The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-03-27
MAJOR HOXIE NAY STAY.
Bids on River Improvements
Shortly be Asked for and Work Hay
Commence by July LIST.

PrTTsBuRe, March 20.-If reports
be true, Maj. r. L. Hoxie, United
States engineer in charge of the
Pittsburg district, will not be trans
ferred from here to Portland, Me
1t is said the order of transfer will
be recalled, and Maj. Hoe be al
lowed to continue in charge of the
Pittsburg district.
When the order was issued from
the War Department in Washington
last month transferring Maj. r. l..
Hoxie to Portland, Me-, and appoint
ing Maj. Charles F. Powell, of Wash
ington, to succeed him, the river
shippers of the entire district felt
that mistake had been made, al
though they had no personal objec-
ton to Maj. Powell. They believed
the work of improving the Alleghe-
ny and Monongahela rivers and the
throwing open of the latter river as
a free waterway demanded Maj.
Hoxie's retention as head Of the de-
partment in this district He had
prepared all the plans for the new
work, and had been largely instru-
mental in pushing the agitation for
free Monongahela to a successful
completion.
Reasoning thus they set about to
use their influence in behalf of his
remaining in Pittsburg, and the re-
port is now that their efforts have
been crowned with success and that
within few days an order will be
promulgated resembling the previous
order. Such is the report among riv-
er men and about the Federal build
ing.
Maj. Hoxie was seen in his office
yesterday by reporter and when
asked if he knew anything about the
report said he did not; that the or
der of transfer to Portland, 80 far
as he knew, remained in full force.
When asked when he expected
Maj. Powell to relieve him he stated
that the transfer would not be made
before the latter part of the month.
Authority was received from the
War Department this week to adver-
tise for contracts for the construc-
ton of the six locks and dams on
the Monongahela river between Nor
gantown and Fairmont, and for the
construction of the two locks and
dams on the Allegheny at Six Mile
Island and Springdale, respectively.
The specifications and calls for bids
will be published within the next
few days, the time fixed for the open
ming of the bids being April IL, at
noon. The law authorizing the con-
struction of these improvements
stipulates that no more than $780,
900 can be spent on either river in
any one year, commencing July /,
1897, and the whole amount allowed
is fixed at 81, 100000 for the Monon-
gahela and 1894, 500 for the Alleghe-
ny. This latter amount is exclusive
of the 1927, 900 already expended on
the Heirs Island dam, and the 1894
500 is expected to cover the compile
ton of that work as well as complete
the two new dams.
The sundry civil bill which passed
both branches of Congress, but
which died by reason of President
Cleveland's refusal to sign or return
it within the time prescribed by
law, provided certain sums for the
carrying on of this work, but under
4
ors, if their bids are accepted, will
be compelled to carry on the work at
their own expense and run the risk
of getting their money out of future
appropriations. The regulations gov
erning the bidding allow contract
ors to bid on all or part of the work
on each and both rivers, and the
contracts can be let in the same
manner.