Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-11-07

RIVER NEWS
Daily Chronicie OF the Movsnenes OF tho
BOATS and Boatmen.

Daily Chronicle OF the Movs nenes OF tho
Roats and Boarmen.
The stage of the river last evening was
twenty-seven inches and rising slowly,
showing a swell of six inches since Friday
evening. Capt. Crockard stated that at
present there was no prospect of the
river reaching a stage which would in
sure navigation. The present slight rise
is due to some rain which fell two days
ago along the Monongahela, causing a
slight rise in that river. The condition of
the river at present is such as TO put river
men in quandary, for the swell is suf-
ficent sfor some of the packets If there
were any water above to maintain 1t.
Their only hope lies in good general rain
but the conditions of the weather at pres
ent are not promising
The swells in the New River at Hinton
and the Kaawha at Charleston are not
expected to have much effect on the Ohio
river.
Good rains have fallen in the Mississip-
pi valley, and yesterday rains fell along
the river in Ohio Indiana. Kentucky and
Illinois There was a slight rise at Park
ersburg.
There was a rise of few inches rejorted
in the Allegheny river at Parker yester-
day, but it will run out before reaching
Pittsburg, as it will be absorbed by the
various sand bars.
AS soon as the yellow fever disappears
from New Orleans there will be a general
Improvement in business.
With the removal of the coffer-dam at
Merrill navigation there will be greatly
improved. The dredging now being done
-
Capt George w Reed. an old-time
steam boa tman who retired from the riv-
er a good many years ago, is still living
and in the enjoyment of as good health
as one of his years could be expected TO-.
Capt Reed must be near an octogenar-
ian.
During the week ending October so about
1000, eco bushels of coal were dropped into
the Pittsburg harbor from the upper pools.
The supply in the Monongahela is rapidly
increasing and by next week there will be
enough loaded to give every riverman a
trip. The stage of water in the upper
pools is so low a present that loaded
barges can be moved only with the great
est difficulty.
Maj. W. II. Bixby, United States engin-
eer in charge of the upper Ohio river ar
rived in Pittsburg yesterday from his
headquarters at Cincinnati. 1t was his
first official visit there and much interest
was centered in it by rivermen, owing to
the Merrill dam question. In speaking of
his trip generally. he said:
The channel is very narrow at some
points and should be widened There
seems to be considerable difference of
opinion in regard to the condition of the
river at Merrill. Rivermen all want the
river improved. and therefore must put
up with Instructions for the time being
A dam cannot be built very well without
interfering with navigation for a time.
The trouble is below the dam bar ex-
tends out into the river and boats would
have great trouble in getting over to the
original channel after passing around
the dam. To remove this bar would be
like changing the location of a small
mountain. Things are not as bad at Mer-
rill as some reports have had them"
Pittsburg-2.1 feet, stationary.
Morgantown, 5 feet 5; stationary.
Greensboro, 5 feet 3; stationary.
Oil City, 3 inches; stationary
Steubenville. 2 feet II; rising
Warren, low water mark.
Brownsville, 3 feet 6; stationary.