The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-15

vance the interests OF the OhlQ 4Nrt
and It's trlbutarles
OHIO RIVER SURVEY.
AT the Evansville convention, a res
olutIon Was adopted requesting Con-
gress to appropriate a sofhcient amount
Immediately available" authorizing
and ordering the completion OF the
survey OF the Ohio river with view 20
the construction Of locks and dams 80
Eag as may be necessary to secure un-
INTERRUPTED navigation to Its mouth 81
Cairo. In furtherance OF this reSolu-
ton, and after consultation with
number. OF 'Fepresentatiyes In Congress,
and particularly with Hon. B. 3. Dove
ner. q member OF the committee on riv-
ers and harbors, 1t was deemed aqvis-
able 10 present the resolutions adopted
Ut Evansville, TO said committee, ana
present as strongly as possible the ne
cessity for a survey as called for In the
resolution. Through the efforts OF Cap
tain Dovener, an appointment was
made Nearly all the members OF the
committee attended the meeting ana
gave close attention TO the argument
presented by the president OF your as
ISOLATION. There is no doubt the appro-
priatlonN Tor the survey would have
been made, had not the war ipterVenedi
and. assurances have been given me That
the subject will receive favorable con-
sideratlon at the next session OF Con-
gress. No argument is needed to DEM
onstrate the absolute necessity OF a
survey. with such survey perfected
work may be prosecuted at various
points with the certainty that It WIZ
hasmonize with the completed whole. !,
1.-THE resolutions. as a whole. adopted
at Evansville. have been commended oY
all friends Of river Improvement. Tine
Inauguration OF movement to relieve
the steamboat interests from excessive
wharfage charges at various cities
towns and villages, was most nttins'
Such Q movement demands earnest sup
port.
an January last. by invitation. and
at the request Of the Cincinnati cham
Der OF commerce, attended meeting
in washington Of a large committee
from New Orleans and committees nom
other cities OF the Mississippi and ONO
valleys. The purpose Of the meeting
was to urge Congress to make imne.
dlate and sufficient appropriation toF
the protection, Improvement, etc, for the
ent (Eads) lefty pass at the mouth OF
the Mississippi river, and the restoring
of the southwest pass to navigation.
By request, appeared with others, be-
fore the commerce committee OF the
senate TO request prompt action to
avert impending danger to navigation.
The Pittsburgh delegation was headed
by the veteran prince OF improvement
Captain Dravo-and his speech provok-
ed a profound impression. The people
Of the Ohio valley are largely interested
in the,free and unrestricted navigation
OF the passes to the gulf, and It is graf
flying TO report that Congress took the
necessary steps to strengthen, enlarge,
and protect them.
FEARS WERE GRoUNDLEss.
"when this association was organized
at Cincinnati, in October, 1895, the fear
was expressed that the object sought
the permanent Improvement of the
Ohio river and its tributaries-would be
antagonIzed by the railroad interests. Il
was thought these great interests would
fear injury at the hands OF a free and
deep river, navigable at all seasons. and
use their influence to thwart or retard
the legislation It was necessary TO Sc
cure. I confess that this fear affected
me to some extent. 1t Is gratifying TO
know ttat such fears have proved
groundless, so far as developments have
been made.
"During the past gear have had
many letters regarding the dangers TO
steamers and their tows from bridges MS
constructed, and beg to suggest that
this subject receive the attention II de-
serves az the hands Of the proper COM
mittee. to the end that the government
al authorities may be thoroughly ad-
yised, and means taken to prevent fur-
Their obstruction to commerce.
Complaints have been made OF en-
croachments upon the river, tending to
narrow the channel and obstruct navl-
pntIon. It Is expected that action Will
he taken by this convention to prevent
further inroads upon the river and re-
move the distractions already con-
structed and in process Of construction.
"While the work done during the year
that has elapsed since our last meeting,
| aid not produce a bill with additional
appropriations providing for needed
work, vet 1t has advanced and strength
ened our association by building up In
the halls OF Congress and throughout
the country a feeling OF confidence In
| the Justice of our cause. disarming OPP
posItion, and causing all the people OF
all sections and OF all parties TO rally to
the standard bearing the honored In
scrIption: The permanent Improvement
| OF the waterways Of our country VIII
bring the people closer toGether and do
more than all else to advance domes-
tic and foreign commerce.
A TRIBUTE TO DovENER.
"I cannot close without expressing my
Indebtedness to Hon. B. B. Dovener,
member Of Congress from the district in
which the association meets to-day.and
an honored resident OF Wheeling, for
the Iuestimable service he has rendered
the association since Its organization, at
| which he was present and took an &C.
| live part. He has demonstrated good
| Judgment and marked ability In all
movements for the Improvement of the
great waterway in which we are inter-
csted, and as q member OF the commit
| tee on rivers and harbors he has neg
lected no opportunity to carefully guard
Tho interests Of his constituents and oil
the whole Ohio valley. At all times,
and they have been many. when 1t has
been necessary to call upon him for
counsel and aid. his services have been
AT my command; no duty has been left
unperformed; no labor too arduous, Up
on all occasions he has been faithful In
the performance Of duty, and steadtast
in devotion to the cause advocated By
this association.
I'm connection with this subject, while
hearty support was accorded the objects
OF the association. by members OF Com
Cress generally, and particularly those
from the Ohio valley, desire to mem
tinn as worthy OF warm commendatlon.