Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-24
ONE YEARS PROGRESS
In Improving Navigation on the Ohio
and Its Tributaries.
MOVABLE DAMS ARE DESIRED,
Also Considerable Amount Of Money to
Complete the Work Begun.
STATUS OF HERR'S ISLAND MATTERS
rFRoM STAFF ooRREsroNpxNr. !

rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, July 23.-Colonel Mer
riil, the engineer in charge OF the works OF
the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny
rivers, to-day submitted to the Secretary o
War his report Of the improvements mad,
during the last fiscal year, and his estimates
for the coming year. The report is very
voluminous. In regard to the great system
of improvements, the beginning of which j.
the dam at Davis Island. Colonel Merrill
says: 1.-THE most important work that car
be done on the Ohio river is to extend the
system of movable dams, of which the dan
at Davis Island is the type. AS the pend
ing river and harbor bill has an item
for beginning movable dam, 'at
or below the mouth of the Beaver
river" it is assumed that the bill will
become q law and therefore an estimate is
made for continuing the work. Meanwhile
it is OF interest to navigation that the con-
struction of submersible dams and dikes
continue, and that the work of dredging
and removing snags shall not be Uninterrupted.
THE MONEY TO BE EXPENDED.
There is now available for improvement
of the Ohio a balance of $50. 1856. The
amount recommended to be expended dur
Ing the next fiscal year on the Ohio is SS70, :
600, distributed as follows:
For low dams and dikes. $500, 900: construc-
tion of movable dam at Beaver, $3.50 600; rock
bar at the mouth OF Licking river. $50, 0U0;
removal of snags, SIS 600; dredging. $4,000: re-
moval Of rock reefs between Paducah and
Cairo $35 000; general administration, ETC., S35-
COZ. Cost of the destruction Of shipping by
collisions with bridge during the two years
ending June so, 1855, as follows: Beaver bridge
$50; Sueubenville bridge. S903OS; Wheeling
nd ~srrc n, IlnI1, G
Parkersburg S6S, S22; Newport ana Cincinnati,
50 lG7; Ohio Falls $50, $50 and others smaller
sums, making grand total of S523,0l6
Captain William Martin reports TO Colonel
Merrill in regard to the operation of the DAVIS
Island dam that the bear trap, drift gap. and
other parts of the dam improved upon. are now
in fair working order, with prospect of their
remedying all the faults in the operation of the
dam. During the year the drift gap was CON-
pleted and put in operation, and there is every
reason to believe IL will answer the purpose OF
disposing Of logs, DRIFT etc.
ONE SERIOUS TROUBLE,
1t was found that the suction in the openings
drew in gravel and small drift which interfered
with the working of the gates. but this was
remedied by high sliding top on each of the
upper leafs. Report is made of the compile
ton Of the dam between Davis and Neville
Islands, and its damage to some extent by
Moods, which will be SO effectually repaired
the Davis island dam last year was Sl39z7 u
and the amount asked for next year is Sl4752
Captain Martin reports satisfactory progress
OF work at the various points on the Mononga-
hela and Allegheny. For continuing the i'm.
provement at Morgantown the balance availa-
Bile is S,5l3. and the amount asked for
next year is $4,000. Mr.. Martin recouuts
in his report the negotiations for the
purchase of lock and dam No. of the works of
the Monongahela Navigation Company, how
the viewers fixed the price at sos. 3SS So when
they admitted they cost but SlSO,00o and were
in bad condition; how he appealed from the re-
port of the viewers and how the case went to
court where it will be tried next November,
of the Herr's Island matter Mr. Martin states
that at the time of writing hIs report all thar
was wanting to complete the purchase of
ground hitherto in dispute was the making of
the deed He expresses the opinion that the
ordinance granting the necessary land on
the Allegheny side will go through the
Councils and refers TO the stipulation of the
Councils for movable DAM while the present
plans are for fixed dam. He makes no recon-
mendation, but merely states that If the Gov
eminent acquiesces in the request for a NOV
able dam the plans Will have to be changed.