The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-29
From tho Pittsbursh Dl.p.sss.f


We hope our representatives in Con.
gress' As well as the members whoee
districts lie along the line Of the Ale
ghsny, Gonongahela and Ohio river.
Will put forth strenuous efforts to induc.
congress to make suitable appropris.
tion ior the Improvement of the Ohio
rver. More argument can be urged in
!avor OF the project than we have the
time to develop. One is furnished by
the experience at the recent rise OF Che
river. Our coal men had collected
some fifteen million bushels of coal to
send down the nver. Since Nav last il
has been unnavigable. As a result
many coal dealers had strained their
resources to the utmost. Naturally
when the rise came, all that could crowd.
cd their barges forward, and urged hem
rapidly on to the market to be found at
the cities farther down the river. Par.
TALLY owing to the crowded state of the
river, the hurry and confusion, six hun
dred thousand bushels Of coal, or one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
were lost in a single trip. This was
ABOUT ten per cent Of the entire run.
Had the river been rendered navigable
at all seasons, but a moiety OF this loss
would have occurred. Is it right or
honest for the government to spend
large sums annually to improve COM
paratively unimportaut harbors, and
leave rivers like the Ohio, with a vast
commerce, unimproved?
We have not the information nee es-
sary TO point out the best manner or the
precise cost OF improving the Ohio, go
as to render it navigable at all seasons.
In our jud gment the surest and best
measure is that OF securing slack water
navigation, by means of dams and locks.
All other expedicnts will necessitate
continual expense. This, while more
costly at the first, will be permanent,
aud the slight cost required to maintain
the docks can be readily met by
small foliage on passing vessels. The
advantages Of such works are simply
incalculab!e. Our coal trade, now 80
irregular, spasmodic, and risky, would
become certain. regular, and attended
with but small per centage Of the
present loss. Coal famines could no,
occur. Prices would be regular and
business certain. Added to this, steam
ers could regularly ply between this and
the other cities lower down the river.
New, such steamers make few runs
then are idle. The per centage in the
capital that lies lille most Of the year
would pay hi-n interest on the cost Of
producing -,..ck water navigation. If
Government will not do it, it will pay
our merchants, shippers, river men and
even cities to do the work. Pittsburgh
and Cincinnati could each afford TO
subscribe a half million dollars to this
work.
But the government ought to do it.
The Ohio might have commerce
larger than many prominent seaports,
upon which heavy sums are expended.
1t waters fertile region OF country, and
its banks are dotted with villages and
cities. The hills that skirt the Monon-
gahela and Youghiogheny are full
OF coal, which can easily be placed in
barses and transported by way OF the
river at slight expense to the towns be.
low. These coal fields will continue to
supply the demand for centuries 10
come. The coal canno: be transported
by rail, as this method is too expensive.
This trade, if the Ohio were made nav
isable at all seasons, would reach $780,
100000 annually. But this is only
a single item. The transportation OF
heavy iron, the product Of our manuiac.
tories, and many other items, would
vastly swell the aggregate amount OF
business. Yet all this vast expansion
is held back bv the non-improvement
Of a national highway. 1t ought to be
promptly and thoroughly remed;ed.
We hope a concerted movement in
favor Of slack water navigation viii be
made. If successful, it will be Of vast
benefit to our city, as well as others
along the Ohio.