The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-08


sustaining 10 assumes an unusual promi.
nence, and in consequence have been
looking over the postal statistics to see
what can be found relative TO West Viz
ginia OF interest TO readers OF the 1ETELLI.
GRscER.
STATE POSTAL STATISTICS.
The total postal receipts received from
West Virginia during the last fiscal year
amounted to 500, 1896 40. OF this sum the
sales Of postage stamps, stamped envelopes
and postal cards, amounted to S2l9,926 90,
and the returns from box rents reached
s., sol 80.
When we come 10 the total expenditures
we find them in excess Of the receipts by
SlS,030 80, the sum being S243, ,026 20. This
amount is made up rs follows: Compensa.
ton Of postmasters, SS9,l03 13; clerks in
postotfices and other expenses, SID ,46S 6S,
compensation Of letter carriers S8,G63 ~;
railway postofice clerks, Sl7307 %; and
transportation Of the mails, Sl3l, 1923.
During the past year new railroad ser
vice in the State has only been placed upon
one line, that running from Piedmont to
Elk Garden, via the West Virginia Central
and Pittsburgh Railway. The distance
authorized is only fraction less than fl
teen miles.
There are now eight railway postal lines
in the State, the distance being 3l6 miles
and the annual pay allowed the Railroad
Companies is S46,32l.ls, OF this amount
S., $50 is for railway postoffice cars.
The steamboat service is confined TO two
lines, the total distance 245 miles, and the
cost Of the service $40, 9,740.
The only city in the State having the
letter carrier system in operation is Wheel
ing. In your city the gross postal revenue
is 81, ,S97.54, the total expenses SIS, 1882;
being net revenue to the Government OF
S27, ,6990S. The expenses are divided as
follows: Office expenses, Sil ,535.03, free
delivery, S6,GG3.43.
In this connection it may be OF interest
TO give the statements showing the cost Of
collecting the internal Revenue OF the
State.
First district, total collections, S36G, ,32S..
10; total expenses, SlG,076 10. Second
district, collection Sl35,95S Al; expenses,
! SlS,007 on.
The Senate Committee on Pensions have
bill directing the Secretary OF the Interior
to place on the pension rolls the name oil
John F. Wortsing, late Captain Of Company
Z, Sixth West Virginia Cavalry.
LITTLE KANAwHA IMPROVEMENTS.
In reference to the improvements Of the
Little Kanawha river the Chief Of Engin.
eers has this to say: ~ renew my recon-
mendation that an appropriation should be
made to at least maintain the work for
open river improvement executed under
the former plan Of improvement. These
works, erected at considerable cost in 1878
and 1879, have effected an improvement
for many streams in the upper river to a
considerable extent. To obtain from them
their full results as originally projected
would require that they be, first, com
pleted, which save exceptionally, they have
not been, and, second, that they be
enlarged and elaborated. As the present pro-
ject has superseded the former onefor open
river" improvement, no project for this
enlargement and elaboration is proposed,
but ifthe works now up be not maintained,
questions OF private damages, induced by
failures OF parts Of the works or by their
disturbing effects upon the requirement oil
the river while they are in an incomplete
state, such effects being incidental 10 works
OF this class, will undoubtedly arise Tor
consideration in the near future. For
such maintenance, snagging and such like
work, the sum Of 5000 should begranted.
The present project does admit Of entire
and permanent completion. Original estl-
mated cost Of present project, $4,000;
amount required Tor entire and permanent
completion, $4,000.
GuYASDoTTE RIVER.
"The results OF the work have been gen.
orally satisfactory, rs opening up to raft
navigation freedom Of the river wherein
| Il was extremely difficult, and practicable
only at higher stages than Vt present, and
as easing the navigation for RATS and push
boats In the main portion Of the streams
from Logan Court House to the Ohio.
Many more RATS have been run out OF the
duysndptte the past spring than ever be;
fore were taken ont, aqd numbering and
sawmill operations in the country above
Logan much developed, all Of which is due
entirely, as is believed, to the improved
navigation way afforded.
Tie total length Of rivers now i'm.
proved, more or less, Is ll9 miles. :.
The present project aims to give a raft
navigation over the whole river, rs far
above Logan as it is practicable to go, at q
seven loot stage Of water in the upper river,
before impracticable save at stages OF
eleven or twelve feet, and toPgpyide chutes
for push boat navigation. where paeiel,
thirty feet wide with eighteen inches depth
nj water at dead low water. This project
carried ont will effect all the improve
mepts OF the river practicable under the
plan Of open river Improvement From
It's nature 1t admits OF no entire and per-
manent completion, and accordingly .p9
corresponding estimate Of cost was origi.
| nclly or il now submitted. It but remains
TO maintain the improvements already
made and. complete The project as above
indicated. -
/ refer again to the two private mill
dams In the river, Rogers and Pecks'
Very little, u any further Improvement on
the main portion Of the river from Logan
to'the Ohio can now be effected until these
very serious distractions to navigation srs
wholly removed, and, moreover, the im-
p-oyement already made does notyield the
results It ehonld so long as these obstruc'
tions remain.
In view OF the fact that neither Rogers
nor Peck will surrender their vested rights,
unless on the payment by the United States
Q, suns OF money, deem exorbitant, It is
urgently recommended that the necessary
legal proceedings 10 eondemn judicially in
the United States these private properties,
be specifically authorized by Congress, In
| any fttnre legislation for their work"
WaIsh'S Wall.
WAsuISeroS, January ~. A, Walsh
witness for the prosecution in ths'staE
| -. ,E,o, 100 ,ba nnblicU his nm.