Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-11-26
A Great Improvement.

The completion of lock and dam No.
G of the Ksnawha river improvement
/ calls attention TO the great work that
has been accomplished by the federal
government since 1874 in increasing the
navigability of West Virginia's main
waterway. In 1919 little steamer at
tempted to ascend the kanawhs TO
Charleston, but was unable TO stem Red
House shoals, and so had TO return.
The incident had its effect on the Leg
islature of Virginia. In 1920 bill was
passed. looking to the Improvement OF
the navigation of the river, with the OBJ
ject Of getting depth OF three feet at
low water from the mouth 10 the falls,
distance of ninety miles. The work
was in progress when the civil war be-
guu, the system employed being the old
sluicc and wingdam system. \ very
considerable Increase had at that time
occurred il the coal aud salt traffic Of
kanawha in consequence OF the inn
provemen,s already effected. But a fur
ther increase Of the depth of the stream
at all seasons OF the year was required
to develop properly the resources of the
region drained by its shallow aud
broken channel, and when in 1874 Col.
VIM. p. Craighill was placed in charge
of the work it was resolved 10 commence
a permanent aud effective Improvement
of the river by the construction Of
locks and dams, employing movable
dams below Paint creek, aud permanent
dams at and above Paint creek. The
scheme finally settled upon embraced
three permanen; or fixed dams and
eight movable ones, the whole TO cost
by the original estimate, Si,07l PIG.
Two of the permanent dams, giving a
lift Of twenty-four feet have been sub
stantially completed. Three Of the
movable dams, which give 4 lift in the
aggregate OF twenty-five feet, have also
been completed, aud the rest will be
taken in hand as soon as Congress
makes the required appropriations. The
dam No. which has just been finished
is a movable dam, and is the most inn
portant of the series. pools the water
Of the river from point miles below
Charleston 10 point 9la miles above
that city, and adds immensely TO the
traffic facilities Of the valuable country
1t traverses. The movable dam, II may
be observed, was first used in America
OH the Kanawha. Ii is so constructed
as to be raised or lowered according 10
the stage Ct water, being kept Up when
the water is low, and down during the
period of high water. For five months
of the year there is plenty of water In
the Kanawha for open canal-boat navi-
CATION, during which time it would be
serious Inconvenience to have 10 pass
everything through the locks. At such
time the timbers that constitute the
movable dam are kept lying al the bot
tom of the river, neither dam nor locks
being in use. As the water level falls
in the dry season, the timbers constitut-
ing the dam are pulled up, one by one,
10 such height rs the oxigencies Of nav
igation may require, and at the same
time the locks come into use as in the
case Of the permanent dam. a very
considerable commerce is served by the
new Improvements, the output Of coal
below the falls Of the Kanawba last
year having been 3l,sl5,3 1853 bushels.
When completed, according to present
expectations in 1890, Charleston aud
the region tributary to it will be placed
in reliable, safe and economical com
muEication with the great and rapidly
increasing coal.consuming markets OF
the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. The
effect in enhancing values can hardly
fail to command the appreciation OF
holders of properties situated OH the
lower reaches of the Kanawha.