Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-23

Assembled in This City Yesterday
Morning,


FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDER
ING A FURTHER ENCROACH-
MENr UPON THE RIVER BY THE
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COM
PANY-EvIDENCE HEARD FROM
REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE
RAILROAD AND OF THE RIVER
INTERESTS, AS WELL AS FROM
OTHERS TO BE MADE
TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
Yesterday morning a board of Off
GERS of the Engineering Department OF
the United States Army convened in
this city, at the rooms of the Chamber
of Comerce, for the purpose Of hearing
evidence in the matter Of the desire OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to
not only hold its encroachment upon
the government harbor lines, but to
make further fill of twentyeight feet
on the west side of the freight depot
Of the "Pewiky" road. The board OF
officers was composed Of Major Pow
ELL Of Pittsburg, Major Bixby, of Gin
cinnati, and Captain Warren, of Louis
vile. There were present, as repre-
scntatives of the Railway Company
General Manager L. F. Loree, of the
lines west of Pittsburg, Chief Engineer
Johnston, President W. P. Hubbard,
of the "Pewiky," and J. V. Brader,
local agent; on behalf of the river in
terests there were Captain Dravo Cap
tain W. Elsey, Captain l.. A. Clowell
Captain c. Spencer, Captain August
lutte and Captain w. J. Woods, of
Pittsburg, and John Moren, of Louis
vile. Others present were City En-
gineer A. l.. White, George Hook, rep
resenting the State Fair Association
Congressman Danford, of Belmont
county, ]. R. McCourtney, represent
ing the Bellaire Steel and Iron Com
pany, and a number of other gentle
men.
1t had been expected that not only
would the "Pewiky" matter come up.
but also the entertainments upon the
narbor lines at the Benz III. nil and
two latter matters were eliminated
from the session, which was confined
exclusively to the railroad problem.
For general information, it may be
stated that it is the claim of the Rail
load Company that the trestles and
tracks en- the west side of the freight
depot were constructed before he gov
eminent harbor lines were run; that
they already PROJECT into the river
twenty feet or so outsides of the lines
as it now exists, and that the Company
not only desires to retain this ex-
tension, but to make a further solid
fill of 2S6 feet outside of the present
piling. This is resisted by the river
men and others, because it would not
only narrow the channel at a point
where it is already more restricted
than either above or below, but would
tend to throw the water against the
Island, endangering property over
there, as we'll as navigation of the
river.
The object of the session was stated
by Major Powell, who presided. and he
was followed by Engineer Johnston
for the Railway Company who sub
mltted plans of the Company property
at the point under discussion, set forth
what was desired by the Company and
made the claim that when the improve
ment was made the river would be wi
der at the freight station than either
above or below.
Secretary George Hook, representing
the State Fair Association. opposed he
plans of the company, and showed
that it would mean a further cutting
away of the Island, which had already
been seriously encroached upon of re-
cent years. He was followed by City
Engineer A. l.. White, who showed that
further contraction of the river chan
mel would mean higher water in time OF
flood, with resulting increased damage
to private property.
The river men took the floor, Capt
Elsey, of Pittsburgh, being the first
speaker, followed by Messrs. Spencer
Clowell, bravo and Others Captain
bravo spoke at considerable length
and with the other river men adduced
facts and figures and personal expert
neces going to show that there were al
ready great difficulties in the way OF
successful navigation in the Wheeling
harbor, and that to grant the demand
of the Railway Company, would seri-
ously add to the troubles river mer
have to contend with. Among other
things, Captain bravo said:
The Ohio is the greatest of our
national highways The tonnage i:
greater than the combined tonnage OIL
The upper and lower Mississippi and
the Missouri. 1t is the artery of a great
empire. The result is that this is nc
trivial matter 1t is is national