The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1891-03-21
The Bridges am Obstruc-
ton.

ton.
The following letter has been ad-
dressed to Major d HI. Lockwood, U.
s. Engineer in charge of the rivers in
this department., by an old river
man:
FRANKFORT, KY, March Is, 1891.
Major d. II. Lockwood, U. s. officer IN
charge Kentucky RiUer, Cincinnati,
MY DEAR SIR wish to write you
concerning the bridges on the Ken
lucky River, that are now, and have
been, source of annoyance to the
river men, who have been, or are now
engaged in navigating that stream
with their boats
will give you an account OF my
experience as navigator on the Ken
lucky river, and will show you how
the bridges not only obstruct the free
navigation of that stream, but how
they cause detention and loss to
those who are engaged in running
boats on the Kentucky river, &c.
In 1883 put the Fannie Freese in
the Kentucky river trade. In that
year was compelled to lay up on &C
count Of bridges thirty three days
and q great many times during that
time we had full crew of men and a
heavy cargo of freight. l have laid
with my boat for two weeks at one
bridge, and very often had to remove
the freight from the boat and haul it
by wagons to railroad and reship
it by rail, as my shippers would get
tired of waiting, and compel me to
deliver their goods, and l was COM
PEELED to do so at great loss and
sacrifice to myself and loss to the
shippers as we'll. All this occurred in
1888.
In 1884 I lost thirty-sevend days, with
same transfers, costs and damages to
freight as those referred too above.
I also lost pilot house and a portion
of the texas of the boat knocked off
and torn away by the Worthwhile
bridge. To repair the same it cost me
nearly $500.
In 1884 I got to the Worthwhile
bridge with large cargo of freight,
where l was compelledto lay for a
week on account Of high water, paid
the crew off and remained for a few
days longer, employed another crew
and returned to Louisville, unloaded
freight and hauled and shipped it by
rail, all on account of the obstruction
of the Worthwhile bridge, loss to me
of from $500 to 500.
In 1885 put the Hibernia in the
Kentucky river trade and lost that
year, from detention by the bridges,
forty-three days, fourteen days of
the time l was caught above the
Frankfort wooden bridge, coming
down from Oregon, with Is head of
cattle, some hogs, 2 horses, all for
Louisville. | was again compelled to
reship them by rail from Frankfort,
at another great loss to me. When
we got under the bridge we hurried
through, in order to get over Dam
No. about two miles below Worth
vile bridge, lost my boat; she got
aground and broke into. 1t cost me
$500 to repair her.again. On account
of the Frankfort bridge | was COM
PEELED to unload 500 whiskey barrels.
They were all swept away by the
rapid, rising river, and it cost me
from 25c. to SOC. each for catching
them; many were lost entirely. Said
loss l had to make good, all on ac-
fort bridge. Nor is this all / could
WTlU6 YOU vi uhouooho ioooOb w
myself and other boats of like charac-
ter, following delays caused by the
bridges obstructing navigation on
this river, to say not word Of the
immense loss that is annually sustain
ed by the shippers along this river.
In 1887 lost twenty-one days. with
similar trouble and expenses as in
the above referred too.
In 1888 we got caught at Frankfort
above the wooden bridge, and in at
tempting to pass under the bridge
we tore off the pilot house and a por-
ton of the texas of the boat. We lost
in this year thirty-three days, all told,
by being detained by the bridges.
The permanent obstruction to nav
igation of the Kentucky river, from
its mouth to Shakers Ferry, are the
Worthwhile and the two bridges at
Frankfort. They cause a cotinual,
but sure, blockade of the stream in
high water. They are curse to navi-
CATION and nuisance of the worst
character.
To open commerce of this river like
it should be opened by the Govern
ment, that is free and uninterrupted