Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1859-11-21
d Il. WIZ GINIA MONDAY nov EN BER 81 1850 NO. 81


II proyement been extended 10 the kanawha
4 Board. BY the Eastern Board, much yal.
liable time might have been saved, and
much unnecessary expense and embaF-
4 Frassment avoided.
4 But why pursue these details -
Enough has been said to show the failure
II of the Eastern Board to aid the Kanawha
If Board in their efforts to carry ont the
views Of the Legislature and the wishes
the stockholders. and 10 justify any
1, feelings Of hostility which prevails against
v thu administration = Of the Eastern
]. Board 10 the valley of the KanaWha river.
4 Before proceeding witha statement Of
4 the condition and business Of The Ka9aw-
n la river, for the fiscal year ending the
n 3Oth September. 4 $50. tile Board deem
II it proper to mention subject which seems
10 have escaped the notice Of the Presi-
!, dent Of The Company, At least be makes
\ no allusion to it in his last annual report.
Il We refer to the work doneon Johnson
II shoals, in the summer Of a 858. This
n work, which consisted in clearing out the
II channels, enlarging the chute, and build
4 ing up and extending for some distance,
one ofsthe walls, was done by Principal
q Assistant Engineer. John A. Byers, nm
y der the instruction of the KanaWha Board,
A with a view TO tile future permanent i'm
4 proyement of the river, as well as the
& present necessities Of the navigation
/. The work Was OF such character, and SO
well done, astofeall from the President Of
the Company, the expression Of the opin-
| ion, that in his judgement. it was suffi-
Gent in and Of. itself. to save the charter
Of the Kanawha Board from all danger
offorfeiture.
]. In regard to the operations Of The. last
fiscal year, ii is known to Che stockhold-
. ers, from previous reports upon the sub
feet, that little or nothing can BE- done
1 upon the river during the fall, winter
, and spring months the weather i too
, cold, or the river generally toe high 70
i work upon it in those seasons. i.
Il Early in june, 1859, preparationsfwere
! made to set the buoys, repair the dams
i and walls and improve the chutes Of the
II Kanawha river. but IN consequenesoft The
) stage Of water in the river. nothing could
be done at the work until July. in July.
!, Capt. johnson, one Of the most expert
] leneed pilots and best managers Of hands
! on the Kanawha river, having procured q
] complete out fit. Of 1.-THE necessary boats,
, Ebuoy-timbers, irons, &C., and collected q
] crew 81 hands, proceeded to execute, IN
der the instruction Ell the Board /. tile work
!. designated in the accompanying memo.
! randam, as having been done in thai
month. He set ESQ new buoys. replaced
! all the old ones and cleared the channels
land chutss ofall distinctions tofthe nayi.
cation. This work was wei done az
, cost Of some $500. which was less thar
1.-the same amount Of work Of that kind had
lever been done upon the river fer before
!. HIT was the intention Of the Board to have
fIkept this force at work all summer, but
!. lupon their return to Charleston, + was
/ Thought best, in consequence OF the stage
tof water in The river, and the fact tha
i some Of the hands were dissatisfied al thu
! amount Of labor required Of them TO dis
! Icharge them, and get new set, when tbs
], work could Be resumed. They were &C.
/ accordingly paid of and discharged.
/, ,lRar In August. Capt. johnson was agar
!, 1employed, with . competent force, 70 exc
: cute the work described in the accom-
. panying memorandum, as having beer
!, done in that month, although il was no
; completed until some time ii September
He built newiwallat Island shoals, 325f
: long, 10 feet wide and. d feet high, on thu
average, repaired the dam at Tyler shoals
! 4l7 feetiu length, and built 4 new wall q
Z Johnson shoals 275 q IN length, ayerag
! ing A # in heighth and feet wide, Chi
! work was donelo avoid the difficulties ant
a losses attending che navigationIof those
: shoals in their then condition, and also witt
d view Ito the permanent improvement Q
!. river. AS 1t was thought that q por
J. tion. ofithe work done, and nearly all Til
!. material used upon those shoals, coul'
I be made; at q diminished expense. TO form
] Il part of the improvement reported b.
: Mr.. Byers to the Kanawha Board, ant
I adopted by the select committee Of ~
|, lstockholdefs at their meeting in iFebru
! ary, 1859. This work cost about 8 4 ,000
!, and to prove thatsit was well executed
! the Board refer to- the factIthat it with
!. stood, without sustaining any materis
: damage, the high rise which occurred j
! september. when the Kanawba river rose
! liz 24 hours, higher than i had risen 70
! many previous years, Or had ever bee
| t.knoRp 10 rise at the same season q tn
y year, before. ..1#.s
s i That rise put d stop 10 any furthe
4 work upon the river, BY the force uude
/. 1.-The superintendent Of Capt. Jchnso4-
!. but the Board take pleasure; in Stain
& that the whole line of improvement, spc.
4 las il is, was never in better nayigabl
q condition, than ii is at present--an oPir
u ion which IS confirmed by the upanimou
\ testimony Of all those. Whose jpdgenleI
. as steamboat-nen and faiboatr men,
Z, JaaEEenlitled to respect. -
At this point and as forming part
I, the persistent efforts made By the Boar
!. to carry out, in good faith, the view
a Of the Legislature and stockholders !
q reference to The improvement th
S Board will refersso resolution passe
s BY them on the 18Th Of June. sxPres'n
81 their purpose TO apply the revenue e arm
I, IND from the works, 70 the inproyemel
Iof the river, and instructing the Eng
S. 1F.Aa p....es A.. r,rncaad II 6ncA vii