The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-02-22
IMPROVEMENT OF TnE OHIO,
INC CInclnnntl Conrenllnn.

CINCINNATI, February 2l.-The Con.
ventlon for the improvement Of the Ohio
river, met this morning. Prayer by Rev.
A, d. Mayo. Tho Committee on. Chan.
mel Improvement, reported that they had
considered what was necessary for the
Improvement Of the Ohio river, and sub.
mitted that tho Importance of the Ohio
river as q great artery Of trade and travel,
cannot bc over estimated. The wonder
was that the magnitude of It's claims had
been so long ignored. Any improvement
that would give the channel six feet dur.
Ing the whole year, would SO increase tho
value of property, multiply cities and pop.
ulation, and cheaper the primary com.
forts OF life, that the question Of cost
should be a secondary one In tho delibera.
tions Of this Convention, or in Congress
when legislating upon the subject. The
question Of the mode Of eifccting the i'm.
provement, is the only one on which there
can a diversity Of opinion. The eminent
engineers do not agree on the specific
plan, doubtless because they have not
been called on to give In detail attention
to the subject. In view Of these facts we
deem 1t the duty Of Congress to author.
ize an elaborate examination by com.
petent corps Of government engineers, Of
the whole subject Of river improvement,
Doth IN this country and in Europe, to
ascertain the best mode for the Ohio
river. We would also recommend this
Convention to take such action as would
indicate to Congress a more liberal policy
In providing for the vigorous prosecution
OF dredging, removing wrecks, &c. The
$5O, 600 per annum for the improvement
OF the Ohio river seems but trifling to the
citizens Of Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and
Tennessee.
The Committee on Resolutions reported
in favor Of adopting A. L. Frazier's reso.
luton, which was adopted. The resolu-
tlon provides for the appointment by tile
Governors of Pennsylvania, West Vir.
ginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
and Tennessee, Of q permanent commits.
sion OF five from each State, to look after
the improvement Of the Ohio river and It's
navigable branches.
Mr. Smith, Of West Va, offered a res.
olution which was referred to the Com.
mittee on Navigation, instructing that
the committee inquire into the expedien.
cy Of asking Congress to make such leg.
islation as will remove all wharfage
charges.
Capt. Dravo offered resolution rec.
ommending the establishment by the
government Of night and day signals at
all points necessary for the protection Of
the river commerce. Referred to Com.
mittee on Memorial in Congress.
Capt Brisbane Walker, Of West Va,
offered resolution that committee OF
ten be instructed to present q memorial OF
the Convention to Congress, and that the
committee be instructed to 60 to Wash
ington and urge on the members of Con-
gress the passage Of laws for the improve,
ment OF the Ohio river. Referred 10 the
Committee on Memorial.
MIR. Shryock, Of GAINESVILLE, offered q
resolution which was also referred 10
the Committee on Memorial, stating that
the mineral resources OF the hills and
valleys bordering on the Ohio river, were
Of themselves enough TO justify Congress
in giving aid TO the scheme which is
necessary to their development.
Adjourned TO u o'clock p. NJ.
Mr.. Hale from the Committee on Aids
to Navigation, submitted report recon-
mending the establishment of water
gauges and lights, to mark points at
which vessels should turn to run to the
next objective landmark, and stern and
bow lights, such as are required to show
the proper method Of crossing at places
where natural landmarks are indistinct.
The committee named large number
OF points on the river, beginning at Pitts.
burgh, where such lights should be estab.
lished with water gauges. For this
purpose Congress Is asked 10 extend
o Jurisdiction light house board over the
Western rivers .... .....
The report was adopted.
The same gentleman, from the same
Committee, reported on the subject of n
municipal tax on tunnage for general mu.
nicipal purposes, declaring such tax
wrong and oppressive in principle, and
without warrant in law. They recon-.
mended oil steamboat associations 10
unite in presenting before the courts case
to test the validity ofsuch tax. The'C Com.
mittee, believing the tax 10 be wholly
without foundation in law, did not ask
legislation. The report was concurred in,
MIR, Richard Smith, from the Commit.
tee on Bridges, submitted report rec.
ommending the support OF the bill intro.
duced in Congress by Mr.. Kerr, of Indi.
ana, No. 947, providing ior general regu-
lations to govern the construction of all
bridges. The object Of the bill was ex.
planned to be to avoid difficulties hereto.
fore attendant on special legislation, oh.
tanned by each railroad company desiring
to build q bridge. The report recon-.
mended to members of Congress the
passage Of the Kerr bill. The report was
adopted.
lion. s. T. Covington, from the Com.
mittee on the Louisville and Portland
Canal, submitted q, report, giving brief
history of the work, and requesting the
passage by Congress of the bill intro.
duced by Representative Holman, of
Indian, providing for the making Of the
canal free, and requesting an appropria.
ton Of 81 100000 for the completion Of
the canal, that being the amount estima-
ted necessary to complete the work.
MIR. Hall, from the Committee on Ap.
preparations, reported resolution recon.
mending the appropriation Of 100000
towards continuing and perfecting the
work ofdredging and constructing wing
dams, now under charge Of Col. Merrill,
and that $1,000 be asked for in advance,
for dredge boats. This report called forth
q discussion among the delegates opposed
to lrivalous appropriations To put up
lights and dredge the channel. He wanted
a system of locking and daming thai
would give a channel the year through 10
thousands OF towns with commerce
worth seven millions. of dollars, demand.
ed something more than lights and
dredges, He was in favor OF adopting a
plan ol locks and dams and Of asking The