE discussion has sjrite extended 7
ISwitzerland, were. records OF observation
lbaye beer, made 10 show the practicabilit
lof controlling the floods ofthe .Arye, orf
Ioflthe principal tributaries q the hhoneP
| by means Of reservoirs. The practica
/ Ibiiity Of controllingzthe floods Of rivers j
Y this way was believed ID by the Egyp
tians three thousand years ago. and Iel
Ifourd, the first professional authority 4
Ibis day in England proposed, neaTi
sixty years ago, I'd improve The naEiSa
ton ofthe Severn, Bit means Of reservoirs
designed TO hold. badk the surplus water
Tin time Of excess, and from which itcoul
Ibe drawn in times Of scarcity. Other ea
iamples are mentioned BY Mr. Elicit, q
similar character. We have, not room
give the large array Of facts and argt
ments by which he claims TO have y
Eablished the practieabibity Of The grei
J system Of Improvements which BE M
projected for the navigation Of the we'
! tern rivers. I.
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