Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-11-26
IMPROVE THE Ohio.
CAPT. PHILLIPS THINKS FEB SIREAM SEOULD
BE EAVIGABLE ALL YEAR
And the Government Should Issas Bonds to Raise
tho Money Necessary for The Work
The Visit Of the Congress
sioaal Committee

Capt. John NJ. Phillips, master OF the
Iron Queen, one Of the most popular
packets on the upper Ohio, came down
from Pittsburg yesterday afternoon, ac-
companied by Pilot Ed. Mclaughlin. The
Queen has beer lying above the Suspen-
sion bridge for more than three months.
owing to the low water. The improba-
bility of an early ri sc, and the posslolllty
of the river closing soon, influenced capt.
Phillips in Determining TO take the d
up TO Pittsburg. Steam was raised IN the
boilers yesterday afternoon, and the Queen
cleared for that point last night
Capt. Phillips was seen 0y a REGISTER
reporter yesterday afternoon, and cnatted
pleasantly about river matters. de re-
ported hat ice was coming out OF the Ale
gheny yesterday morning, and WIFI only
four and a half feet below the Davis Island
dam. and with a continuation OF the cold
weather, the chances for therlver Closing
he regarded as very bright.
Although this seldom happens as early
in the winter, IL will be remembered that
in 1851. the river WAS closed on Thanks
giving Day, and ice has formed to such an
extent as TO interfere with navigation,
several times before the first OF December.
"What with low water in summer ana
the river closed in winter" said Captain
Phillips, "the past few years have been
the reverse of prosperous with the steam
boat interests. The Iron Queen tied up
on June 9TH, and with the exception OF 4
single round trip, has not been running IN
her trade since. But the expenses go
bravely on, however. Do you wonder that
river men are urging the Importance OF ap-
propriations by Congress for improve
ments which Will MAKE navigation possible
all the year, as far up as Pittsburgh The
reply we received from the River and
Harbor Committee of Congress, on the &C.
casion Of their recent visit to Plttsourg,
was that there were so many demands
upon the National Treasury for Gpproprla-
lions for work to benefit internal naviga-
ton that it was impossible TO set aside
such q large sum as would be required 10
make the upper Ohio navigable the year
around without doing an injustice to
other river interests throughout the
country. The government is now at work
upon twenty important and expensive
river and harbor improvements, and some
two hundred and fifty or three hundred
Jobs of lesser magnitude. The most prac-
ticable plan, in my opinion, would De
TO undertake the work, and II sufficient
funds cannot be appropriated to
issue bonds TO make up the de-
iciency. They can be no question
as TO the feasibility of the project To so i'm
prove the river as TO make it always navi-
gable. The Davis Island dam gives US now
never less than 6 feet of water at Pittsburg
during low water periods. The Beaver
dam, now being constructed, will also aid
the river interests. The desired end will
probably be accomplished eventually,
through comparatively small annual appro-
priations, but it should be done at once.
''The River and Harbor Committee came
to Pittsburg at the invitation OF the o
Exchange, and took a trip up the Monon-
gahela on the Bachelor. l am satisfied
that few, if any, of the distinguished states
men had an adequate conception OF the
magnitude of the industrial inter
of the Ohio and tributary streams. The
amount of coal in the pools, awaiting q
sufficient rise TO float it TO the Southern
markets, was alone a wonderful object
lesson. They were deeply impressed with
all that they saw, and their visit Will prob
aoly result in legislation beneficial to the
river interests in this section.
1.-THE Exchange had for its principal OBJ
iects in extending its invitation-hrst, Ia
show the Importance Of the Ohio
and it's a6iuents as public high
WAYS; and second, to urge the
purchase by the United States govern
ment, Of the locks and dams IN the Mon
ongahela. These locks and dams are a.
present owned and controlled by private
corporations, and the coal men are com
PEELED to pay tolls and lockage, placing
Them at a manifest disadvantage
in competition with the coal operators o.
the Kanawha Valley, since the Kanawh'
improvements are under government con
troll, and the product Of the mines in eact
| section reaches the SAINT market.
Capt. Phillips had charge Of the Batch
elor on the occasion Of the inspection touI
up the Monongahela.