The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-13
BRIDGING THE OHIO RIVER.

Our thanks are due to Hon. j. j..
DAVIS for copy of the bill which we
publish this morning in relation to the
construction OF bridges across the chan.
mel OF the Ohio river The provisions
of the bill are OF much interest to our
people, especially at this time when it
is in contemplation to construct rail
road bridge across the Ohio river at this
point. We have seen it stated that the
terms OF the billin question are in accord
ance with the views Of the committee
on Commerce TO which it was referred,
and that it is likely to pass and become
q law without any material alteration
in its present form.
The most serions obstacle which the
bill places in the way Of the building OF
a bridge, is the length OF span required.
Four hundred feet between piers is a
difficult chasm to span, except by wire
suspension, and none but the strongest
materials would support the weight OF
a railroad train on such a structure
The longest span of the Baltimore and
Ohio bridges at Benwood and Parkers'
burg is $50 feet. An additional fifty
feet will very largely increase the diff
Guilty of making the bridge safe under
the immense pressure that is likely to
be placed upon it The bill does not
propose to interfere with the dimensions
of the bridges already built, and what
ever mischief to navigation and the coal
trade can result from a $50 feet span
having been already accomplished, we
can see no very good reason for requlr.
ing future bridges to be longer than
those now in use. II tow boat with
lts fleet OF barges cannot pass safely
between the piers Of the bridge at
Bellaire, there is not much use in It's
passing this city; and ii it can pass IN
$50 feet at that point, it is difficult to
see the necessity tpr 400 feet here.
The height required will not be very
difficult to attain at this point. The
Wheeling Suspension Bridge is ninety
two and one half feet above low water
mark, and a bridge leaving the level Of
Main street at almost any point in hall
a mile above the present one would
have the requisite height from the
river.
There are no difficulties in the way
of railroad bridge here that cannot be
overcome by skil!ul engineering and at
less cost than was incurred for either OF
the bridges below us. II the length OF
the main span can he reduced to $50
feet which is really all that can be
reasonably required, a bridge here can
be constructed for at least one-fourth
less money than has been expended for
the bridge at Parkersburg or that at
Bellaire. And even under the provisions
OF the proposed law a bridge may be
constructed that will be worth to the
city many times the outlay necessary
for its completion. Should the bill
pass, no further legislation by Congress
will be necessary to authorize the cree
ton Of such a structure as is needed
here, and an act OF the State Legislature
Incorporating the company will be the
only special law needed to PAT the
project in shape. We hope that the
bridge company may be formed and
duly chartered during the present SEES
sion of the Legislature. Notice OF ap'
plication for charter is given in onr
advertising columns this morning.
Kindness costs nothing, and brings
a bleesed reward and / cannot help