The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-23
Special Correspondence Of tho IntellIgencer.

|
It Is ouIs or not, the fascination Is still the
same, and dollars aud millions roll of the
tongue with..a smoothness worthy even OF q
Vanderbilt. All writings abou. money
concentrate our thoughts, and we imme-
diately become interested parties, Now
what led 10 this introduction is the fact that
| found myself very much interested in a
statement preferred by the treasury in re.
lation 10 the banks Of West Virginia. l
never had dollar in any OF them, and TO
my knowledge never got dollar out OF
them, but still found myself Just as much
interested in their affairs asa director-des.
perately intent upon catching or not catch
ing cashier with speculative tendencies.
It maynot be entirely improbable to tell
the readers OF the lNTELLIGEScEE something
about their banks, many Of which, Imean
the readers, have perhaps never seen more
than the outside OF these institutions.
WEST VIRGINIA BANKS.
Well, there are eighteen National banks
in your State, only one Of them being in
Wheeling. This struck me as little singu-
lar for even ParkeBburg has four with an
aggregate capital OF $558.0OO. The National
Band Of West Virginia, it is true, has the
largest capital Of any one institution,
100000, and it also has the largest amount
on deposit. Another bank, should have
said earlier, the Citizens National Bank OF
Parkersburg, is presided over by ex.
United States Senator Hon. Arthur !. Bore.
man. 1t would seem that the public men
OF West Virginia are in demand as bank
presidents, or that the bank presidents OF
the State are in demand for public men.
As don't want to advertise these rich and
"bloated monopolies" sounds nice
Just now particularly as the advertising
columns OF the lNTELLIdESCRR are open to
them at the regular rates, vii! deal more
generally with them, carefully observant
not TO give any "free send orr before the
usual visit is paid to the counting.room Of
our establishment where "als" are re.
ceived every day In the week, Sunday not
excepted. g..
These eighteen banks have combined
capital Of 81 $50, 900, IN increase Of nearly
one hundred thousand dollars in one year,
and they must be getting along tolerably
nicely in the world as they have surplus
fund oi $iG7, ,723 II, and undivided profits
amounting TO $l35.454 90. The total de-
posils aggregate Ss,5S3,0i3 02. When look
ing ut The resources we lind loans aud dis
counts 10 the amount OF S., ,4S0,4lS 81. Al
though State banks have good deal OF
protection they don't altogether escape.
They pay taxes 10 the tune OF SIS, 500 an
nually-to the State So, $50, and to the
Gdrernment $2G,2G2.
| nam =, ~. Ar 4. .lNAwuA ptvpp uutnuE
The question Of bridging the Great
Kanawha river is one Of considerable i'm.
portance in view OF the vast mineral wealth
Of West Virginia, and it has received Of
late great deal oil attention. Just before
Congress adjourned a bill was introduced
in both Senate and House making regu-
ations in this question Of bridges across
the river. The Engineer Corps, however,
IL the great authority upon which even
Congress leans, and an opinion has re.
Gently been secured from this source. The
Chief Of Engineers says, as Congress re-
uuired Il, N do not think that the kanawha
towboa,s will ever be made as large as
those OF the Ohio from Pittsburgh down.
The former stream is only about half the
width Of the latter, and even though the
rivers be improved TO a six.ioot draught
Throughout, the lesser width OF the Kanawha
will limit the size OF the tows to less mum.
Der OF boats than may be taken in fleet
upon the Ohio.
"I am OF the opinion that forty-fve feet
for pilot house and sixty.four feet for
chimneys will be as great dimensions as
4 will ever be found useful for boats doing
general business on the kanawha.
ITO require that bridges should clear
the chimneys at the highest water would
be prohibitory OF their construction. Con-
siderinV the extent OF the interests which
would be benefited by a bridge, It's con-
struction would also be prohibited by re.
curing that It should clear pilot house
iorty.hve feet in height at time Of highest
water.
"a bridge so constructed as to require
the maneuver OF draw space whenever
boat passes Is q nuisance to the traffic over
It as we'll as to boats going under 1t or
through it.
A SOLUTION OF THE DIFFICULTY.
"The proper solution l consider to be
the construction Of bridge Of such
height that passage under 1t may be had
except on extraordinary occasions. l
would propose, as the lowest permitted,
clear height to aseventy.foot guage read.
lag. This would permit passage under the
bridge Of iorty.Gve foot pilot house up to
guage reading Of twenty-five feet, pre-
vent passage under It on an average Of 2.s8
days per year, with the same maximum
number OF days detention as the height Of
seyenty.live feet, and In one year out OF
seven no detention at all. With q clear
height 10 seventy feet guage reading
sixty.foot chimney could pass under It up
| 10 a guage reading Of two feeti such q
chimney could not pass under on an aver
AGE OF thirty.nine days per year.
"My observation Is that boats do not run
on the rise OF extreme stages; the danger
from DRIFT wood, and In the case of tow
boats-the difficulty Of managing the fleets,
rendering u advisable TO await the falling
stage" ,,,., ,.,. :,
J the scheme for the bridge, It SeemG inex-
pedlent TO Eay more than the tollowingj'
"The span Of the proposed bridge
at Charleston should be not less than two
hundred aud fifty feet In width Ia the
clear, and that the height Of the clear spans
should not be less than seventy feet by
the reading OF the guage at that place"
"In regard to other bridges that II may
become necessary TO erect over the Great
Kanawha, It naY be said that the condi.
lions will depend somewhat upon the loca.
lion, aud that with the view to the protec.
tion OF navigation and commerce any law
that may be enacted by Congress apthoriE.
ing the construction otany bridge over this
river should provide that drawings Of the
plans and location should be submitted to
L ~. s,...aIa.. al War ,riLL q ,,inr. An ilnir