The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-13

The publication In yesterdays lntelll-
gencer of an account of the work OF the
United States engineering party In sur
veylng the Ohio river between Wheel
ing and Marietta, preparatory TO the
possible construction of locks and dams
that will give slackwater on the upper
Ohio, was received with great interest,
and there seems to be general desire
in this community for the speedy con-
structlon of system of slackwater
works 49,
Relative to the Importance of the
work of Improvement on the upper
Ohio. Captain John II, bravo, secretary
of the Pittsburgh river coal exchange
and father of the free Monongahela,
has issued the following letter.
The freeing OF the Monongahela river
and the consequent impetus to trade
and commerce In the valley, emphasizes
the great Importance OF reliable and
continuous water transportation, hence
there is a growing demand for the
speedy Improvement of the Ohio river,
Those in touch with river navigation
and river improvements are daily ques-
toned as to how soon the locks and
dams on the Ohio, which have been
largely provided for by congressional
action, will be completed. Our coal and
freight trades in connection with pas
senEer traffic are vitality concerned IN
having the upper end or the river I'M
proved by the speedy completion OF the
Intermediary locks and dams between
Davis Island Merrill.
From Pittsburgh to Merrill is bad
stretch of river. The dam at Merrill
will be completed In 1898, costing some
thing less than n million dollars, but
will be OF comparatively little adVan-
tage to navigation until the four IN
termedlate dams are completed, hence
the Importance of the speedy completion
of these connecting dams. owing 10
spring freshets and the prevailing low
stages during the fall months-lf the
necessary Golfer dams for the construc-
tIon of the locks were built this tall-,
II would practically save one year OF
time. We are likely to have a low con-
dItion of the river this fall. 1t would
therefore, seem desirable to have the
Golfer works for the locks put In shape
so that the solid work OF the locks cOuld
be commenced early in the spring OF
next year. No material advantage can
come 10 the commerce of the river until
the intermediate system of locks ana
dams are completed, securing continu-
GUS nlyiEation from Pittsburgh to Mer-
riIl, A lock and dam at the proper dls-
tance below Merrill would, In connec-
ton with the others now In measure
provided for cover stretch OF dllhCult
navigation.
1t is the purpose of Senator Quay, to
whom rlvermen are SO largely indebted
for favorable river legislation, to, In ad-
dltlon to providing for the entire COM
pletIon of the dams between Davis ISL
and Merrill, have provision made Tor
the speedy construction of lock and
dam No. I. The entire community are
largely Interested In securing more uni
form and reliable navigation on the
Ohio. The recent large shipments of
steel rails and other merchandise are
indications of the vast Importance the
Ohio will have IL something like con-
tlnuous navigation ca De secured, The
time will doubtless come when the lock
and dam system will be extended to
Louisville, but the cost Will be so great
that this cannot be realized for many
years to come, but the extension of this
system to Marietta, o., with less expen-
sive improvements from that point to
Cincinnati or Louisville, would secure
the necessary channel depths for a
large portion of the year This can be
accomplished without mailing an unrea-
sonable drain upon the nations
finances. But the immediate and press
ing work demanding the attention Of
river commercial interests Is the speedy
completion Of the -four lauls between
Pittsburgh and Beaver. River i'm
provements are under the provisions OF
the continuous contract system, Rell-
able persons are ready to take the con-
tract for the four locks and dams and
give ample bonds for their completion
inside of three years
The commercial organizations border
ing the Ohio ought to make the i'm
provement OF the Ohio one OF their chief
objects. our home organizations, the
Chamber of Commerce and Coal Elk
change, must be the leaders in this great
work. The Monongahela and Ohio val
leys Joined to the Mississippi valley, II
the people are alive to their interests,
will In coming years be one Of the most
magnificent continuous vellcys In the
world--an empire OF population. wealth
and Industrial activity, The com
mencement Of this great future Is now
and right here at the very gateway of
our city, and the builders and workers
f,.