The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-11-07
Prospects fora Rise In the Rlyer-GOOd

prospects tOr hise IN inc RtveF-GOOu
Use Made Of the Present Dry spell.
Up Pittsburgh the engrossins topic Of
covOrsation these times is the present con.
diton OF the river and the prospects for a
a rise. This Is natural state Of feeling
when We remember that eighteen million
bushels Of coal are loaded In barges and
waiting to come down on the first water.
This enormous amount Of coal represents
IN enormous amount Of money, and the
money thus locked up at the present time,
and wholly unproductive, will, when real.
lied, go back to Pittsburgh and irrigate
the channels Of trade as eltectually and
beneilCially as good rain fall will irrigate
the dried and parched ground Of this
whole region Of country.
1t seems to be believed at Pittsburgh
that the present weather is breeding
rainy II not warmer spell, and that the
snow that.now lies at the headwaters Of
the two rivers will speedily liqulfy and
come down with considerable bOom-sul.
fCient at least to float out the coal. We
notice that one OF the prominent coal
shippers expresses the opinion that there
will be barge water by the 10th," next
Monday, and his opinion is shared by
other river men," As he spoke, says the
Telegraph Of yesterday evening, "the rain
fell steadily, and the clouds and darkness
indicated that for the time being tho ele-
ments were backing his cheering asser.
TONS"
Meanwhile the river is slowly creeping
up inch by inch, and crafts that have been
grounded for weeks are atloat, or nearly
so. At the wharf, and at the various land. |
ings, the great fleet OF owbOats are lying
cold and motionless, but with everything
ready to grow into life and warmth at a |
moments notice. The drought has been
golden opportunity that has not been |
lost Every weak point in the boats has
been overhauled, machinery retltfed, boil.
ers thoroughly tested, decks, chimneys,
&c, repainted, hulls re.caulked where |
there were signs OF leakage, and in fact
nothing left Indone that could be done
during long season OF enforced idleness. |
Thegreat James Lee and the Harry Brown,
representing Sl00, 600 in cash and embody-
ing everything that ingenuity and expert
ence can suggest in perfect passenger,
and an equally perfect tow boat, are among
the crafts ready to depart at an hours no.
tiCe. Meanwhile this has been splendid |
season for removing rocks, snags, &C., from
the most dangerous portions OF the Ohio.
"When the river does come up there
will be the clearest channel that has exist.
ed for lifetime" was the expression OF |
veteran boatmon. The shore OF the
Ohio is strewn with huge boulders and
jagged rocks pulled from the very center
OF the river channel. Some oithese bear
the marks OF many abrasions by the bot |
toms OF craft they have scored in years
gone by. The good accomplished by
Captains Carpenter and Gordon in the |
Ohio, by Captain Rogers in the Allegheny,
and by private enterprise in all the rivers,
will be felt for years to come"
Atpresent writing the prospects Of n
steady rain are extremely good. The fol.
lowing dispatch from Cincinnati shows
how they feel down there to-day:
"CINcINNATT, November 6.-Rain fall
ing above, and all indications favorable for
rise in the river that will end the coal
famine"