Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-13
WEATHER TOO SOFT
For Very Rapid Progress by the State
Ship Canal Commission.
SIX SURVEYORS TO START OUT
As Soon as the Usual Spring DampneSs Has
Had Its Day and Gone
A VALUABLE COLLECTION OF DATA

The Pennsylvania Ship Canal Commits
sion met yesterday forenoon, in their regular
monthly session, in the Office of the commits
sion, in the Penn building. Chairman
Wood, Messrs. Roberts, Shellenberger and
Goodwin were present. In the absence of
Secretary Brewer, OF Erie, who has been
unable to attend the last two meetings,
Colonel 7. P, Roberts was elected temporary
secretary.
The work of the commission is not as far
advanced IS it was thought one month ago
it would be by this time. It had been ex-
pected that the engineers would be able to
be out on their field work. Unfortunately
the weather has been such, Mr.. Good
win reported, that it was found i'm
possible to make the surveys which
are desired, especially in the neighborhood
of the summit level As it is water after
which the commission is seeking, the pro-
posed line runs through wet and marshy
grounds. The soft weather renders 1t i'm
possible for engineers to work in such places.
One Of the members of the commission said
that it would probably be necessary to post
pone the field work until after the usual wet
season Of the spring. The commissioners
expressed regret over this fact.
VALUABLE DATA COMPILED.
Both Mr.. Goodwin and Colonel Roberts,
the e: gineers of the commission, reported
progress in the collection of data from previous
surveys and examinations made for railway
and other purposes, which will prove Of value
in the final compilation of a report. With the
4H,so daT fho Tvh
will be required, may not occupy more than
few months time
The engineering corps will be composed of
about six surveyors Mr.. Goodwin will have
active charge of the work at the northern end,
and Colonel Roberts at the southern end OF the
line.
Il has been decided, as soon as the Ohio river
falls TO a suitable stage, to make a survey be-
tween Davis Island dam and Beaver. No con-
tinuous survey of this portion of the river has
been made since 1888 and since then there have
been many changes IN the river.
Colonel Roberts announced that he had re-
ceived from Colonel William E. Merrill, the
United States Engineer, the maps of the Allie
gheny river from Franklin to Pittsburg, made
by the Government many years ago. 1t may
not, therefore, be necessary TO survey that por-
ton of the river.
Messrs. Roberts and Goodwin will shortly 60
to Harrisburg 70 consult number of old maps
which are in the possession of the State.
KEEPING WITHIN THE LIMIT.
One of the members of the commission said
yesterday: "The commission is desirous of
making as exhaustive a report as possible on
the engineering features of the country, and
have reason to believe that they will get
through their worE in a manner satisfactory to
themselves and TIE public, without exceeding
the means allotted for the purpose"
Although the commission has been at work
for several months-has made tour of the
route and has collected many maps and much
interesting information, its expenses have been
very small Out of the $4,000 appropriation
which is IN the hands OF the State Treasurer
only "a couple hundred dollars" as one of the
commissioners put II, has been expended.