The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-06
The Present Condition Ofthe Ohio River
Its VaIue TO Commerce.

The Present Condition Ofthe Ohio River
Its VaIue to Commerce.
Pittsburgh Commercial.
Nothing more torcibly impresses per.
son With the value OF q thing as to be
partially or totally deprived OF it. This is
particularly 50 oil the commOnest benefits
those privileges and blessings which are
so common as to contribute largely to our
comfort and happiness, and become, as it
were, part OF our nature. The closing
up-iOr period beyond that which ordin.
ary experience has fixed as a limit Of a
great natural highway such as the Ohio
river, is like the loss OF an eye or an arm
to an individual. 1t is felt IN every part
oil every community, extending along one
OF the largest stretches OF inland naviga.
ton on the globe. The present season has
been remarkable for its lack OF rain, and
the opening OF that great line OF naviga.
ton which has its head in the two main
tributaries Of the Ohio, has been delayed
far beyond the usual and ordinary time.
The danger which now threatens Is, that
the streams may be ice bodnd before the
immense tonnage which awaits the rise
can be moved 10 its destination.
1t Is impossible TO estimate the loss
which Is entailed by total suspension oil
navigation, beyond the ordinary periods,
on the Ohio River and its tributaries.
There is some compromising advantage, to
be sure, to the railroads, and to certain
branches OF the trade, which are only
called into activity by the necessities Of
the situation. But the aggregate loss 10
the business OF the States and communi.
ties dependent on the highway OF com.
merce is enormously large. Take the
single item Of coal alone, the stocks oil
which have been well nigh exhausted in
the markets Of the West and South. When
navigation is open, or when the usual
time for shipment is not greatly curtailed,
Pittsburgh coal sells in Cincinnati and
Louisville, ahoat and in barges, at seven
and eight cents bushel-wiIhin cent or
two Of the prices paid by our own consu.
mers. 1t costs about one cent bushel
to ship coal to Cincinnati, BY the towing
system now in vogue, which includes the
return Of the barges TO this city. Coal is
now selling in retail way in Cincinnati
at eighteen ndtwenty cents a bushel, or
about double the price which rules when
navigation is open. This difference in
price is chargeable solely TO the cost Of
carriage demanded BY the railroad com.
panies.
Many other classes Of goods might be
mentioned as similarly affected, but this
leading article serves 10 illustrate the point
we wish 10 make prominent-that the
Ohio river is worth great deal more to
the commerce Of the Nation than some
people are willing to admit. The present
condition OF the river furnishes fresh
and torcible reason why it should be
artifcialIy improved. If the lock and dam
system were complete throughout its en-.
tire length, the period OF navigation would
be so extended that ample time would be
afforded for moving all the tonnage, east
ward and westward, which the business
of the various sections required. The in
terchange Of products would be more regu.
lar and less speculative in their tendeu.
Cies. Manufacturers West could rely with
greater certainty upon their supplies OF
coal, coke and other commodities, while
those OF the East would be sure OF getting
iron ore, cotton and like materials, more
cbeaply and regularly than under existing
circumstances. fall the States interested
would make united effort in the direc.
ton OF permanent improvement OF the
Ohio, they could no doubt succeed in &C.
complaining that desirable object, and
thereby benefit the whole country as well
as their own people.