The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-25

mcr drift down to the rock, which insome
places, is many feet blow, Us was demon
strated when they we're sounding for the
bridge foundation at the foot OF Madison,
now 10th st. Again, the overriding waters
by washing and ebb flow, brought the silt
which formed the islands and the lower
bottoms along the river, and made all O.
the territory which is now below high
water mark.
The extent TO which even the bed OF
Wheeling creek has been washed and re:
filled was demonstrated by the digging oil
the well and boring for water by Mr.. Key
man, few months ago ut his brewery,
and after such filling up there came, first,
the smaller, then the larger, then the
crater streams, until the waters, as our
torelathcrs knew, coursed more evenly
than now, in their much impeded way.
At the beginning OF the lust quarter Of
the last century, the Island, or Seventh
Ward OF to-day, was reckOned as contain
ing about three hundred and forty acres;
and showed much less Ofthc crescent form
than il now exhibits, by reason OF its
denuded banks having fallen an easy prey
TO that raging current, which civilizations
barred mountains 30 quickly pours down
with force almost like water spout from
some overhangng cloud.
But about the process through which
the islands were formed, and the when,
there has not rs yet been any definite con-
Clusion, Too little research has rs yet
been made into the geological formations
Astounding here; and the opinions are con-
se0uently somewhat crude; but il once
out of the beaten path, the consequent
struggle for existence or supremacy VIII
lead us to seek better acquaintance with
nature, us we more and more need her ald
in the race for support or competency.
TIE PIONEER HISTORY
OF the Island, dated back to IVA when
Ebenczer Zane made his settlement, and
it fourishGd only as a garden spot PARCEL
ed out to gardeners, who, through thcll
industry and its fertility, made their way
TO independence, il not to ease and for
, tune. Scarce half dozen tenants were
found upon the Island in 1889, and the
names Of those are probably as familiar rs
household words to most OF your readers
Let us go to the large clint from which
> the buoy ferry swungandtry to describe il
for the benefit OF those who never saw
such II transport.
My boyish recollection pictures long
cable, at one end made fast to the large
tree on the river bank, and ut somewhat
regular intervals supported above The
water ut height Of six feet or more by
masted buoys. Tho hulk OF each buoy wa
apparently longitudinal section OF skill
, but deckcd caulked, and so on, to proven
water logging. From the lowest buoy to Tho
deck OF IN aproned barge calledthefe ferry
boat, q smaller and more flexible line OK
tended, passed through u shivo or pulIy q
[ distance OF about 20 feet from one enc
OF the boat, thence encircled the shalt Q
the steerman's wheel and passing through
another shive or pully about the SAINT
, distance, from the Oth0r 0nI OF tho boat
: passed thence to the lowest buoy again
forming as it were triangle, whose bas'
was ut the ierryboat.
The turning OF the wheel either way
: brought one end OF the ferry boat, or TIT
: other toward the buoy, and consequent!
, placed the side OF the lower end OF the fin
, under the pressure of the current in oppO
sition TO the upper end, which was hell
: by the rope aud buoy; hence the ferry
!. according 10 the swiitnesS Of the current
! moved or glided at the angle with The
stream in which it was held by the pilot
but moved rs it were on swing from thu
t one side OF the river to the other.
[ Such ferry Ind itS advantages rs vel
a rs disadvantages, in that, if there was
blow out, on the boat it was only because
: the steersman's ropes were broken, or en-
j tangled, or some wave driver or grounded
n buoy needed attention and something hat
to give way to the pressure OF pent W
: wrath.
Itistrue that it was not bridge.like, ant
n succumbcd to very high water, and also t
\ very low water, but in carrying its passen
gers over it always remembered that it
current was the Ohio, and not the rivol
Styx, and consequently always landed il
| Virginia, and never forwarded its burden
to that other uncomfortable country.
, But rs the night may be stormy, the fer
~ manageable, and the stage passenger
may need all the accommodations whlCl
: the island Home" can afford, letus max,
: an carly crossing and put up OH the east
erly side Of the La Belle Rivere. G.
I