Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-09
THE RIVER BRIDGES.
What Captains Wood and Bryant Ac-
cOmplished at Washington
APPEAL TO THE WAR DEPARTMENT
Vigorous Protest Against the Obstruction
of Navigation.
RELIEF RIVERMEN HOPE 10 SECURE

Captain John A Wood, of this city, and
Mr.. j. w. Bryant, of New Orleans, Ie-
turned to the city yesterday from Washing
ton, where they went to file protest with
the Secretary of War against the delay IN
the repairs of the Pittsburg and Lake Erie
bridge at Beaver.
Secretary Proctor was not in Washing
ton, being in New England with the
American International Congress delegates.
The visitors called upon the acting secre-
tary. General Schofeld, and presented to
him the bridge resolutions adopted by the
National Board of Steam Navigation, pho
tographic views of the Beaver ana Wheel
ing bridges, and a written statement of the
grievances of the river operators against the
bridge builders.
The river men complain of the tardiness
with which the work on the Beaver bridge
is being done. Mr.. Bryant said: SIT seems
almost as if the contractors were dragging
the work along for the express purpose of
obstructing navigation"
General Schofeld declined to express any
opinion as to what could be done, but
promised that the War Department would
afford all the relief in its power. The mat
ter will be referred to Colonel Merrill, at
Cincinnati, the engineer in charge of the
Ohio river. On his report of the condition
of affairs the department will act.
COULDN'T WAIT FOR PROCTOR.
Secretary Proctor is expected to return to
Washington tomorrow, but Messrs. Wood
s. Bryant were unable to wait until that
time The delegates met number of the
principal river operators at the office Of
John A. Wood g. Son yesterday fornoon,
and reported to them what had been done.
Mr.. Bryant said to a reporter for The
DISPATCH: "An appeal to the Secretary
OF War is the only action practicable for
us. The wo.k on the Beaver bridge has
been authorized by special act of Congress,
and it is doubtful if it could be stopped by
the courts. 1t the river men would appeal
to the courts for an injunction or writ Of
mandamus it would be incumbent on them
to show that they have suffered actual
damage. This they could not do at the
present time. The damage is prospective,
nd consists in the fact that when the
expected fall freshet comes the operators
will be unable to take advantage of il.
Besides that, it would cost great deal of
money to prosecute legal action. The rail-
roads employ their attorneys by the year,
and like nothing better than to get a man
into court and wear him out by legal
delays.
A FINE OF ONLY $500.
We were to secure the aid OF the Attorney
General of the United States. He could OBJ
tain the infliction of a penalty on the rail-
road company of only $500 month. The
company could pay that for one month, and
proceed right along to continue the obstruc-
lion. What would railroad company care
for fine of $500 month in such a work?
There is, thus, no practicable relief for US
under the law.
"The Secretary of War cannot, sup
pose, take any summary action either to
stop or expedite the work. About the only
thing which we hope for him to do is to
recommend prompt procedure by the rail-
road company. l think that communica-
ton from him would have effect, because
the railroad people have many reasons for
cultivating the good will of the War De-
partment.
The work about 10 be done on the bridge
of the Wheeling syad Lake Erie Railroad at
Wheeling wilE If the intentions Of the con-
tractors are carried out, be a serious obstruc-
ton to navigation. They are preparing to
close the right hand span channel, which is
the channel used by boats and tows. They
will leave the central span open, but Just
below that there is an island, so close to the
bridge, that vessels with tows have not room
to make around to the right of the island. 3"
The river men are determined to file pro-
test upon protest with the War Department
until some relief is secured.