The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-11-12

helieye I am on two or three Of those
Committees and will not be more severe
than Il necessary. Government has
eInended some money and has recently
had some surveys made but the action
seems inefficient, thus fat. AZ much 90 as
applying plaster 70 . broken leg. !
noticed an article you copied from
some paper few days ago that stated the
true cause OF the failure Of the river TO
meet the wants Of trade-that is want Of
water; but the writer presents no remedy.
A remedy can be found, but It should be
by the Federal Government In radical
aud syslimatic manner. The Lake Erie
plan Of supply, Of course, would be fall
ure unless immense pumps. were used.
Slackwater alone would ruin the naylga-
ton for large part Of the season. Dredg.
Ing and wing dams alone cannot supply
the neediul for making the river always
navigable. The removal Of tho forests
from some Of theupper streams has with.
In the last half century, r reduced the
regularity ofthe supply, agbwell as 10
some extent, the volume Of water passing
Wheeling from The water shed of about
45 900 square miles. This gradual reduc.
ton will not continue because the arabic
land in that water shed has Ialmost oil
been cleard--the head waters Of the
Monongahla and Allegheny both being
10 an almost inaccessible region There
are many times in the year when the sup.
ply Of water d running! beyond any
wants Of navigation. To equalize 1t,
then, give US the remedy you demand; but
I believe 1t practicable only by Q combiS
nation Of systems, and through the gener-
al government, because Of its heavy ex.
pense and the national interests combined
In II. -. % s.. fs'-'-i INA 'f'l ~ =
The extent of manufactures dependent
and which must ever DO on the Ohio riv-
or, can nearly DO estimated. . The value
OF them and the property used In them
runs up to billions, extending from above
Pittsburgh to Cairo, with vast tributaries
The extent Of agricultural products seek
ing the South from the same channel }!
but little less, and these willnot bear rail
road transportation. PerfectiDg the, nav
igation Of the river will then give the
greatest wealth, not only 10 the States
bordering Il, but TO ten States richer II
agricultural and mineral wealth than any
other equal territory in the world, the
centre Of which Is the centre Of popula-
ton Of our vast country. .-h
Committees and engineers OF Congress
have been examining for avenues Of trade
by water from the seabosrd to the Missis
sippi. Would II not be better 10 inquire
whether the property we already have
improved cannot be bettered easier and
more effectuslIy than to make new chan
nels, especially as the South looks to the
Ohio and Upper Mississippi for her sup
plies Of produce and heavy manufactures,
which will not leave the rail, and gives
thier worth In ore, raw cotton and sugar
In return? II would seem soE . .-1l
How can the prominent water be fur
nished? $3.50 "a 100 s'a.g31a2s g
/. There are several small streams neai
the head waters OF the Allegheny, Monon,
gahela and Beaver, that empty into other
channels that can, at slight expense, be
diverged into these streams. These would
help. ~ -l.- .--l5.siA
Q. The plan originated by Mr. Ellet,
though impractics6le Tor full results can
be brought TO bear in aid oil the work,
There are places in the Cheat, the Monon'
gahela proper, and Allegheny where
ponds can be made holding millionsitoi
feet Of water at comparatively light7ex7
pense, and flood no arabic land These
two measures will furnish q water supply
II properly husbanded, the ponds let on
only In drouth. 40 'l1 - $40 : |
8 Two or three locks and dams be-
tween Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, say QUE
about Browns Island, one near Bu61pgr
ton, and perhaps one near the Shades,
with lit oil ten ieet will check the cur
rent and redeem these bad places. 80 l5f
4. Dredging in some places and using
dams In others to deepen The water, and
throw 1t into narrower channels, will
complete,the work, and give1RT depth oil
six feet at the lowest stages, and that al
reasonable cost for so importanta work
II what has been stated Is true and desi.
rable, how Is 1t to be donep How Is Con-
gress TO be reached for such a measure I
It requires but determined effort, such
efforts as are often used to secure appto-
pfiationsfor less important measures! This
would do more to- 'develope the wealth
Of the country and help pay the national
debt than any other MEASURE ofcequal
cost, and would not only be just, but q
duty that the Government owes Ito its
people. Therefore men should be en-
ployed to 60 before the Legislatures Of
each State interested, and secure resolu-
tons Of instruction by explaining the sub.
ject to them, carry them 10 Congress and
use every proper means to further; action.
Then let petitions be circulated in the
whole region in such manner that they
will bepromptly forwarded, and the work
promptly put under way. The interests
Of Wheeling and her surroundingsfn iron,
glass, and other manufactures ID sufficient
not only to warrant, but require o move
ment In this matter, and combining with
other cities push 1t to completion. En-.
gineeringis not so much needed in this
except In carrying out the details, o. plain
common sense. Engineering works. by
detail In figures on single line, and sit
takes all sumner" Common sense
embraces the whole situation. Yours
truly, ~ 5-.h j. e. WHARTON. .