Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-04-13
Tn. oo,gsr Dam Question.


10 ne Editor Of @ ReotsS:
Please allow q littls space for Q few
thoughts on o very important subject con
corning the welfare of thu people along the
great Ohio Valley. No valley, | presume
of the same area in the United States Il
more productive in an agricultural and
manufacturing point OF view, than the
grand Old Ohio, and yet, with her grand
resources, q very large area OF her very
best soil and manufacturing and mercan'
tile sites are subject to that terrible de-
stroyer, the watery elements" oil her ma
iestic channel. The question has often
come ND in the writer's mind, cannot the
genius of some of her SONS be adequate 70
the task OF averting to q great extent the
terrible destruction of property along her
shores2 The writer recollects very viyidiy
reading an article from the pen OF an ex-
perienced engineer. soon after the great
food of 's4. on the subject OF Golfer
dams" In that article / think be showed
up rretty demonstratably that both the Al
legheny and Monongshels could be cGtter
damned to advantage; that two such
dams thrown across each river at Different
points could be constructed 90 IS to catch
the great body of water and hold it there
until such time as it was necessary that
the boating would stand in need Of it from
low water. Now, as q citizen and small
property holder, I feel an intense desire
that this subject should not die out,
and that if there is anything which may be
done to protect the farmer, manufacturer,
merchant, mechanic, in fact all, let Us agi-
tate this subject, and if there are any salient
points this mode will bring to the surface
those points. Perhaps some who scan
these lines may ask where is the mint OF
money to come from to construct such q
mighty work Of mssonary2 To the ques-
ton / would say that the money, or mints
of money, swept down the current In every
considerable freshet would be a reminder
to those who had lost that q few millions
given to an undertaking like the one re
ferred to would be the best investment pos
sible for their own financial welfare.
Where is the person who would not give.
if necessary, n per cent the valuation OF
his property, if by so doing he could pro.
tect that property from the dire effects Of
yearly foods and washouts, when,
too, by so dong, his or her property would
enhance in value proportionately2 have
heard a good many people express them
selves on this phase Of the subject. namely,
for contributing money towards buildiDg
dams, and among this number have YET
10 hear of one who would not contribute
freely towards a project of this nature. 1t
appears to me, Mr.. Editor, that if such 8
were feasible, that il it were posi-
bic that our homes and lands could be pro-
.ected, why not sgitste the subisct aud Try
and awaken o feeliog of interest such
IS will cause 10 be adopted a
SYSTEMATIC plan to bring before the public
he subject in all it's bearings and rsmi6ca'
The Government, through the req
,essntatives of the different States where
his mighty stream and its tributaries run,
certainly would use Their best epdeavorS to
prevail upon Congress 10 assist in this ben
sfcent and mighty enterprise. l write
.hese fe~ thoughts not for the sake of
into print, but because, If such q
,rsnd project Ike this could be carried out
necessarily, how much money could be
,aved and precious lives spared from an
Undertaking Of this nature. If | reocollect
light, this engineer referred to, rsckoned
IN this vast reservoir Of water being sufi.
,ient to supply the Ohio with q boating
from Piitsburg to Cincinnati the
7ear round. 1t the plan appears feasible,
hope 10 see the press take it up and watt
{ to the homestead Of the rich and poor
like. II there is anything in it, let our
iVermen respond with pen ard ink, and
ct every city interested talk the measure
lp, and in that event, wiser conclusions
nay be developed. |,
CITIZEN OF WHEELING. |,