The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-04-30
The wheeling Creek Project.

Editors OF the Register.
Your correspondent "R." looks upon
the project Of making a creek channel
through Wheeling hill as an imprscti-
cable and visionary scheme, but there
are some others who think quite differ
emily, and who flstter themselves that
thev can demonstrate that this small
stream, subject to periodical initiation,
can be turned from its present course
through the hill at North street at con-
derable less cost than tVo and quarter
million dollars.
In order to prove this assertion we
will take some data furnished by the
recent survey made bv the gentlemen
connected with the Wheeling Scientific
Assoc alton. Underlying the different
strata OF lime stone, coal, &c, 'of which
Wheeling hill is composed, there lsa
vein or stratum oi sand stone messur-
ing 81 feet s inches in thickness; the
same sand stone that is now 20 exten-
sively used 10 our buildings about the
city. This sand stone stratum is about
70 feet above the bed o! the river, and
crops out near Main street at the inter-
section OF North street where it has
been proposed to make the cut or tun-
uel through the hill /; the bottom oithis
stoue vein being nearly fifteen feet
below Main street Between this
sand stone vein and the river
bed is q stratum OF clay OF compact
nature. Now we will draw an imagin-
ary line through the hin at the point
mentioned from the bottom OF the creek
to that Of the river. The length OF this
line will vary according to the angle
| i, is placed with the river and creek,
but all that would be necessary will
give a length Of 1000 feet. Take from
this length one hundred feet on the
eastern side and one hundred feet on
the western side as not being worthy oi
consideration Tor our present purpose,
and we have line 800 feet through
the hill. Now suppose we calculate
that this sand stone vein will answer
the purpose OF an arch and that we will
make use OF it for . rooI for tunnel
through the hill. Let us see what 1t
will cost. The heigbtb OF the stone
bed is. cay 10 feet, average width OF the
tunnel 80 feet, total length l,SOOfeet.
This will give 373.333 yards OF earth
which can be moved readily ct 50 cents
per yarG, this will sum up atsl86.o 900.
30; add to this the usual l0 per cent
Tor contingencies. and we have the
grand totsl, ,of $205, ,333l5.
This mode OF procedure will not re-
quire suy stone walls at either end o'
the tunnel, ss the sides OF the cut from
the stone ledge to the water will sustaI n
themselves in the same way they do
the present channel. Bridges will not
be needed, and no property OF any val
ue will be disturbed, and the people Of
North Wheeling will move on in the
even tenor OF their way. while Wheeling
creek moves smoothly along 10 its new
way to the sea.
Your correspondent ar" men,
tions the inevitable bsr" 70 q
manner calculated TO make one snud>
der, if he had no reason 10 think differ
emily. But his ideas 10 regard 10 bar.
are mere coojsc;ures. II ~ outlet wa
made for the creek it should not bc
made al right aDgl.s, unless it was tn,
intention to form . bar, but should
have its mouth down stream. and no
across, or as it is in come cases, ~
stream. The bar formed at the mouth
OF the creek at present is not % iormI'
dable as one would suppose, consider
ing it has been forming since th'
glacial period. and the stream emptie
at right angles with the river. Bar
are formed by the sediment OF ON
stream colliding with that OF another
and BY avoiding this collision yo'
avoid the bar 70 great extent, an
also avoid throwing the current TO tn
opposite side. Oar river men say II Al
: outlet was made 10 the proper name
for the creek at North street, it woul
! relieve the channel below and be muc
better for navigation.
A summary OF my remarks .woul
, be:
Expenses incurred In making out.
let for t051 ~
, Value ofreciaimed land, now use
less oOV'3A