The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-31
RIVER IMPROVEMENT
Senator Quay's Plan Receives
nathusIastie support.
OAAEE The M0NONGlaELA FREE
Aud 70 Give tho Ohio a NayIgable
Stage From Pittsburgh 20 oaIFo,
The Plan outlinsd-yisws OF Vol.
Kpowa River aIeu-what il Would
Mean for WhoeIIpg.

OF Tuesday had the following, which IL
Of great interest TO the people Of the
Ohio and MonopRahela valleys;
Senator Quay's plan to make the No.
n%opgahela free aud improve the Ohio.
river by building a sysIen 0 ilocks and
dams between this city and Cairo. SO as
to give the Ohio river a havlgable stage
oil the year, has aroused the utmost en-.
thusiasm, not only in this city, but in.
the south and along the great lakes.
RIyermen and thols identified with
river interests, say that tits some OF the
grandsst ideaa that has been conceived
in many years.
As has been published, Senator Quay
proposes TO raise S200000,0O0 to inn
prove all the waterways OF the United
States by increasing the duty on raw
sugar one cent O pound, which will net
tile government $50. 10000 year aud
improve the river without %eneroaching
on the revenues OF the government.
This amount alone would complete the
alack.water aystem between this city
and Cairo, The work could be accom-,
pllshed in q few years, aud II would.
give employment to every man who de.
sired work in the Ohio and Mississippi
valleys.
The riyermen hold that the idea adj
yanced by Senator Quay Ia the result OF
the meetings the rivermen have had in
the past month in the interest OF inn
proving the free highways Of the nation.
rliole best poaEed say that the proposed
increase OF the duty on raw sugar will
stimulate the industry In this country,
and be Of untold beneitto the planters.
They contend that any legislation en-.
acted to benefit the rivers Ia q public
benefit, and those who may be COM
PEELED to pay the revenue will reap the
benefit OF II in the end.
Capt William Martin, the govern
ment engineer in charge Of the Davis
Island and Beaver dams, Is very much
in favor Of Senator Quay's planIo i'm
prove the rivers. and from him was
learned much about the practical needs
OF the rivera and how they are inn
proved in other countries. Capt Mar
tin said: Senator Quay's plan to get
enough money to improve the rivers 10
sensible, In France a certain amount
of money is appropriated every year
for river improvements, and the
amount is,nlaeed in afund. They have
a chief engineer, who places the money
whera II is' most needed and where tile
results OF Improvements will be of the
most benefit. France to-day leads the
ywR.ll a. f.N ao 1.aR ~ NnNnal aHaIHa ara,
concerned, aud Ibelieye that II Senator
Quay's proposed bill is passed 1t would
DO q capital idea to place the money in
the hands Of a competent engineer to
say where it shall be spent.
"fhe senator is quoted as saying that
$50, 100000 will be netted annually II
the duty on raw sugar 10 increased one
cent a pound. This amount OF money
would build the sixty.eight dams be-.
tween this city and Cairo, the number
necessary to complete the slack water
system. The government has now bad
much practical experience In building
dams, and every dam that Is built will
cost losl than the preceding one. This
10 being proven at the present time by
the building OF the Beaver dam. II the
river Is improved Iome style OF wicket
would OF course be decided on, aud the
work could be so arranged that II could
be done much cheaper than has been
roughly figured. The understanding Of
Iuch a gigantic enterprise would create
q remarkably prospetous era in this
| country, as Ii would furnish work to al
most every man who resides along the
country adjacent to the rivers who dc.
sired work. This, Of course, would
mean employment TO thousands OF man
the greater portion Of every year for
many years. Now IL the time to i'm.
prove the riyors, that the people who
IRE making tho rivers what they are in
commercial Importance to Pittsburgh
can enjoy them. After we are dead aud
gone they will not benefit US. What
we need Is the actuHl improvements, and
l hope that Senator Quay's plan will be
carried out without delay"
Capt John +. bravo, the champion
OF tho free Monongahela river, 10 simply
boiling with enthuSiRlm over Senator
Quay's plan TO secure rivor improve.
msnts. III an interview he said: "sen.
ator Quay's idea 10 broad and. states
manlike comprehension OF the stu.
alton. It recognizes the rivers as be.
longing to the people for their FREQ use,
and tho money, belongs to the people,
aud should be expended for their con-
y~enience and advantage. all the rivera
Of the nation arc entitled 10 the helpful
support Of the government Ia proper.
ton to their commercial Importance.
II Senator Quay can carry into oxecu.
ton his proposed scheme Of river i'm.
provements he will deIerye tho graft.
tude Of the people, and DO the most
popular statesman In America. The
carrying out OF this scheme would give
employment to thoulands Of men, die
tribute large sums Of money among the
people and help all industries Of the
nation. The doctrine Of protection oil
American labor aud the principle Of
common equity demand that the sugar
industry should DO protected as we'll az
other luduStrieI, IL being an American
institution, and will load TO the pro.
ducllon Of sufficient sugar TO supply all
homo wants, which isthe ultimate aim
aud purpose Of tRrlll leglalaIion.p
Capt. William =. Rodgers, the coal