The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-12-13
Improve the Allegheny.

The REPUBLICAN has on many occa-
sious called attention to the advantages to
be derived by the lumbermen of this sec
tion in permanent Improvement of the
channel of the Allegheny river by the
Government, and has frequently COM
mended the WORK already done under
governmental supervision as tending to-
ward the better navigation of this fine
stream. We are pleased to note that
such journals as the Oil City Derrick is
taking up the matter, and calling atten-
ton to the many advantages that would
accrue from such work. In its issue of
yesterday that paper says, editorially:
Forest county is very much interested
in the Recommendation of Major Powell,
of the. War Department, that $4,000 he
expended by the government in the inn
provement of the Allegheny river for the
coming year. Its prosperity is directly
confined to the maintenance of navig-
able channel to Pittsburg at certain sea-
sons Of the year. The Allegheny has re-
ceived few considerations at the hands of
Congress in the way Of appropriations in
the past. and though Forest is not in Mr..
Sibley's district, his well known interest
in public improvements of ali kinds has
inspired number of the progressive cit
zens of the county to request his cooper
alton in this matter. No organization has
ever been formed in Forest county with
view to securing government support
in this matter, but the small improve
ments that have been made from time to
time under government supervision have
been highly appreciated. Theie has been
no rafting stage in the river the past fall,
but the people of Forest county have been
enabled to get out a number of coal barg-
es and large amount of lumber, owing
to the fact that the Improvements started
a few years ago made such a thing prac-
ticable. 1fthey had been compelled to
depend on natural conditions in the river
and nothing had been done towards deep
ening the channel, and directing the cur
rent within circumscribed bounds, it
would have been utterly impossible to
have floated any lumber to the mouth of
the river. There are from $50 to 200 coal
barges built in Forest county every year
at an average value of $1,000 to 81, 500
each. These are floated down the Allie
gheny and sold at Pittsburg for use in the
coal traffic between that city and points
to the southwark. The labor cost in
building one of these barges is at least
S200-to say nothing of the portion labor
receives for cutting down the timber and
converting it into lumber suitable for
manufacture. Besides these several hun
dred boat bottoms are constructed every
year at a contract price of 5000 a pair,
which are used in the manufacture of the
cheaper coal b jats used for traffic on the
lower Mississippi. In addition, at least
500, 900 cubic feet of logs were RATED out
of Forest county within the past year and
the prospects are good for as much mole
the coming year. The success of the busi-
ness is dependent entirely upon getting
to the market and the river affords the
readiest and easiest communication. Ex-
cept that large floods render the Alleghe-
ny navigable at certain seasons, the bus
mess would never have reached its pres
ent proportions. The people of Forest
county are not alone interested in this
subject, but it forms an important addi-
ton every year, to the resources of the
State.