The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-09
and proceeded to consider matters referred

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mense streams. Of commerce come int
direct interference, namely: one by water
and the other by railroads, The problem
before the board was 10 so arrange, BY
either bridge or tunnel, that these NIGH
cross each other with the least injury Il
both, and In such manner as to accommo
date the railroad traffic and at the same
do no material or undue injury to the in.
terests of navigation.
The magnitude Of these conflicting In.
terests at this point may be realized from
the official statements marked ia the re.
port which show that the number OF YES
sels OF various kinds passing Fort Gratiot
Lighthouse during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1870, was 22,I50, and the bust.
ness Of the railroad crossing the river at
Detroit during the year was as follows:
Passengers, l2O, ,ll3; passenger cars, l2,-
25S; baggage cars, 3y7s3; freight cars, l04,-
$50. The question Of bridging or tunnel
ing Detroit River had been agitated for a
number oiYears, and numerous plans and
projects had been presented for consider
alton, but the joint resolutions con,
tatned no instructions to the Board to
consider the mode and plans Of construc.
tion, details OF operation or the matter OF
cost. These subjects, except in general
way, are not referred 10 In the report. II I,
The report Of the Board Of Engineers,
appointed in 1873 10 investigate this same
subject, ia alluded to. The iormer board
stated, among other things, that no bridge
with draws should be tolerated. The
board OF 1879, in their conclusions OH this
point says: "There Is probably no differ
ence OF opinion about these conclusions
except as TO the one referring to bridge
with draws ThefO oi bridge consid.
cred inadvisable by the former board had
openings 100 feet on the east side, the re.
mainder to be builtupon piers Of mason
ry 200 feetapart, and It was believed that
the draw openings Of l66 feet were greater
than was considered practicable. Draws
Of more than 200 feet have been since con.
structed, and 1t is now proposed by
bridge builders OF high reputation
to construct them with openings OF
800 feet on each side Of pivot pier, or
400 feet between two piers with refer
ence to traffic across the proposed river
bridge, ,the Board finds that with the
present traffic there will be ample time
during the intervals between the passage
OF vessels to move all trains across the
bridge. There will occasionally be delays,
but the railroads can accommodate their
time tables to compensate for any ordinary
delays. They say, however, that in case
the authority to construct the bridge
should be granted by Congress 1t should
be distinctly provided that vessels have
the right OF way except when moving
trains are passing over the bridge. The
Board, although unanimously OF the opin.
ion that tunnel offers the most complete
Of the problem, presents no argu-
ment in favor Of it.
PROPOSED CHANGES AS TO TUE ELECTION OF
PRESIDENT.
The House Committee on the State of
the Law, respectingi the ascertainment
and declaration Of the election OF Presi.
dent and Vice President have not yet held
q meeting, owing to the absence from the
city ottwo members Of the committee.
Abillto provide for and regulate the
counting Of votes for the President and
Vice President, and the decision OF the
questions arising thereon was report.
ed and referred back to the committee
the last session, will at an early day be
again reported 10 the House with view
OF having day set for its consideration. |
A sub committee OF the Senate Commit
tee has also under consideration and will
report favorably to the full committee a
resolution introduced by Representative
Bicknelk which contemplates an amend
ment to Constitution to abolish the eleC-
toral college and provides for the election
ofthe President and Vice President direct
ly by the people.
Representative Pound has prepared
and will introduce at the earliest opportu-
nifty joint resolution proposing an ad-
ditional amendment to the Constitution,
that the President shall be
elected for a term Of six years and be
thereafter ineligible, and that the mem
bers Of Congress will be elected for a term
OF three years.