The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-05-01

comes down the Allegheny. Why, sir,
steamboat navigation has existed on
this stream from Pittsburgh to OleaD.
Steamboats, have run moro than six
months in the year more than a hun
dred miles up. AT this very time, as
was informed few days since, some
Of the manufacturers and steamboat
owners at Pittsburgh and vicinity are
raising a fund among themselves IA
few thousand dollars-to dredgo out
the channel at what is called Garri-
sons Island above Pittsburgh, which,
when done, will give clear channel
and steamboat navigation to the mouth
of the Kiskiminetas, ,twenty.seve miles
above Pittsburgh. There arc manu-
factories at Frceport, opposite, giving
a market for slaves which come up the
Ohio from West Virginia to Pitts
burgh.
There are some two hundred thou.
sand of these in barges lying at Pitts
burgh in the Allegheny, waiting the
rising of the water to go up the river
to market. A few thousand dollars
judiciously expended in dredging, and
possibly in the erection of a few dams,
would make this stream navigable all
seasons of the year. Then, sir, it pen
etrates the great oil region. With this
river navigable to that point for
barges and heavy freights it would re-
lieve the great question to some ex-
tent of the discrimination in freights
which is now so much tormenting the
trade Of that region of country. Sir,
the Improvement of this stream helps
the commerce of the nation. 1t is q
feeder of the Ohio, the Ohio of the Mis-
sissippi, and thence to the ocean. With
the improvement of the Allegheny,
with such aid as will make it Daviga-
BILE at all seasons of the year, the i'm
provement of the Kiskikinetas and
Conemaugh will follow as tributaries
to the trade of the Allegheny and
Ohio.
Why, sir, hold in my hand now an
official document with maps and charts.
1t is the report of the Senate Commit
tee (of 1879 on Transportation Routes
to the Seaboard, Senate document.
The purpose of this committee was to
discover and report upon such water
routes of transportation between the
States and to the ocean as were cheap
and practicable. l find these very
rivers, Kiskiminetas and Conemaugh
mentioned favorably as links in the
chain from the Ohio to Delaware Bay,
Hear q moment from q distinguished
engineer cited in this report, page 96
The subject of great water communi
cation seems yet to have inspired nC
very active interest in Pennsylvania
yet question whether there is State
in the Union which has better claims
for notice in that particular at the
hands of the General Government
After explaining the question he says
The seaboaId may be reached from tho
Ohio by three different routes commence
ing at Pittsburgh. The first ascends tho
Allegheny River to the meuth of the l[is
kiminetas, and thence by the Conemaugl
reaches the Allegheny Mountains, through
which tunnel would connect the eastern
and western waters, and the Valley of the
Juniata would be used to reach the Sus
quehanna and thence the sea at our new
seaport on Delaware Bay, distance o
something over four hundred miles, say
four hundred and twenty-five. A cana
has existed on this whole limo oXcCp
through the summit of the mountain
which was overcome by partage railway
This route was spoken of favorably
~ the Senate committee. This engi
neer, who is more familiar with oul
State than my colleague, is Colone
James Warrall, who is in full life anC
activity. 1t was wise then in this bill
to provide for the survey of thes'
streams and call for an estimate from
scientific engineers of the expense o
their utilization for constant naviga
tion. l have no time to dwell.
+ In answer to question as to wheth
er these were not inconsiderabl
streams, Gen. White replied that they
were not--that they wero important
and could be made valuable for inter
nal commerce.
: Mr.. Wright asked how large tn
! streams were, to which Gen. White re
) piled "Not less that three hundreA fee
} across"
On account of the expiration of th'
time set apart for the discussion of thi
question, it was here closed.