Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-09-07
MAKING THIS OHIO NANIGABLE
FOR STEAMSHIPS.

MAKING THIS OHIO NANlGAbLh
FOR STEAMSHIPS.
Mr.. Ca. w. PARsoNs submitted most
interesting and important paper 60 tte
Western Waterways Convention a. Cu-
cinuaH Thurday, entitled. ''A method Of
making he Ohio river slack water nsy.-
ration river Dr. a system Of adjustable
dams, locks and chu.ss Masking 1t av-il-
able the entire year and FOG an classes Of
vessels" uMr. PAEsoN's plan, which is
appended. ia practicable, aud there seems
10 be no reason why it should not be- it
would be q glorious thing for the
Ohio Valley. The river now is uayisable
on an average little over hsli the year to
even our light draught steamboats,, and st
present. at this point, a skid has TO keep
in the channel to ge. along. Thus, at no
time is the river traffic lively ard aboat
hslftbs time il lie perfectly dead Could
this De remodied by such "a plan as Mr.
PARSONS proposes, SD az 20 render the
Ohio mo-. only nsyigable an the year b7t
Of sufficient depth for the passage of an
vessels, including the large ocean stesm-
ere. it goes without saying chat d. would
be @ great thing commercially for the Ohio
valley. Not the least iaducemeut held
ont by BIr. PARSONS ia this. his plan would
obviats the disastrous floods that occasion
allyssesp the Ohio valley Here is Ar.
PARSONS description G.. his system TO
which he invites the closest scrutiny end
seveTest test.
"The location Ct dams axe TO hs a. the
foot Of nipples with one. tFo or three foot
fan or more. The Que foot all gives su1i.
cient powlr iO raise the dem in DOB mine
utes, nv two men TO operate the Wickels
without Wrapping or twisting. tC its 1lI
heighfh, and the dam viii maintain ITS
position with g. 10 or ID feet OF water p1s5-
ing over the weir of the DAM under CONS
plete control of two men ire en- sfsres OF
water, increasing The depth cd water with
out any additional cost I'm cllstruc. lion.
Dams DO not require 90 be lowered st all
small sucker floods, maintaining on 0ren
river the entire year by breaking Up ,hc
ice and pas-icg DO on a7 slu-h and prevent
ing ice gorges from forming The power
used in raising or lowering the dam in sec-
tions of 400 or 500 Zee. Is gotten by uUhz-
ing The water 10 the hydraulic cylinder sind
piston placed under the leaves OF ihs dam.
Tue cylinder Il always iuI of wsie. au5
a8 water is inelastic the power spilled 81
instantaneous on an The pis.oa heads sh Be.
forcing the dam up 90 i.s heigb. without
warpiDg or twisting. To prevent c.oggi1g
of any of the working par.8 by snd CO.
gravel, wicseE are provided for sasline
oct the same as often ss rec,rsery- every
five minutes 81 required when water is
plenty they mag De ief- open so The time
or the dam msy be lowered "a foot or two.
which viii wash ou. 81y s1ud OF gravel iu
front of the cross heads 10 few minutes
when the dam may sssia re rsised TO its
fall height III sand o., c.avsl SHOULD ger
into the cylinder it can be Clesrsd out OF.
any tins by opening two wicSe.s. When
there JIG water enough they msy be ieit
0pen, thus keeping iha cylinder always
free. I'll the cam be- no feet or more iu
height the velocity of the water viii prc-
vent any sand or gravel from finding
Judgment
Another important feature i1 this sys
tenn is that in time or igesbsts Che dam
may be- partially lowered which VIII pre-
vent the floods from rushing ia a torrent
in the next pool. tthe dams are lowered
rapidly it causes trouble In the lower Olic,
bot bY this system the dam Is controlled
so Be 10 let en- easy low Of water from one
pool 60 the other, causing no tI0nble. By
lowering the yates Ia lex or chute The
massage 81 water Is increased and q safe
,,.ssags sfi5rded far a steamer and her