Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-11
MUST HAVE THEDAMS
Pittsburg Riyermen Backing Up
Colonel Merrill's Proposition.
CAPTAIN 0'NEIL FAV0RS DIKING.
Four Locks in the Ohio River Would
Hardly be Sufficient.
A RAILROADER FAVORS WATERWAYS

The Recommendation of Colonel Merrill
10 the River and Harbor Committee, Il
build four more dams, on the style of the
Davis Island dam, between Pittsburg and
Wheeling, revives somewhat the dropping
hopes of rivermen, who have prayed these
many years for a free and navigable river
1t was the chief topic of conversation yes,
terday in the coal Offices and along the
wharf The majority of the riVermen have
implicit confidence in the ability and in.
tegrity of Colonel Merrill, and his latest
proposition to the Government meets with
their general approval.
The rapid strides made by the railroads In
recent years have thrown into the shade the
merits OF the more snail like canal, but as
the rapacity of railroad managers increases,
the necessity of inland water navigation be.
comes more urgent
WANTS THE RIVER DIKED.
Captain O'Neil has always claimed that the
Ohio river could be vastly improved by diking
the stream at a number of places. This method
would increase the volume of water, but every
thing depends on the velocity. Other riyermen
prefer the dams.
Captain Rodgers said yesterday: liam glad
to see Colonel Merrill make such recommenda'
tions. 1t is what we need, not only between
Pittsburg and Wheeling, but further down the
river. Not long since, at meeting where
Colonel Merrill made an address to river navi-
gators, he said he knew these dams would not
be built in this generation owing to the RED
tape and slow movements of the Government,
but the time would come when the work
would be accomplished 1t will be done
slowly and he advised us TO take
what We could get and wait for the balance.
These dams cost large sums and require time
to build. OF course with private enterprise
they could be constructed in short time, but
the Government doesn't work that way. L
think the Colonel will secure an appropriation
for the dam at Beaver, ard even that would
greatly help US. We must have inland naviga-
ton as offset to the railroads.
HAS CONFIDENCE IN MERRILL.
LAS to the number of dams needed between
Pittsburg and Wheeling, have confidence in
the Judgment of Colonel Merrill He knows
the descent of the river and he wouldn't say
that four were required if more were neces-
sary
Captain Joseph Walton said: "I didn't know
that Colonel Merrill had asked for an appropri-
atlon for four dams. 1t is pleasant news to me.
We need them badly. will indorse anything
about the nver that Colonel Merrill proposes
He understands his business thoroughly. The
Government should slackwater the entire river
and make it free. The success of the floating
dams has been demonstrated. What is
badly needed is better supervision of
our inland streams and their shores.
banks. and make mill sites out of property that
doesn't belong to them. Now it would be just
as easy for Uncle Sam to build these four dams
all at once. as to begin on one and then waste
money on it, by delays and petty interferences.
/ don't understand why the Government can't
execute business with the promptness of indi-
viduals. But the advantages to Pittsburg of
slack water on the entire Ohio are
too apparent to be again pointed out"
FOUR DAMS NOT ENOUGH.
Captain James A Henderson Superinten-
dent Of the Pittsburg and Cincinnati packet
line. said: Il wouldn't like to say at what
points the dams should be located. That is a
question for the engineers, and l suppose
Colonel Merrill has figured that out / am
afraid four would be hardly enough between
the two points named. Navigation is worse
between Pittsburg and Wheeling than any
where else along the river on account of the
heavy fall. 1t is difhculS to maintain fair
stage of water, because it runs away fast
From Wheeling to Cincinnati the descent is
more gradual, and the result is that navigation
is open generally to Wheeling from the
South during the dry season, from two weeks
to a month longer than to Pittsburg After
that the water becomes so low that in going
up stream you can't even reach Wheeling, and
Pittsburg is out of the swim.
ICE CAUSES THE TROUBLE.
For the last ten seasons through ice and the |
dry weather navigation with all kinds Of boats |
has been interrupted about five months out of |
the year On an average the ice interferes |
with us for six weeks, and with dams probably |
that could not be avoided, but see what we are |
now losing in the other four months when |
there is no water. series of dams would |
avoid this waste and maintain communication |
with the South ana West
when the dams are built to Wheeling they |
need to be continued as far as Cairo. Below |
the West Virginia city they could be located |
farther apart. Dams are sadly needed between |
Cincinnati and Cairo There are points be- |
tween these two places that cannot be passed |
over in dry weather. 1tis surprising how much |
traffic is carried on the Ohio river. We have |
built up large freight business, and our |
packet lines tend TO keep railroad rates at a |
reasonable figure. If we could run all the year |
around our tonnage and receipts would be |
heavier. Others lose as we do during the dry |
season. and statisticians can easily estimate |
Just what slips by Pittshurg every year because |
The rivers are not improved"
PILOT sANFoRD's VIEWS.
T. s. Sanford the pilot of the new Keystone
State, the finest packet boat running from
Pittsburg to Cincinnati, knows every inch of |
the Ohio river. He thinks that two dams are |
required between this city and Beaver. He |
does not approve entirely of Captain O'Neirs !
plan to dixie the river. though that could be |
done TO good advantage at certain places. |
bikes near a dam produce too much side |
draught, and boats are drawn into the swift |
current, swept over the dams and wrecked.
This was the fault at Marietta Island, where SO
much coal was lost some years ago.
Collector Warmcastle, who is an old freight
man and thoroughly posted on railways, was
caught for a moment at the DuQuesne. He |
said it was good thing to slack-water the Ohio
10 keep the railroads IN line. The dam scheme
is feasible, and they could be easily built-at
an enormous outlay, it is true-but the invest
ment would pay. Freight from this territory
could be shipped to the Mississippi, and
by that river could reach the North and North
west. If the water was assured all the wear
around shippers could easily arrange their
contracts to have the freight delivered at a GER
tain time. He realized that the railroads would
fight hard to prevent inland navigation, and
their millions invested in plants and rolling
stock would spur them on to great activity in
headingiof any inroads into their revenues
Mr.. Warmcastle believes, however, that the
rivers should be utilized and that better trans
portation by water is needed.