Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-04
RIVER INTELLIGENCE,
The Navigation Company Would Rather Part
With Lock No. 6 Than No. 1-Rivermen
Think the Government Would be Slow
About Making Repnirs-Notes.

With Lock No. 6 Than No. 1-Rivermeu
Think the Governments Would be Slow
About Making Repnirs-Notes.
The Conference Committee of the House and
Senate in reporting the river and harbor bill
Saturday struck out the clause providing for
the condemning of Lock No. and amended it
to read lock No. 8. While the slackwater
Navigation Company do not quite relish this,
they would much prefer that lock No. 8 be con-
fiscated than lock No. l, from the fact that the
first dam on the Monongahela is a source of
much greater revenue than No. lock-
1t is the opinion of many rivermen that the
free lock will help the towns in the immediate
vicinity to great extent. Some of them were
glad that the Government even done so much
toward making the Monongahela a free
stream, but other parties who are not
interested in the Slackwater Navigation
Company think it will not be such
great benefit to rivermen after the Govern
ment assumes control of the lock. They are of
the opinion that it would be managed like other
Government works on the rivers, too slow about
making repairs when needed, and favored
private corporation to continue operating the
lockage system. The other portions of the bill
pertaining to improvements about PIttsburg
rivers, are generally favored among rivermen.
The provision for an appropriation of $500 200
for a dam at the mouth of the Beaver, and an
appropriation of s45.0O0 for the Herr's Island
q
everyone. The committee struck out the
clause, which made 1t Punishable for any
bridge corporation to obstruct navigation BY
building bridges of an insufficient height
An effort will likely be made to have this Sec
ton of the bill reconsidered, as the interests of
Pittsburg are greatly impaired by bridges on
the Allegheny river.
The structures which connect Pittsburg and
Allegheny are so low that ordinary boats cam
not run on the Allegheny. A few weeks ago
Colonel Merrill, of the United States Engineer
ing Corps, stopped the work of the rebuilding
Of the Ninth street bridge, having discovered
That il was being built eight inches lower than
the old structure and lower than the other five
bridges. Colonel Merrill notified the company
and had them reconstruct 1t on the old level.
A prominent river man in speaking of low
should be done TO have our representatives at
w ashington use their influence for the passage
of the section regarding river obstructions
The country bordering the Allegheny for MANY
efforts have been made thus far to develop
the territory, the only drawback being
the obstructing 2 bridges between the
Point aud Herr's Island. The Ship
Canal Commission selected this route |
solely on the worth of the country over the |
and French creek routes. l believe |
they calculate upon having 80 1eet of water IN |
,he channel at all times in order to allow heavy |
oaded barges to be towed here. This will be |
impossible on account of low bridges i don't |
zee how boat can be run with 80 feet of |
water in the Allegheny river, when half of our |
Iteamboats cannot navigate the river with six |
eet
The Monongahela fell below three feet yes
erday, but business was good, however, with |
ight-draught packets. Several towboats. with |
,npty barges, succeeded in coming up before |
he wickets were raised Three or four boats |
With empties could not make the rifle and were |
compelled to land below the dam. The mark /
egistered 70 at o'clock, with the wickets up, |
md three feet more will likely be in the pool |
o-day.