Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-10-24

leSheuy hlfeT VIII SOOn nave Sfdch-
Progress Being Made ON the
Six New Locks and Dams on the Mo-
nongahela-Three Similar Improve.
ments Under Way ON the Allegheny
Many Wrecks and Snags Removed
During the Last Year.
Under the supervision of Maj.
Charles f. Powell, United States en-
gineer, an immense amount Of work
is performed each year on the three
rivers eentering at the Point. During
the present year more progress has
been made and greater projects have
been thoroughly gotten under way
than most people are aware OF says
the Pittsburg News:
As result, in reasonably short
time it will be possible to board a
packet at the city wharf and journey
all the way to Fairmont, w. Va,
without change. Likewise, in about
year from now the Allegheny river
will be navigable for packets, towboats
and barges as far up as Natrona. In
short, when the Improvements now
/ Ni&OlOuoiy pllDliCQ diC
the benefits derived from them will be
of incalculable value to the cities OF
Pittsburg and Allegheny and also to
the many towns now beyond the
limits of navigation.
All these Improvements are being
made under government direction and
will be paid for out of the United
States treasury, as provided for by the
river and harbor bill passed by congress
in 1896. Another river and harbor
bill was prepared and made ready for
! presentation during the session last
/ spring, but the outbreak of the war
prevented it from receiving attention.
Under the provisions of the bill of
1896 the building Of locks aud dams
is done under contract, the funds for
the work to be drawn from the United
States treasury as authorized by the
sundry civil bill The expense of gen.
eral river improvements, however, was
| to be provided for by special appropri-
alton. In the last three years SIS, 900
has been thus set apart for river inn
proyements in this district. This
money is for removing snags, wrecks
and similar distractions. AS there is
still $500 of the sum remaining, not
withstanding the great amount Of
work that has been done, it is evident
that expenditures have been judicious-
ly managed.
The 1896 river and harbor act pro-
vided for the construction of six locks
and dams between Morgantown and
Fairmont, w. Va, on the Mononga-
hela river, and further authorized the
purchase by the government of the
property and appertenances of the Mo-
nongahela Navigation company. At
ter considerable dickering the pur-
chase was affected, at a cost Of So
! 76l, 615. 46. The properties bought
included seven dams and sets of locks
on the Monongahela river. The re-
suit Of this investment by the govern
ment was the abolition Of lock tolls
In other words, it inauguratee free
navigation of the Monongahela by all
craft, from its headwaters to its
mouth. Since then a marked increase
OF traffic has developed, the freight
| business on the lower Monongahela
for last year having aggregated over
5000, 900 tons.
With the completion of the six
locks and dams authorized, slack
water navigation will be extended
% miles up stream beyond Morgan
town, thus affording water trans
portation for coal from the the mines
near Fairmont.
| The first contract entered into for
the construction of the six locks and
! dams, known respectively as Nos. 10,
/ II, II, 10, IA, and Is, was made early
| in 1896, but was Cancelled on account
of the failure Of the contractor. Bids
| for the work were advertised for later
in the year. and at the second bidding
the contract was let to O. I. McDon-
aid, he being the lowest bidder. The
contract was approved on December
1 8, 1896, and work was Immediately
commenced on Lock No. 10, located
about 5000 feet above the Morgan
town bridge. The bulk of all the
work thus far done has been concen-
trated on lock No. 10, the masonry of
which will be completed this season.
Active operations are to be COM
menced shortly on lock or dam No. Is
which when finished will back the
water into the mouths of the forks Of
the river few miles above Fairmont.
Under the careful management OF
Maj. Powell, the amount expended
upon the project, so far as completed
with surveys, examinations and the