The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-10-26
RIVER RIPPLES.
Lock No. 8 about Ready for Pass
ing Steamers
Statement from Those Who Know
Boats to be at our Wharf ut an
Early Day-A Rig Time Antiei-
pated-Let Every One
Turn Out.

Special Correspondence Of the NEW DOMINION.
PITTsBURG, Oct. 15.-There being
considerable anxiety about the com
pletion of slackwater to Morgan
town, and many reports coming from
No. 5 lock, some encouraging and
others discouraging, as to the date
when boats will be locked through
your correspondent made diligent in
quiry as to the exact condition Of
the work and the probable date OF
the arrival of boats at Morgantown,
Upon arriving at Dunkard Sunday
morning, much to the surprise of the
writer, large force of men were en-
gagged in working on the lock- They
were hanging the lower gates, and
the work of hanging the gates was
expected to be finished about Tues
day evening, but it would be safe to
place it at about Thursday. The
superintendent in charge of the work
says soon as the dam is filled he will
lock boats through, using block and
tackle, provided the machinery for
such work does not arrive in time to
be properly adjusted. The dredge
boat will have about ten days work
about the the lock and dam if the
river maintains its present stage, but
should it rain sufficient to cause a
freshet, the work of the dredge boat
would be materially lessened, as the
drift and gravel washed against the
dam would secure it sufficiently tight
to fill and make the operations of the
lock perfect.
Now as to the time when the citi-
zens of Morgantown will be greeted
with the appearance of Pittsburg
packets that will touch their wharf
daily for general passenger and
freight business, it might be safe to
say, from the opinion of men thor
oughly competent to estimate, unbi-
ased and not given to sensational ru-
NOR, that about the 10th of Novem
Der such Il pleasant treat will be in
store for Morgantown's citizens, and
at least weeks notice will be given.
Your correspondent took the Jas.
G. Blaine at Dunkard creek and had
a pleasant voyage, barring the in
clemency of the weather, to Pitts
burg. Having travelled considerable
by rail and water, including the
western, southern and eastern rivers,
also coast and ocean steamers it was
never his fortune to meet more gen
erous, accommodating and obliging
set of officers than those encounter
ed on the Blaine, and from converse
ton with some of the travellers it
was learned the officers of the Adam
Jacobs were equally accommodating
and to meet Captain Cox was to like
him. Surely your people are to be
congratulated, upon the assurance
that in the near future your business
and social relations will be thrown
into the care and hands of such com
petent and obliging business men. |
will give list of the officers of the
Blaine, many of them are known well
in Morgantown and this will answer
as a sort of introduction to those
not known:
Officers of Steamer, j. G. Blaine:
Adam Jacobs, Master.
Thomas Conelly, LIST Clerk.
W. G. Fishburn, End Clerk.
Peter Donaldson. Pilot.
Hiram Donaldson, Pilot.
Phil. Sloan, LIST Engineer.
Geo. Domain, End Engineer.
Jas. Harris, Carpenter.
Arthur Christ, Striker Engineer.
lack Neel, LIST Mate.
Z. L. Jeffries, End Mate.
E. B. Mclaughlin, Steward.
The dimensions and facilities OF
the Blaine are as follows: Length,
l65 feet; breadth, At feet; hold, 81
feet; registered at 297 tons bur
den; state rooms, 40, berths, Sc; two
non-condensing engines Is inches in
diameter of cylinder, and & #. stroke
Of piston, 3 steel boilers % feet in
length and SO inches in diameter,
with steam pressure of 160 pounds
to the square inch; draught of water
81 feet.
The cabin was crowded with pas
sengers on the down trip. Among
those getting on at Dunkard Creek,
were: Mr.. and Mrs. Hayes, Mrs.
and Miss Pickenpaugh, Mrs. Watts,
the Deitrichs, of Stewartstown, Mr..
and the Misses Garrard.
At another time the scenery and
benefits of navigation to Morgan
town will be considered. 1t may be
classed as the lost-sister-in- scenery
to the renowned Hudson, but at last
the Monongahela will be wrenched
from her isolation and thousands
view her rich, enhancing scenery.
J. w. A.