Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-21
APPROPRIATIONS
For the Improvement of the Kama
VIA River.
WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE.
Yhy the Coal Operators Anxiousy Wat
Further operatiOns-1he Manner
in Which Their Trade is
Now Hampered.
Srrill to tie Register.


WASHINGTON, December 20.-Talking over
ire prospect OF further appropriations for
the Improvement Of the Kanawha River
with Congressman Phil Snyder, recently,
be told me that be did not see how Con-
cress could now refuse TO make provisions
for comp,eI'n, this work. OF the ten locks
and dams necessary to make the stream
svailsble at all seasons from tine Falls,
ttirty miles ABOVE Charleston to its junct-
ion. with the Ohio three have already been
completed. Beginning with number
one, which it is proposed to locate
At Loup Creek shoals, five miles
below the Falls, no work has as
yet been done upon It. As now projected
il is to be what is called stationary dam,
with L a similar to those completed be-
low. and it is not intended to begin it
until all the others are finished. Number
Two, which is at Cluneiton, nine miles be-
lev the Falls, is also to be stationary dam,
and its iOCS will give slack water TO Num-
Der Ore, four miles above. This one has
been already commenced, the contractor
tavla- comp pleted his cofter dam and gotten
eyeryiAiss
Ready Tor SeNt Sessions Operations,
end there is probably enough of the last
appropriation remaining to complete it,
tie Eng, Gter's report showing that on the
FRS, ci jUus oi the present year there vas
sill ilru'yO available, less such amount
IS u,.Eb: he necessary to repair accidents to
Vo-k ye.cw. Number three, at Saint creek,
Eve niles below Cannelton, also station.
s-y csu. : been completed and was built
by tie government by days work instead
a tts &. :: -aCJ system. Number Tour. AZ
60. ,-,- \. Iye miles below Saint creek,
g.. urr,. rEr new French movable dams
c. L>.--.'.a after what is known as tue
It.r ..s system, with wicketS which can
;. 'a,ue .'at with the bed of the stream
,...,, "a water seasons. Number tiEa.
81 v-.-,uwu, six miles below the one At
tsu.. Ok Is precisely similar and is in
a- - q. working order. Number six,
Fr.lg - 90 in ~ the head Of Tyler
oa .nN Charleston, and which is ex-
= Fool Fourteen niIes Ina Length.
hiss 20; yet been commenced, and it is pro-
posed TO construct it on what is known as
the needle plan, the wickets lifting above
the surface when not needed in use instead
Q. beng thrown down in the stream. Mum
bsrs seven. eight, nine and ten. which are
10 20 IL below, are TO be of the stationary
pattern. aud nothing in the way OF work
has been done upon them, save that in
NOS; C~seS tgs sites have been determined
UTOD. s.d condemnation proceedings to Sc
cure tie necessary land have been per-
fectei
On these Improvements, which were com
meGCyG about 1871. about 100000 has been
expended and upwards OF $1,000 900 has
been appropriated. The appropriations
hsye never been less than 100000 az a |
time srd ran up 10 5000 one year. 1t |
i probable as much more as has been given |
viii be necessary 10 complete the improve |
uenls t.t the results already shown have |
demonstrated that the outlay is justiiable. |
] hope le-esftsr 10 be able 10 furnish the |
fgU5ss showing the coal taken out by |
mRsr> o.
II" work Already TOmPIv.r'..
Tor IA. resent !. may be said that 1t has |
ors-ea ..p a coal field for distance OF tif- |
iser u.,.rs on the north side o. the RIVER, |
where ..4i can loaded IN boats all the year |
round. md that many OF the miners on |
:.e sCu'r side Of the stream heretofore On |
Tie Che ,.?eake ami Ohio railroad Tor trans
E0NtAt N nave Dttu AOtc W ANS ~AS aN'"-
by extending their upples 10 the edge OF
the stream. e,
As illustrating the difference between rail |
AID river transportation one OF the largest
coal operators on the Chesapeake and ONO
above KsuaEha Falls told me that the
whole business Of coal mining in his sec
ton hsi become simply an sppenda%e OF
the railroad and the operators tooS exactly
what the company was disposed 70 allow
them. We are obliged, he said, to sell
every round OF coal We mine 20 the coal
sceucy Of the railroad under penalty oil
being
Refused transportation Altogether.
It costs US say ninety cents per ton to get
it out The company allows as Just that
suUunt in excess of ninety cents, whlch IL
thinks Will enable Us 10 on, dollar, dol
ls- ye. or a dollar and ten cents as the
Cs,e = az be. Not only this, but We are de-
Jared the chance OF making anything oc
usrrov margin by increasing our product,
the Company only furnishing US cars IN
limited number and on cer'sin days OF
tie week I this way controlling produc-
ron a. well as price. The consequence IS
that with the large amount OF capital we
have invested along It's line none OF Us can
make any money and with most Of US 1t IS
simply ggestiOn of endurance. Ian.