The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-26
HARBOR INSPECTED
Yesterday Afternoon by the United
States Engineer Board,
HaRB0R LINES NOT YET SETTLED
Tho Boards Work here Completed.
The Final Work and Preparation of
the Report to the Secretary of War
TO be Done Later-The Trip on the
Liberty,

The hearing of arguments by the
board OF engineers from the engineer
corps OF the United States army, COM
posed OF Major Stickney, who presided,
and Major Lockwood, ipregsrd tothe pro-
posed harbor lines on both sides Of the
river from upper Martins Ferry to
BeIIaire, was concluded yesterday morn
ing, the session being in the second
branch council chamber. II was COM
payatlve short one, commencing shortly
after 10 o'clock and adjourning sine die
at II o'clock, Several arguments were
made, and written communications on
the subject handed to the board for its
consideration,
II was announced that the board Of
engineers, accompanied by those inter-
ested in the matter, would go over the
scene on board the steamer Liberty,
starting at 1880, but Captain Booths
packet was late IN arriving from below,
so the start was not made until nearly
2 o'clock. Before this the board looked
over the scene OF the proposed stone
wall which the Pewiky road wants to
build out on the wharf twenty-five feet
west Of the present rails at q point OPP
posite the passenger station; the wall
to start at a point almost under the
steel bridge, where 1t will be ten feet
west of the present tracks. From the
twenty-five foot mark 1t is intended to
run the wall in straight line to q
point opposite the Windsor alley whore
it will converge with the single track
there. The railroad people claimed
that the wall as proposed would not in
jure the river interests and that 1t
would occupy an unused portion OF the
wharf. Chief Engineer Becker and Mr..
w 7. Hubbard presented the case to
the government engineers. The river
men are violently opposed to the con-
struction OF such wall along the river
front, and claim 1t would be a menace
to river interests during high water.
Mr.. j. Frank Tulley, OF the Pittsburgh
Coal Exchange, Wharimaster Crockard
and Mr.. Alfred Caldwell presented the
river mems side OF the question. The
matter was taken under consideration
by the engineers.
1t was 2 o'clock when Captain Booth
had his miscellaneous cargo OF "iruits
and furniture" otherwise cabbage,
hoop poles and such, unloaded and the
start made on the inspection tour by
the board OF engineers and others inter-
ested, including manufacturers, railroad
men and rivermen.
The Liberty's prov was turned up
stream and an inspection made Of the
condition OF the bank on the West Vir-
giRia side OF the stream. The first
point OF interest was at the foot Of
Ninth street where considerable gil
projects into the stream for some dis
lance. An old steamboatman called at
tention TO the fact that this thorough
fare was formerly the busiest street
leading to the river, and that the city's
whartboat was formerly located at the
foot Of that street. What change
few years has brought about,
AT the North Wheeling glass works
and above at the Top mill big fills stick
out into the river, the one at the latter
place being especially large.
The first stop was made at the Mar
tins Ferry landing and the situation
with reference to the proposed Wheeling
& Lake Erie extension down the river
front examined. The river men claim
the tracks and trestles as surveyed will
form an obstruction TO free NAVIGATION
Of the river, and that easy access to the
landing from the street will be impossi-
BILE.
at the Benwood furnace above the
Martins Ferry landing is seen one OF
the biggest fills along the river, nearly
an acre in extent Just above 1t, how
ever, the bank has been dug away by
brick works for the valuable clay which
lies exposed on the bank.
AT the Laughlin mill, farther up, that
concern has, within the past year, built
a steamboat landing, which forms
long narrow peninsula sticking out into
the stream. 1t is built OF cinders and
Stag. Above the Laughlin landing is
located the Martins Ferry water works
pumping station, which, during high
water, Is away out from the shore
AT this point the Liberty turned and
started down stream, the purpose being
to inspect the banks below the city.
At the Terminal bridge on the way
down a Pittsburgh tow boat with coal
in tow was passed, Tho engineers were
in the pilot house at the time, as were
nearly allofthe other passengers, and the
subject OF river transportation came up
Mr. Tulley, OF the Pittsburgh Coal Tx
change, was authority for the statement
that the coal In tow aggregated nearly
three hundred thousand bushels. 10
transport this immense quantity by rail
would require six hundred cars, or over
forty trains, and would involve several
times more expenditure for freighta
than by the river route. The incident
clearly demonstrated the importance OF
protecting tho river interests, which
are generally deprecated in these days
OF fast rail transportation. Without
the great natural water routes to the
south 1t would be impossible TO send
Pittsburgh coal 10 that section.
Below the city wharf the 6rst objects
to be observed and commented on were
the Pewiky and Ohio River tres.
ties, which take up nearly tho whole
bank at a Medium stage Of water. Cap.
tain Booth was OF the opinion that they
should never have been allowed TO be
built there.
In front OF the Riverside furnace
great patch Of made ground sticks out
into tho river, but not nearly 30 large
aa that at tho Rtveraide'a Bonwood
plant Another big piece s In front OF
the Bcllairo iron works on tho Ohio side
OF tho river. While passing the Ball.