The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-04-27
n 2IBk c.t-ssns serious osise.
Ed,,sTs on a,siss, \&ss,r &.

Editers Of e1gist >E~ ~.
HE soossr " distoss of fjousrypro
jecle ths eooner win the p6Nic turn its
attention TO practicable improvements.
In former letter gave some rough
estimates to show that . tunnel would
leave the city lHssly in debt; and
spoke OF q tunnel as costing less than q
cut. But the friends Of the latter re-
turn to the charge apparently, and 1
send You some observations not at all
in the spirit Of controversy, but to show
that the project is imprscticabies 1
take in round numbers !, TOO feet "a the
length Of the cut. l2O feet as the aver
age depth. Bearing in mind that the
walls cannot be left perpendicular, but
should diversge at Q considerable angle
to prevent ,numberlees and fatal acci-
dents, and that the creek cannot pc
much reduced in width without expos-
ing Fulton to disastels $50 feet must be
allowed for the average width Of the
cut. These three amounts multiplied
together give Us 81 900. 600 cubic feet,
or ], 1885,, 1888 cubic yards This immense
quantity of earth and rock has to Re
dug or auarried, and moved not once
only but twice, since the present bed Of
| The creek cannot be filled till the cut il
completed. Will anyone estimate this
labor q, less than 81 per yard. At tina,
| price the work costs already little shorl
OF two millions OF dollArs. ~ $50
But the banks must be protectsd by
| very strong masonry to the height OF a
lleast 40 feet, and t5is masonry cannot
average less than three feet 10 thick.
| ness. These dimensions multiplied
| into ], 100 feet BY 2. equals 3 400 feet, anc
give us over Il, 900 perches Of msson'
~ which could not be efficiently don't
under $4,000. make no estimate To-
having the bottom OF the cut which
however would be strictly necessary
unless a rocky bottom bed were foune
at the required depth.
But one of the great benefits sough
I by this cut is the opening OF a way TO-
the National road. For this no allow
ance has yet been made. From th'
side of the hill on which it would b.
placed we must still take cut 30 fee
broad up to the very peak OF the hill
Estimstipg this cut at 1000 feet il
length ard l60 in height, We haS'
5000, 900 more cubic. feet equal to a6ou
! 800, 600 yards, or $500 600 more. Her
| is a formidable amount OF cost, footing
up two and q quarter millions of dol
lars, without any allowance for damage
to property. for bridging and Tor pro
tectiop to life. 5.S3 1 =
Now let us see the credit side 9th
work. Isupposs about oDe-fourtb IT,
material excayRted to be stone worth
on the ground, 81 per perch. This WI!
! give us about $500, 1000. We may esli
mate the coal as q bed OF 600 1eet b.
| 300 feet and 6 feet in depth, worth 60,
| $4,000. The amount OF land reelsl me'
| for lots wovld make a, dozen perhap
OF lots, which we will estimate .
$4,000. The footing up Of these item
| gives 1865, 900 sgsiost and expenditure
as shown OF two millions and Q quar-
ter. Here is very large margin
showing beyond controversy, shoul,
think, how impracticableis thisscheme
| But the worst has not yet been sSid
The river shows at the mouth OF ever
stream we meet the ,invariable relnlt 9
waters pouring into the Ohio. Wha
must result from the out-pouring
Wheeling creeka Can we, afford
close our eyes to this momentous con
sideration A bar will be inevitable
The commerce oftbe city will be dam
aged beyond computation. The fntir
channel will be altered and thrown
the Island eide, but only, to damsg
the Island more by more vigorous un
/ mining. What has already taken plsc
at the lower end of the Island will b
repeated to the -detriment Of the nof
tbickly settled portion constant iproa
and destruction. Continuous dredgin
would not suffice to prevent these evil!
| Is the city prepared to encounter sue
disasters Have the advocates OF tb
cut seriously thought OF the irreparabl
damage they would bring upon the en-
tire community l raise a Harnip
voice against such calamitous projec
and trust that it will be allowed :
sleep, while We give our attention I
the consideration of practicable i'm
provements. OF such it is not precise
Iiy occasion to speak, that my observi
tons respecting the cut may sink tn
deeper. '.-. i. II. :