Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-01-14
Ohio River Improvement.

| NIlO tNiNOl
Washington, Jan 13.-Great press
ure is being brought to bear in the
House Committee on Rivers and Har-
bors by those from various sections of
the country who are after liberal ap-
preparations for their local sections.
Chairman Burton and his associates
on the committee are working at
night as well as day considering petit
tions and arguments that have been
presented. The fight for preference in
the list to be recommended by the
committee to the House is being car
ried on with vigor by the various in
terests.
Chairman Burton has declared that
the committee will do the best it can
to satisfy adj demands, but that there
will be sore disappointments is evident
as the amount at he disposal of the
committee is not nearly commensurate
to the demand. Only Monday Mr.. Bur-
ton told an influential delegation from
Baltimore, Md, that the committee on
ly has about $12,OOO,OOO at it's disposal
One of the most vigorous efforts be-
ing made is an appropriation for work
on the Ohio river and the locking and
damming of this great inland waterway
from Marietta to Pittsburg.
The report of Chief Engineer w. H.
BiXby of survey made by him in
compliance with the provisions of the
rivers and harbors act of June 3, 1896,
which has been transmitted to the
House of Representatives with the in
dorsement of the Secrtary of War; is
now being considerably the Committee
on Rivers and IIarbors,to which it was
Immediately referred.
Particular stress is laid upon the
closing paragraph of Major BiNby's re-
port, which recommends that the first
of the contemplated dams be built a
short distance below Marietta, while
the next be built short distance be-
low Wheeling, so that the benefits de-
rived from the increased depth, of the
channel may be enjoyed by that city
as well as Martins Ferry, Bridgeport
Benwood and Bellaire The remainder
Of the dams he recommends to follow
in the order of construction which may
seem most exptdient to the engineer
in charge.
i
4 In this connection members of Ohio
delegation whoiare interested in tht
project got wind today that only suf
ficient money would be recommended
at his time by the committee fol
building one. dam and that strenuous
efforts were being made. to have the
committee recommend that the frs
dam be built at Wheeling. Represen.
tative VanVoorhis is said to be tht
member who first Caught on" and hi
Immediately started on a crusade, fl
nally rounding up with Mr.. Grosvenoi
and Mr.. Bromwell The trio ther
tackled Chairman Burton and Others
of the committee, and impressed upoI
them the necessity of building imme
dately the dam at Marietta as well a.
the one at Wheeling.
The attention of Mr.. Burton and hi
associates was calle dto thepart of Ma
jor Bixby's report. previously referred
to, which recommends strongly tina
the first of the proposed dams be bull
at Marietta. and Wheeling.
1t is understood that Mr.. Dovener
Of West Virginia, who is member o
the Rivers and Harbors Committee, /!
anxious for the first dam to be built a
Wheeling in case the work at bott
Marietta and Wheeling canuot be car
ried on simultaneously. The Ohio
members, however mean to fight fol
the Marietta dam also.
Numerous bills have been introduc.
ed in the House this session for i'm.
provements on the Ohio and at Other
points similar to those referred to by
members from Ohio and Kentucky
Today Representative Griffith, of In
diana, sent to the Speakers desk two
more, and they were promptly referred
to the Rivers and Harbor's Committee
Mr.. Grifilths bills ask for appropria-
lions of 100000 and $4,000 respective
ly for continuing the Improvement al
ready begun at Lawrenceburg and at
Madison, Ind The sum of $4,000 is
for repairing and Strengthening the
work already begun and the construc-
tlon of such side and embankment on
the south side of the Miami river near
its junction with the Ohio as may be
| necessary.
This work will prevent the formation
OF bar. The $4,000 is to deepen the
! harbor at Madison so as to afford an
average depth of six feet in low water.