The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-12
.DocI,l pI,patch to tho 1ntelllgencer.

EpeclAl IlEphLC4l 10 AAlp 4AlbSlihNuICAs
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 1.-The
nrst move was made to-day In further
aace of the great system of improve
ments to West Virginia waterways.
which was outlined recently in the In
tsllISencsr, and In which the residents
Of 80 large territory are interested TO
such an extent as to make It almost a
rational question. A large and influ-
eotlal delegation, for the most part
epresentlng the Fairrnont chamber OF
oSnmerce. appeared this morning be-
fore the rivers and harbors committee
Of nc house to make an appeal for ON
appropriation for slaoking the Monon-
eahela river from Morgnntown to Fair
mont The party embraced two Uuited
States senators, member of Congress.
SIX editors, an ex-governor and ntlfner-
ous other representatives Of a solid
business community.
The appointment for the conference
had been made by Congressman 4. g.
Dayton. Of the Second district, and to
that gentleman also fell the duty OF
tnG their mission He did this in n
brief speech. at the same time express
ing his Individual interest in the pro-
jeo;ed Improvement.
It was o work Of public Importance.
be said, n which not only his consttu-
enks were to be benefited. but which
would be far-reaching In It's effects.
and he solicited for the Representatives
OF the vast interest a careful and pa
tieat bearing.
Ex-Gov. Fleming.
ar. Dayton first introduced ex-Gov-
ernor A. B. Fleming. who made
strong presentation OF the merits Of
the case from strictly business point
o. view. II was not the governors
tEst gppearancein IN the role OF advocate
-EIor tlIis proposition, nor his first dis
caSsIon OF h, and lls had q strong array
OF facts touching the many and varied
interests to be SIibserved. By aid OF q
map he pointed out the coal and coke
fields with which the upper MononEa-
hela Is endowed and laid before the
committee q comprehensive statement
that al once challenged attention.
The question was raised whether or
not the completion OF slack-water 10
the rivers source might not Interfere
with the ultimate purchase by the gov
eminent OF the navigation company's
franchise, by enhancing the value and
Increasing the price, but this Governor
Fleming quickly disposed OF by citing
that the navigation company's rights
stop at the state line, and that the
only increase would be the volume OF
business. This. he said. would tend to
depneciate rather than enhance the
value OF the property, since no charge
for l0ckage can be made upon products
10 NVNtn nj IA NJ
the line
Senator Faulkner spoke OF the made
qusny Of former appropriations and
urged thnt In dealing with the i'm
pFovement the committee will consider
Its just demands. The government Is
pledged to complete II, he said, and It is
not economy to appropriate any sum
less than that actually required. There
should be enough money given at the
start TO insure the extension OF slack
water TO the highest possible point, and
this would avoid delay and prevent a
sacrifice OF the public funds.
Mr.. EIkins Speaks.
Senator Elklns claimed that II this
improvement should be made. coal
would reach ftteen states at an average
Of if,y cents per ton less than the pres
ent prices; and upon the construction Of
the NIcaraugan canal, the same pro-
duct Of West Virginia soil could be de-
lIvered on the Paclilc const at S2 90 per
ton less than at present. These are
general advantages, not local Mr. Ell
klrs also showed that the completion or
the work would bring at least 10000 coal
and coke operatives into region that
embraced 5000 square miles OF terri
tory.
The point. however. that attracted
most attention was when II was asked
where the money was to come from;
Senator Elkins said TINT he wished TO
reply mainly TO this inquiry. He stated
that he did not share the apprehension
o. some that this government wns on
The eve OF II great panic, or TINT diSaF-
teF Sas hanging over II, or that II w1H
bankrupt, or that Il was not in position
to 70 forward with needed public i'm.
proyementE OF all kinds In the interests
ot commerce. trade and manufactures.
On the contrary. he asserted that Il
was the strongest and nj the Eame time
u" richest government In the world
amply able to carry 10 sucCesH nll the
great public improvements that had
boon lHIuErr1ted.
While Mr.. EIiiIna did not believe In
'Nifwugnnt appropriations. he ndvo-
ea''l those that were liberal and fair.
y b. government wnB amply able to
hafn them and tho in,orcatJ " the
people demanded them. The history OF
an governments showed that when
lh'y atop making improvements retro
Ef'fHl1l and decny begin, and that this
E'FTnmnut, though the youngest,
Was DE most able 10 tnke care OF its
palIc interests. Great corporations
mak" large expenditures for Improves
m'ntr 10 meet Inc demands NJ incrcns.
n business, and when they ccnsc to
10 'NDf It II n BurC sign OF decay, and
NHth m institution IN getting ready TO
~ INTO toe hands OF a receiver.
Nr ElEinT declared that this gov
'thmrNl u not bankrupt; thnt y In not
!.ldy 70 go into the hands Of nrecelver;
'Uti Il has great resources and great
7t'tll, and TINT the people expect Of
,'- public Hervhnts that tiey will pro-
voc FOR Nil public improvements in
N" interest OF the people, and therr-
,'T" he would favor hny reasonable and
york
senator i9lKlns said thc country wna
t'p"lnE richer at the rate OF nt least
t""hly million dollars every twenty.
ii,,Nr hours, and hG took the ground
ttnt The state West Virginia had
abundant rights 10 domnnd rccognl-
u'n In the way Of appropriations be-