Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-02
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
In This State-Amounts Allowed The
Rivers and Harbors.

Special Telegram to the Register.
WASHINGTON, January 1.-The Sec
retary of the Treasury has asked the
Committee on Appropriations to allow
the following amounts for the care and
preservation OF public buildings in West
Virginia during the next fiscal year:
Wheeling Custom House, sl,s9O;
Clarksburg Court Honse and postoffice,
81 $50: Charleston Court Honse and
postoffice. sl,740; Parkersburg Court
House and postoffice $3.50.
The Court Of Claims has certified to
Congress its action on the following
claims of citizens Of West Virginia,
which were referred TO il for adjudica-
tion:
Il. w. Baown, administrator OF Il. w.
Herbert, jefferson county; military
stores taken by the army; amount al
lowed, 81 100.
The following, after hearing, were re-
jected:
John ID. Conard, jefferson county,
amount claimed. Ss2i; Elijah Lilly,
amount claimed, Si4l4.50; George Deck,
Berkeley county, amount claimed, $500;
Robert 5. Flagg, executor OF Thomas
G.. Flagg, Martinsburgh, amount
claimed, S4452.50; Ruth ). Gillian, Po-
ahontas county, amount claimed, S425.
The Court says these claimants failed
to make satisfactory proof OF their los
| ses.
The Postmaster General has informed
Congress that he has taken action on
the following claims of postmasters in
| West Virginia by Losses sustained by
their offices by reason by reason OF burg
larry or other casualty not their own
| fault:
C. w. Kunst, Grafton, Sl25, loss by
burglary, allowed: John I. Jarrett, Jar
rett, S22, fire, allowed L. Snyder, Shelf
fy, 81 Loo, fire, allowed; ID. A. Miller,
Silver Hill, Sab, fire, allowed.
Colonel Craighill, OF the engineers,
has submitted special report on the
improvement of the Elk river in COM
pliance with the River and .Harbor bill
OF the last session. The following are
its more essential portions:
a survey was made OF this river in
1875. Estimates were given for two
methods Of improvement. One of these
consisted in the removal of snags, rocks,
overhanging trees, etc, and the cutting
of narrow sluices through the rapids
and shoals, the chief interests to be sub
served being those of numbering and
rafting, as also the movement, in small
er boats. of much country produce with
a return OF merchandise. This project
was estimated to cost 100000. Under
this project the first appropriation was
made of $1,000 June Is, 1878, and the
last of $4,000 by the river and harbor
act of September 10, 1890. The amount
expended up TO this date has been s2l,-
Ois.40, with great advantage TO the nav
igation of the river and to the manifest
benefit OF the country through which il
flows. This method of improvement
should be continued.
The second method OF Improvement
estimated for in the report OF 1875 was
for locks and dams. The amount was
81, 500, 900. This has not been entered
upon, and in my Judgment the prospec-
tive needs OF commerce do not warrant
it. Should, however, Congress decide
otherwise, it should be with the knowl-
edge that the coal trade now requires
larger locks than were deemed necessa-
ry for fifteen years ago, and the esti-
mate for an improvement by locks and
dams must be Increased to 81, 500, 900 II
carried to Sutton, 100 miles from the
mouth of the river, or 81, 100000 if car
ried to a point little above Big Otter
creek, about 81 miles from the mouth
of the river.