Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-11

A BADLY BEHAVING RIVER.
The Attention Given the ohio I'm the
Recent Convention.

Recent Convention.
The Ohio river during the recent sessions
OF the Mississippi Convention received an
amount of attention which ought to induce
better behavior Oh its part than it has ex-
hibited during the past few days. Colonel
George Thompson, OF ParkersSurg, was ap-
pointed on a special committee with others
to represent it in the Mississippi Conven-
ton, and Captain Mcclure, OF Wheeling
was appointed to serve on committee to
represent It's claims upon Congress. The
latter committee was instructed TO urge
upon Congress the absolute necessity for
the early completion OF Davis Island dam,
and the possible destruction of life and
property which is incident 10 its unfinished
condition, and the forcible presentation OF
the subject by reason also Of the immense
traffic OF the upper Ohio, the Monongahela
and Allegheny rivers, which is now ex.
posed to dangers daily by delay OF the
work, and ask that system Of electric
lights be authorized for the lighting OF the
dam piers and lock of the dam, and to for
cibly urge an especial appropriation for
these objects.
AS showing the feeling of the men who
are urging the improvement Of the Ohio,
copy the conclusion of the address of the
Ohio River Commission submitted by Col.
Thurston, Of Pennsylvania:
Protection to home manufactures by the
government has developed the mineral
resources Of the country. 1t has stimu.
lated invention to multiply production
and cheaper cost; attracted population,
created skilled mechanics, and brought the
manufacturing industry Of the country to
har 10 m tar "a N "a
with foreign products on their own shores.
| In the work to supply those markets abun-
dant labor will be found for our mechanics.
| TO be enabled to reach that point protec-
ton was given against foreign labor. To
| enter foreign markets, the manufactur-
ing industries of the country require
the protection of cheap transportation.
| To give that the Government must render
! the rivers as available as they are suscepti-
BILE of being made. From the seven Ohio
States the statistics quoted show that in
all probability the great bulk OF manu-
| fscturers will be furnished. Ii is not ap-
parent that TO the Ohio River and its trib-
utaries Governmental efforts should be
promptly directed. Not only does that
| river by its tributaries reach the heart OF
the States OF Tennessee, Kentucky, Hi
nois, Indiana and West Virginia, but by
the Allegheny reaches into New York, and
by the Youghiogheny, with q small rail-
road portage, to the Chesapeake Bay,
Marylsnd, and the District OF Columbia
1t puts the Allegheny Mountains in water
communication with the Rockies, the
Gulf of Mexico with the interior Of New
York.
In the meantime the development Of the
| country, the growing importance in all
things Of the seven Ohio States; the great
awakening Of the western States to the i'm
portance Of riAer improvements; the in
crease of population and the increasing
wants of the.country for transportation; the
completion of the experimental work on
the Ohio and some OF its tributaries; the
firaucisl prosperity Of the government
all now combine to place the subject OF the
| improvement of the Ohio where the work
Of the full board can be most advantage.
| onsly done