Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-19
0BSTRUCT NAVIGATION.
Piers of the Bellaira and Steub8nyille
Bridges Must Be Removed,

The Secretary of War Says That
These and Other DISTINCTIONS
Are Unreasonable-The Owners
Given One Year to Make Alter
ations-Wm Cost Thousands Of
Dollars - improvements for the
Ohio-Other River Notes Of Inter
est.
Major W. H. Hener, United States
engineer, in charge of the Ohio river
improvements, has sent out notice to
the effect that the Secretary Of War
will require the removal of Obstructing
piers of the Benaire. Steubenville and
other bridges in the Ohio and Monon-
gahela rivers. and viii compel the own
ers to change the piers by March H.
1898. 1t is proposed to remove the
channel pier Of the Steubenville bridge
and reconstruct the bridge so as to
lengthen the channel span. 1t is pro-
posed. in regard to the Bellaire bridge
TO remove the channel span on the
West Virginia side, and reconstruct the
bridge so as to lengthen the channel
span A board of United States engl-
neers will meet at Pittsburg on March
1 for the purpose of viewing the struc-
lures mentioned. The changes will in
volve an eXenditure of thousands OF
dollars.
The bridge people it is expected, Will
nut ND considerable opposition to max
ing the proposed changes. The bridges
! AT Bellaire and Steubenyille are the
worst Instructions TO navigation on
| the Ohio and have cost the coal men
fortunes. They have been the means
of breaking up several coal operators.
The estimate of the War Depart
ment has fallen short of the amount
REQUIRED 10 improve the Ohio, as pro-
vided for in the last river and harDor
bill. and the Assistant Attorney Gen
eral of that department has ruled that
none of the money could be approprl-
ated until Congress had provided for
the increase in the aggregate cost Oh
the proposed improvements ana the de-
partment had contracted for the COM
pletion of the work.
Acting on this ruling the House com
mittee has refused TO increase the unit
of cost and refused to report any ap-
DroDriation for the improvement OF
/ either the Ohio or Kentucky rivers. Al
| though failing in the House, the friends
| of the bill have brought the matter up
| in the Senate. and. under the leadership
| of Senator Quay, it is thought these
| TWO rivers will be given the atteh-
! ton they deserve, and that approprla-
lions for completing the work or I'M
movement will be granted with those
| of other streams in which the war De-
partment has made no mistakes III Ile
/ original estimates. Inc alleHulllen No
| offered in the Senate by Mr.. Quay hNlhg
| the limit OF cost for the complexion OF
| dams Nos. >. s. f. and 3, between DAVIS
Island and dam No 6. in the Ohio river
/ nj $4,000. 600. and calling for the appro-
priation of SI50.000 for the continuance
! of the work. have caused general sat
| isfaction among river men. and 1t is
the earnest hope of those interested III
| the Ohio river that what failed Oh ac-
| complishment in the House Will De sue
| cessful in the Senate,
The tOwboat John d. Lewis, valued
! M 500 OOO. burned to the water S edge
nj an early hour Wednesday morning.
while she was lying alongside owens
Island. near Paducah, Ky. Her nun
and machinery sank, and not single
article of value on board was saved.
! The crew escaped without any OF their
effects. r15
Yesterdays boets-Cincinnai, Hud-
son 8 a. m: Pittsburg H. X. Bedford
/ e. 70 a. m: Parkersburg, Argand, IL d.
m: Sistersville, Ruth, 800 p. m Man
haitian. p. m. New Matamoras; Lex
/ ington. II a. m; Clarlngton' Leroy
$3.50 p m. ,..-..,o
To-dav's Pittsburg, Virginia,
4a.m.: Parkersburg, Ben Hur, II a. m;
Sistersville Ruth, $50 p. m, Manha'-
tan. 3 p. m; Darlington. Leroy 1;50 p
To-morrow's boats-Charleston, II.
Z Bedford $50 a. m; Parkersburg'
Arqand n a. m: New Matamoras, Lex
inoton II m: Sistersville. Ruth, 3:5O
n m: Manhattan, 3 p. m; Clarlngtoh'
Leroy. $3.50 p. m.
The Onward passed down with coal
Yesterday. The Ed. Roberts passed up
with tow of empties.
The river was rising somewhat al
this point last night although 1t could
NOT be accounted for, as the water was
reported to be falling at points above;
Last nights marks were Is 1eeI "
inches. nj. q soo+
Pittsburg. February 1S.-Riyer feet
$40 and rising at the dam. Clear ana
colder o....o soo+ e
inches and stationary. Cloudy ana
colder. Mint ..+
Warren. February 1S.-River foot o
inches. Cloudy and moderate.
Greensboro. February 1S.-Riyer 10
feet and falling. Cloudy and threat
ening. The Adam Jacobs is due up
and down on Friday.
Morgantown. February 1S.-River
feet / inch and falling. FAIR; mercury
40. Snow furry this afternoon.
The towboat Joseph b. Wilson struck
her smoke stacks while passing under
the suspension bridge shortly after 4
o'clock yesterday morning and dam
aged them to some extent.
-ORATORIO SOCIETY CONCERT
The Wheeling Orotorio Society Will
give n concert Tuesday, February 23rd,
in Martins Ferry. The full society Will