Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-04-03
THE Canal PROJECT.
A MEETING OF THE CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
Called for Tomorrow Evening to
Consider it-Some ofthe Ben
efts Which Would Result
From the Completionof
the Work-Pitts-
burg Already
Jealous.

burg Already
Jealous.
The business men and manufactur-
ers in this city continue to manifest
the liveliest interest in the proposition
made by Col. G.. A. Karwiese, as de-
tailed in the Sunday edition of the Reg
lister, to open a waterway connection
between Wheeling and the Lakes by
tapping the old Ohio canal at or near
Ironton, and yesterday a call was Is
sued for a meeting of the Chamber OF
Commerce. tomorrow evening, to lis
ten to explanations and statements
from Colonel Karwiese, pertaining to
the project, and also for preliminary
interchange OF opinion among our own
people. To a reporter for the Register,
yesterday, Colonel Karwiese expressed
his lively satisfaction at the interest
which had been shown in the matter
by the people of Wheeling, upon snort
notice. and said he hoped there would
be a large turnout of business men at
the meeting of the Chamber.
Talkingof some of the benefits which
would accrue TO this city and sur
rounding country from the construc-
ton of the proposed canal, the Colonel
said
1.-The benefits in the way of cheap
freights will be very great, putting
aside for the moment all consideration
of the increased business bound 10 re-
suit. and the added importance which
the completion of the project Will give
this city. / believe the lowest freight
rate from Cleveland TO Wheeling, so
far. has been lightweight cents per
ton, ranging from that upward. L VIII
undertake to guarantee that the canal
will make the maximum rate just half
the present minimum rate, or forty
four cents per ton. Surely that IS
very considerable inducement TO the
business men of Wheeling"
Speaking of another phase of the
matter the Colonel said
at not alone present business inter-
ests and conditions which must be con-
sidered. Other things figure in this
enterprise. We hope for enlarged bus
mess conditions, for better facilities,
and for a wider field. We must look
to tapping the great coal and coke
fields of Pennsylvania, and provide
means of shipping the product of that
region to the northwestern market. In
other words, the Wheeling and Con-
nellsville railroad must be built. 1t
would give us great and two-fold ad-
vantage 1t would enable our iron and
steel manufacturers TO obtain cheap
fuel, it would bring a vast coal and
coke carrying trade to this city, and
would make this a great centre for ad-
vantageous manufacturing as well as
a great shipping point. The develop
ment of the coal fields east of Wheel
ing means future commercial advan-
tages of the greatest Importance, and
the completion of the canal in connec-
ton with this development would add
an incalculable advantage. The two
things are necessary to one another, II
the full value of both are to be realized.
Give Wheeling these two enterprises,
and Pittsburg's advantages as a manu-
featuring centre would no longer be
superior In fact, that city itself fully
appreciates the danger of the futu4 e,
as will be seen by the frantic efforts
she is making to secure a ship canal TO
the lakes. 1t is the ambition of her
great manufacturers and business men
to make Pittsburg virtually a Lake
port, and unless they succeed her posi-
ton is lost. Mr.. Andrew Carnegie re-
allied what was coming when he made
a great investment at Cleveland with
view to locating his big iron and steel
manufacturing business there. The
proposed Pittsburg canal is a dream.
1t will not be realized. The distance
is too great, the lockage required will
be immense. and the cost beyond all
present estimates. The Wheeling and
Cleveland project is many times sim
pier. Two-thirds of the work is al
ready accomplished, and the rest is not
beyond a reasonable effort. 1t remains
with Wheeling to say whether or not
it shall be a success"
Apropos of the Pittsburg. ship canal
project. it may be said that a commit
tee of the Cleveland Chamber of Com
merce. after an exhaustive and careful
enquiry. have come to the conclusion
that the scheme is impracticable, and
have declined to endorse it. The COM
mittee estimates the cost of the locks
alone on the proposed Pittsburg canal
at SIS. 600 900, and the cost of the en-
tire work at $5O,0OO,000, and in addi-
ton to this. they say that even If the
work were finished, the time required
to send boats and ships through the
canal would be so great as TO make
the enterprise of doubtful CONNER
cial value" No such criticism can
be applied to the project outlined for
Wheeling. and that it possesses merit
for our city is shown by the enthusi-
asm with which certain of the Pitts
burg papers have jumped upon the en-
terprise already. Without knowing
much about it. they are denouncing il
in advance. all of which goes to show
that Pittsburg has a realizing sense OF
the Importance of the idea for Wheel
ing and the blow it would strike at
Pittsburg's business interests.
Everybody Talking About 1t.
Everybody is talking about the great