The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-04-11
National Improvment OF Navfsa'
tIou-Unis,ug the James River ana
IN. Ohio AID the MississipPi and
Lake Michigan.


Lake Michigan.
New York Herald i ispatch, April 9Th.
The select Committee on Transports
ton held another meeting tonight for
the purpose of putting the finishing
touches to their very elaborate and
very interesting report. The Commit
tee have devoted much OF their time
and the greatest care to the considera.
ton of the very important matters en-
trusted to them. Their report will
contain information 80 exhaustive and
the statement OF such strong de-
ductions, gathered from all the exper-
renee anu the kuvnISuSr III Inc past
az to leave little in this lipe to be at.
tanned hereafter. Senator Window,
the chairman oi the Committee, has de.
voted all his leisure time, since last
spring, on the adjournment OF Congress,
| to the collection and preparation OF the
vast store OF materials bearing on
the subject OF internal improvements
and the wise and proper policy OF the
government in relation thereto. In
tnis and in forming opinions he has
been ably assisted by other members OF
the committee. The committee did not
receive formally until to-day the report
OF the last survey made OF the route Of
the james River and Kauawhs Canal.
although the members have heretofore
had access TO it. This report puts the
maximum cost OF the work at $50, 0OO,.
600 and the minimum at $50 OOU OOO.
II undertaken it would be very apt TO
exceed the former amount. The com
mittee will most probably recommend
that new surveys be made of some, II
not all, of the projected routes which
have been considered as worthy OF ma.
tional encouragement. 1t is thought
that, with the experience and
knowledge gained by former
surveys, new surveys might now pro-
mole the Attachment OF results Whereby
the cost of the works could be much
Iessened. The committee regard the
proper improvement of the navigation
OF these two great arteries OF commerce
the Ohio and the Mississippi-as OF
equal i'm portance, and that the two OBJ.
jec,s should 20 together. 1t is not to be
doubted that the cost Of improving
these two rivers to satisfy all the re"
auirements OF the trade which floats
upon their waters will be enormous.
One of the principal schemes in con-
nection with the improvement Of the
Ohio is the erection Of hydraulic gates
and movable dame. THIS would in-
volve large expense, but the plan
has been found to work very satistac-
torily on the Sem and other rivers Of
Europe. The coal interest OF Pittsburgh
| is opposed 10 the erection Of any dan
| in the Ohio river unless some modifi-
cation can be introduced into the Or
binary slack water system that will per-
NIT the passage of fleets without rqair-
ing them to be broker up and reformed
below the dame. This object on, it ls
claimed, can be removed BY the con
etructiou of hydraulic gates as above
ment oued. The improvement OF the
Fox and Wisconsin rivers, by means OF
which communication is 10 be
established between the Mis-
sissippi and Lake Michigan,
he also received considerable share OIL
The attention of the committee, and will
be treated fully in the report. The
committee are inclined 10 look With
favor on the Plan OF Captain Eads for
deepening the channel OF one OF the
passes at the month OF the Mississippi,
which has already received the 'avor-
able cone liberation OF the House Com
mittee Oh Commerce. Captain Eads
proposes Tor Sl0,000.000 TO make q
channel O, 600 teet width and % feet
depth and 10 maintain it as such Tor
nj, years. The committee will, ii POI.
Q bic, make their report, which 's
awaited With much interest, in q few
days. .....