The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-02-27
LATEST NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.
THE MONONGAHELA RIVER.
No Money This Year, but COngrcssmen Ao-
cept Junket Invitation.

Tho old story with regard to the freeing Of
me Monongahcla TO general navigation was
repeated 10 the House Committee Oh Rivers
and IIarbors Thursday morning.
There were present the representatives OF
the Monongahola Navigation Company plead
ing for Il to be allowed to live. or II ii must
cease TO have the Government pay proper
price for IT, There were representatives Of
the Coal Exchange and the National Board
OF steam Navigation On hand 20 show good
reasons why the river should be made free.
The hearing was not satisfactory,as as scarce
ly half n dozen members of the committee
were present. Nearly all Of them have heard
the arguments pro and con in this ease be-
fore, and there seems 10 bc n settled idea that
no money will be appropriated this year for
the purchase Of the plant, SO the interest vas
not very marked.
The River and IIarbor Committee intends
making "A tour of the Monongahola and Ohio
rivers next month and will look more fully
into the needs of that section then. They
expect 20 start from Fairmont, W. Va. about
the 18th ~ March. run down the MonOnga-
hola 90 Pittshurg. From pttshurg 10 Gin
cinnati the committee will boz the guests Of
Captain Il. u. Blackburn on his new steamer
virginia.
Captain bravo presented most interest
ing argument. saying among other things:
few facts will demonstrate the great
commercial value Of the MOnongahoa river
the commcrc" Of which exceeds the comhin-
cd value Of that Of ID other main tributaries
Of the Ohio. which have cost the National
Government s1i,Si5.sl2. while not one dol.
lar Of Government funds has been expended
IN the improvement Of the ~ miles OF the
Monougnhcln in Pennsylvania. which fur
nishuS So large n share of the tonnage Of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
The commerce ot the M,uongahcla II IA
times greater than that Of the Missouri. The
improvements Of the Missouri has cost over
5000. 00O but the ~ miles OF the Mononga-
h"la. with il II times greater traffic. has not
received penny Of public funds for i'm
proycm"nt. The costly Missouri j. free 20
all nayisators. The lrcight-rroducing hut
ostraciscd NonOngHhcla i, barricaicd against
fre" navigation.
The commerce of the Monongahela l. eight
times greater than that Of the Tennessee.
The improvements pf the Tennessee have
cost over - 500. .OO0 the eight times greutar
commerce Of the SS miles ufthe MOuOngahrla
h. left ont in the cold. yNilcd from all patcrnal
recognition. The Tennessee H. free 10 Tia"
Uavigators from all climcs and all colors
corporation tullgatps confront the uavigators
Of the Monongah"la. forcing shippers 10 pay
annually some s2j0.OO0 for what the Ten
ueasoc shipper gets for nothing. a free river
for a free commerce.
The NonongaheIa furnished 90 per cent Of
the commerce of the Ohio. other commerce
of the Ohio exceeding the combined commerce
of the upper and lower Mississippi and
Missouri rivers. FUrty-siN millions of Unit
ei Sntcs funds have been expended for the
iwproyomGnt u these rivers; in the mean
time. the Ss miles Of the frcight.producing
MouonguhCu are denied any practi' Con-
grcssional recognition.
These ~ miles have furnished. for more
than half u century. fuel for the sugar plan
tations and cotton presses of the South and
furnished the fuel of great steamers which
have sailed every ocean Of the globe. lnden
with the products ~ the firms and shops Of
the empire valleys Of the Ohio and Nississip-
p and yet IT,. . beaded In
vain at ~ 'ase
r. or