Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-10-14
COMING TO KICK.
AcoxMITTBR OF PITTsBURG RIVBRNEN TO
WAIT
On Judge R. 4. Cochran To-Day in Reference to
Closing Up the Channel Span Of the River
IN Building the Union Bridge.
The following article appeared in yester-

The following article appeared in yester-
days Pittsburg Dispatch
ga meeting was arranged yesterday at
ternoon, at the Office OF The Time Coal
Company, on Water street, between Cap
tain s. B. Rodgers, S. S. Cfump, D. b.
Blackburn and I. n. Bunton, representing
the river shippers, and ore of the mem
bers of the firm of Baird Brothers, bridge
builders, in relation to the bridge across
the Ohio river at Wheeling.
THAT bridge has two piers in the river,
making three spans over the water. I'M
mediately below The central span there is
Low island, which interferes with the
massage Of vessels with lows through that
sosu. TIE span next to the Wheeling
side of the river, or the left hand side, Is
used as the channel The contractors pro-
nose 10 close that span for the purpose OF
completing their work or the eastern end
Of the bridge, intending TO leave open the
central span for fall navigation.
"The Iivermen pointed out to Mr.. Baird
the imprscticability Of using that central
span during the fall freshet. There are
over 10 600 900 bushels of coal in barges
AWAITING SHIPMENT HERE,
and when the first freshet comes, late as t
must now be, the TOYS taken down will
necessarily be large. It would be neces-
saGy to break such tows mp into several sec
lions in order to get them through the
Wheeling bridge.
mr.. Baird said that the work Of his
firm On the bridge structure had been de-
layed by the slow building of the piers.
He would prefer TO let the work rest until
the river were either closed by ice or I'M
til the dry season next eummer, but his
firm is under contract with the bridge
company to complete the work within a
limited time. He suggested to the river
men that they should send committee to
Wheeling to confer with the members OF
the bridge company. THIS suggestion Was
considered by the river operators 20 be
proper one. A committee will be made
up to day and will probably leave to-mor'
low morning for Wheeling
"Oae of the gentlemen who attended yes
terday's meeting said: 1t is possible,
and indesd probable, that we cannot agree
with the Bridge Company. 1 sincerely
hope, however, that We can. We have
come to an amicable understanding with
the builders of the Louisville bridge, and
may ct matters fixed up With the Wheel
ing people If We do NOT. however, we in
tend
TO MAKE ANOTHER EFFORT,
and strong one, to obtain the interfer-
ence OF the Secretary Of War. 1t is not
much use to send only two or three men
TO Washington. We will endeayOr to get
Colonel Bsyne, Mr.. Delzell and, If posi-
BILE, Senator Quay 10 accompany our CON-
mittee and lend their influence TO secure
action in our behalf Colonel Bayne has
already promised 10 90 with us. or course,
Captain Wood and Mr. Bryant were il
Washington early in the week, but they
only saw General Schofsld and lefs writ
ten statement for Secretary Proctor.
A written paper of that sort has
little effect, compared with what
can be accomplished by a personal inter-
view One way or the other, the river
men are determined 70 secure their rights
10 this matter. The bridge business has
become such heavy impairment to the
free navigation OF the river, that every wa
ter operator has become stirred up on the
subject. As last resort We will see law
yers about the thing, and appeal TO the
courts for relief"
Judge Cochran wa seen about The mat
ter last evening, aud be said /:
~ received a telephone message from
Pittsburg to day asking me il wonld be
at my Office on Monday, aud l answered
yes. l was informed that the committee
would he down to-day to discuss the mat
ter OF course il is not our intention TO
delsy river travel. but il 8 our intention
to get the bridge mp as fast as possible. !
do not think the arrangement made will
interfere with navigation, and hope the
river men will zee il in that Ii ht.