The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-05-22
ALGER GRANTS THE AWARD,
The Secretary of War Agrees to
Give s5,76l.615 for the Mo-
nongahela Dams.
Orders Transfer Made.--Big Pros
poets for shippers.

The Monongahela river will prob
ably be free by June l. Secretary
of War Alger has accepted the
award Of $3,76l,715 made by the
jury Of condemnation to the Monon-
gahela Navigation Company, and
the Attorney General has been in
structed to complete the transfer.
The examination of the title is prac-
tieally all that remains of the nego-
tiations.
This decision of the Secretary OF
War will bring much rejoicing to tn e
river coal OPERATOR Condemnation
proceedings were conducted through
the United States Circuit Court in
Pittsburg and after the acceptance
of the award of the jury appointed
by the Government by the naviga-
tion company it was generally ex.
pected no further trouble would be
experienced. If the Attorney Gen.
erai is satisfied in the matter of title
Secretary Alger will exercise the au
thority vested in him by law and
draw warrant in favor OF the navi
CATION company. Then all the i'm
provements made in the navigation
of the river will become the proper
ty of the United States. There is nc
question about the company's title
to the property and the formalities
will probably be rushed throu gh
with considerable dispatch.
CAPTAIN DRAvo's VIEWS.
Captain John F. bravo, President
of the Pittsburg Coal Exchange,
who has been so actively engaged in
the work of securing a free Monon-
gahela, went to Washington last
week ON business connected with the
project. Captain bravo said hi
scarcely expected the rivers to be
free to the coal interests before june
l. The delay, which is due to the
fact that certain legal technicalities
which were thought at first to be
merely trivial, will require more
time to arrange than was at first an
ticipated
"The freeing of the river will have
wonderful effect in relieving the
mining situation" said Captain
bravo, in discussing the effect Of the
Governments action. "The mines
are not doing very much at the pres
ent time, owing to the bitter compe
tition of the Kanawha shippers. The
removal of the tolls will enable thu
Pittsburg operators to regain much
of the Southern trade they have
gradually lost during the past few
years.
"The price for coal is now very
low. This has been brought about
by the bitter competition of tn,
shippers nearer the Cincinnati mar
kets.
THEY ARE ENCOURAGED.
"The tolls that have been collect
ed yearly by the navigation compa
ny represent to each shipper i'm
mense profits, and the shippers cal
culate that with the tolls converted
into their own pockets and theil
business managed ON the same o.
even more economical lines they will
be able to run the mines steadily
and compete for an indefinite tim'
with the Kanawha district opera
tors.
The coal men promise to make The
Monongahela Valley resound will
their enthusiasm. Although no def
mite arrangements have yet beer
mace, it is probable an excursion
procession of boats will be made thu
whole length of the river, after tn,
fashion of the Notification occasionet
by the opening of the Davis Islant
dam. Captain w. B. Rodgers, who
has been an aggressive leader in thu
free Monongahela movement, will
probably have charge of the excur
sion. He said that the river was no
| yet free and that the legal compli
cations would delay all plan-mak
ing. He thought grand river ex
cursion would be given by the Goa
men.