The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-23

The annual report Of the chief OF en-
gineers of the army has been made
public and he,portion relating to gov
eminent work on the Ohio is OF espe-
cial interest. It has been customary in
the past not to make this report public
until the beginning of Congress. but
Secretary Alger did not think any harm
could come from letting the public
know what has been accomplished and
what is intended to be done In the way
OF public works,
For the Improvement of the Ohio riv-
er the balance available July last was
S231,O24. and the engineer says 100000
can be profitably expended during the
next fiscal year. The general project
which has been followed since work
was first commenced on the river is 70
secure additional low water depths at
islands and bars by the construction of
low dams across chutes by building
dikes where the river Is wide and shall
low, by dredging and by the removal OF
rocks and snags.
~ VI WIS a DbIllOh
OF the upper part OF the river has been
approved, and the radical Improvement
OF this stretch Of river undertaken by
the construction of series of locks
and movable dams. The work accom-
pllshed to June 30, 1886. has been of
great benefit to navigation, but at
many localities good results can only
be obtained by a large expenditure,
and the small amount available yearly
for the whole river prevents much de-
slrable work of Improvement. The
amount expended up to the above date
was s5,596,S22 90,
The dredging plant owned by the
United States worked at various local
tiles along the river, and during the
year removed 1896 cubic yards OF ma
terial. An Ice harbor was built at
Hartford, W. Va, and one pier added
to the harbor at Middleport. Ohio.
High water data were obtained at
Wheeling, and some permanent bench
marks established there and at Cincin-
natl. Office work on lines at Pittsburgh
was continued for part of the year.
About thirty miles of field work was
completed and mapped between Mari
eta and Pittsburgh. The total amount
OF freight carried during the calendar
year 1896. was 9,9l4435 tons; passen-
gers carried. 1,223.296
In general terms the object OF the
work now being done and that project
ed on the river isto secure. as nearly as
may be. uninterrupted navigation dur
ing the whole year, with q minimum
low water channel depth OF SIX feet,
The total amount expended on the
Improvement OF the river for the last
seventy years Ia not more than two and
one-half per cent OF the value of the
commerce carried on the river In a sin
gle year. The work heretofore done
has undoubtedly been Of the greatest
utility in lesseuinE the danger and diff
ficulty OF navigation, and as safe
guard to commerce. but the capacity of
the upper river can only be fully devel-
open, the engineer says, by contin-
uation OF the system OF movable dams
below Pittsburgh.
The condition of the channel way OF
| the Ohio, the necessity for continuous
snagboat work and the benefits ac-
crulng therefrom to river commerce
are shown by the yearly reports OF oh
strurtlons removed, which, II allowed
to remain. would make navigation
highly dangerous at ordinary stages
and hazardous at any time
The report calls attention to the ne
cesslty OF continuing the system OF
movable dams in thelupper Ohio, where
the narrow channel is greatly obstruct-
ed by Islands and shoals, and where the
coal fleets can only pass during flood
stages OF water. 1t is estimated that
these dams will cost I75O.OOO each. For
the completion OF the existing project
the chief engineer estimates that $3.50
900 will be necessary, and that there
can be prottably spent during the
next fiscal year on dams 2, 3, 4 and g.
1896 200.