The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-13
DAM AT BELLAIRE.
This and Other Improvement Pro.
jeets Being Pushed.
RIVERS llARBoRS COMMITTEE
ofcongrsss May Take a Look at the River
between ritt.surEn and wheeling mi.
SPRING Chamber OF Commerce to Ten-
der Banqust--Ths Visit of the River
Improvement committoe TO washlns-
ton-Pro.rsst.ars Bright.


Soon after the river Improvement
convention at Cincinnati last October.
II win be remembered the Wheeling
chamber OF commerce met and. after
hearing the report of its Representa-
tivcs, began the work OF pushing the
local end Of the scheme-a movable
lock aud dam at Bella!re-by appoints
ing a river Improvement committee, OF
which MIR. Charles Burdett Hart 10
chairman. This committee has dona
effective work since that time, some OF
! its members having made one visit 10
Washington when Congress was Or
ganixing, and only last week the chair
man went to washington. where. with
President John L. Vance. OF the river
Improvement association, he was IN
conference with members OF the con-
gressIonal committees that Will pass
tinon whatever measures for river I'M
provement that are TO be brought be-
fore Congress.
The fact that the Wheeling committee
has been working for the dam, which
would be located opposite Jim's run, De-
low Beliaire, and give wheeling
slaclSwnter harbor extending to the up
OF thirteen miles, does not indicate that
the river Improvement associations
general plan OF Improvement Is not be-
ing followed. In fact, the general plan
calls for a dam at or below Wheeling,
aud as Il was understood that each
community would work for the i'm
provement nearest TO 1t, II will be seen
that there Is no conflict with the asso-
cations scheme. The idea OF each
community putting In Its best ticks for
the local end was the proposition OF
Captain Bachelor, Of Pittsburgh, who
IS probably the best posted man In the
valley on river matters. Captain BatcnI
ellor, by the way, fully endorsed Colonel
Stickney's plan for the lock and dam at
this point
Work in Warrington.
When the river improvement associa-
tion adjourned 1t was understood that
an effort was 10 be made to have an
Ohio river man placed on the house
committee on rivers and harbors. This
effort has proved successful, Captain
Doyener. OF the First West Virginia
district, being the member from the
upper part Of the Ohio valley.
Mast week Mr.. Hart, OF the chamber
OF commerce committee. was In Wash
ington, where he met the PRECEDENT OF the
Improvement association. Colonel John
i. Vance, OF Gallipolts, who at one
timerepresented the Eleventh Ohio dis.
trict In Congress There the plan OF
campaign for river Improvement was
laid out, It was thought best 70 induce
the rivers and harbors committee TO
come out and see the river. II possible.
This view was encouraged from the
fact that the committee has done this
before.
Upon leaving Washington. President
Vance went TO Pittsburgh to see what
the river interest there thought OF the
plan that had been decided upon. The
Pittsburghers approved the plan OF
having the committee taken TO Pitts
burgh and brought down the Ohio on
n ALPHABETICALLY the new Virgins
at least so far as Wheeling, SO that
its members could get in touch with
the sentiments and wishes Of the peo-
pie directly interested, view the river
and fudge of It's needs. The object in
view by the river Improvement ASSOC
citation IS TO secure for the Ohio river
a fair share OF the for
river improvement, something this
stream has never had before.
PittSbHrgh is Ready.
Mr.. Hart has received a telegram
from Colonel Vance, in which he says
that the Pittsburgh people VIII tender
the committee q banquet during IT'S
visit TO the upper Ohio. The details are
10 be arranged when Captain Doyener
gives notice OF the acceptance OF the
Invitation by the committee. Mr.. Hart,
after comforting with members Of the
Wheeling chamber of commerce, says
II Is assured that a banquet will be
rendered the committee while here. The
acceptance of the invitation has not yet
been received, but is hoped for soon.
The construction OF the lock and
dam below Bellaire would be q good
thing for this community, aside from
its Importance us a link in the scheme
of river improvement-lt would mean
the expenditure Of $4,000 right ut
{ wheeling's doorway, q large part OF
which would find Its way TO the mer-
chants Of this and surrounding towns.
Speaking OF the treatment OF the Ohio
river by Congress In the past. Mr.. Hart
calls attention to the fact that this Inn
: portnnt waterway has never received
It's Just due. The fact that Its COM
rnerce is greater than any other water
way excepting the Hudson, an arm OF
the sea, and the great lakes. Is not gen.
orally known and appreciated. even
along the river He believes that backed
with such an array Of facts the present
vii be successful. a permanent appro-
priation Is to be asked for. providing
FOR the carrying out OF the entire sys-
TEN Of Improvement on the plons OF the
United States army engineers,
Mr.. Hart regards this river improve
fnent scheme as OF the utmost impor-
lance to Wheeling, ranking with the
Wheeling 6 Connellsvillc railroad In
that respect The projected dam be-
L.. 4 kal
conflict with the plans OF Colonel
Stickney which were made public by
that true and able friend OF the river
ut the meeting OF the river improve
ment association In Cincinnati. His
plan provides for movable locks and
dams from Davis island at least to
Wheeling, and probably to Marietta.
SO II Is seen that this local movement
docs not interfere with the engineers
plans. on the contrary falling directly
in with them.