The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-02
Like the Pyramids
TINE BRUNO MAND0LlNS $1,000.

locks anu uaTlS, engineers IN charge OF
the construction will start at one of
these bench marks and be able to To-
cate the ending and beginning of each
and every one Of the m hundred and
seyenty-tWo mariosd miles. On each
mark Is a brief record OF distance, IN
gle point and elevation. This record Is
also entered up IN a well-kept Journal,
and slight exercise OF the mental facul-
ties Is required to realize the assistance
both will be to the constructing engi-
neers when the work shall have been
actually commenced.
The elevation had to be established
by the Precise Level Party. The corps
vas composed of A. b. McGraw, OF
Beaver, Pa; d. s., Terry, of louisville;
L. ". Phillips, OF Allegheny City, Pa;
Frank C. Stout, OF Cincinnati; p. G..
Campbell, OF Wellsburg, W. Va. United
States Engineer McGrew was in charge.
The original elevation, the basis of all
typographical measurement, was taken
from the Pennsylvania depot at Pitts
burgh, as secured from the sea level at
Sandy Hook. Upon this basis all eleva-
tlon calculations were made. The Pre-
else Level Party was what Its name
signifies.
The work accomplished by Il was
made a part OF the official record. From
this record Will be obtained the topog-
raphy of the rivers banks and fmmedi-
ate country for use by the contracting
engineers.
There were two cross section parties,
one on the right bank and one on the
left.
The cross section parties measured
from the waters edge TO the top OF the
bank, noting the distance in their field
book. These parties worked under
great difficulties, being required TO
make a measurement every eight hun
dred feet. The difficulty vas encounter
ed in interference from willows and
trees along the rivers edge. The cross
section parties also located the cities
and railroads, their distances from the
river, etc. Following in the wake Of
these men came the
CROSS SECTION LEVEL PARTIES.
One on each side of the river, The work
of this corps was TO ecu data per-
tanning to elevations and levels. The
low and high water marks of the river
were procured every eight hundred feet,
also the height Of the rivers bank on
both sides. The fall Of the river was
also obtained. Their work had to be
checked or be proven to be correct
within 1900 of a foot.
After the cross section levels were
established the sounding party per-
formed fits part OF the work. G. b.. Hur-
ris, United States engineer, OF College
Hill, Ohio, had charge Of this work.
The party obtained soundlngs of the
rivers at Intervals OF twenty-five feet.
In shallow water, that is at a depth of
lesa than twelve feet, the souudings
were obtained by measuring with u
rod. A loaded line was used when the
depth OF the water exceeded twelve
feet. The sounding party made a tabu-
lated report OF its fdbors, beginning
and ending with every cross section
line established by the precious sub
corps.
The final work In the field was per-
formed By the Bench Corps, This work
consisted OF placing in position
THE MILE POSTS
| And other marks and records as staked
off by the surveying parties. United
states Engineer NJ. c. opponheimer, oil
Cincinnati, was In charge Of this work,
assisted by John j., Cox, of Sistersville.
w. Va, and Joseph a. Sedter, of Gin
oinnati. This party has not yet com
! pleted Its work, and is sim In the field,
The cool mornings prevented the pre-
else level party from taking the field
| before s a. M, md for the same cause Il
\ cessation Of work each day was ueces-
sary at 3 p. m. The low temperature oil
| morning aud evening effects the mer-
| curry bulb to such an extent ms to rem
der II UNIT for use. So sensitive Ia this
| bulb to the heat and cold that It was
necessary all season to employ n man
whose sole duty was to protect 1t from
the SUMS rays with an umbrella, Once
| properly graduated and protected from
abnormal hent and cold the register Ia
infallible.
The data for the proposed improve.
| ment to make the Ohio havigable Mt al
times and under all conditions having
been obtained, recorded and plated,
the work wifi be computed and sfmpii-
fed by the chief engineer at the Clnoln'
natl port. II will devolve upon him tc
present q report OF this work 10 Con-
gress with recommendations as &c
whore the locks and dams shall DO 10.
| Gated. and the manner OF construction
This report VIII be made only after o
| careful study Of the recent survey
Twelve months, at least, will be roqulr'
ed to arrive at q conclusion, hence II II
| hardly probable that the Afty.Afth Con
greSB viii act on the subject.
The manner In which the surveying
| corps lived white in the field IS inter
estlng. A large quarter boat, built espe'
| clnlly for the party and providing com.
Portable accommodations for thirty
| eight men, was provided on this boa
the mon slcpt ana took their meals, Th,
| United States steamer Edna conveyed
the mon from the bout to the field 81
operation IN the morning and brought