Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-05-24
CHANGE
Is Talked Of in the Proposed DAM
ming ofthe Ohio River Gin
cinnatians Protest.

foot stage Of water in the river the
year around were much surprised to
note the embodiment in the emergency
river and harbor bill, which passed
the House last Thursday, of a provis-
ion FOR survey to determine the de-
STABILITY and cost of changing Davis
Island and other dams to secure a
nlne-foot stage OF water.
and that none had been made for con-
tinuing the survey of the Ohio below
Marietta, resulted ir genuine stir
among organized bodies in this city,
and the unanimous adoption of the
following memorial on Change yes
terday:
Whereas, Congress has, by series
OF enactments and appropriations, en-
barked the Government in system of
Improvements under the continuous
contract plan, having in view the ulti-
mate establishment of a system of
locks and movable dams, which will
practically maintain minimum stage
OF six feet of water in the channel
during low water periods, between
Pittsburg and Cairo: and,
Whereas, The completion of Davis
Island Dam and contracts for inaugur
alton and completion of other dams
of like character have been provided
for in appropriations made upon the
recommendation of the Chief of En-
gineers, looking to the maintenance Of
six-foot stage in low water; and,
Whereas. House bill No. 11,646,
which passed the House of Represen-
tatives in May 16, 1900, contains ap-
preparation for surveys with view
OF ascertaining the desirability of, and
cost of. changing the Davis Island
lock and dam in the Ohio, and OF
changing or constructing the other
locks in the Ohio and Allegheny riv
ers so as to secure a nine-foot stage
of water in said rivers:
Resolved. That the Cincinnati
Chamber of Commerce protests
against so expensive and cumbersome
an interruption and delay of current
work, and earnestly requests Congress
to amend the river and harbor emer-
gency bill as to provide funds for
completing the survey of the Ohio riv
er south of Marietta, with view of
determining the cost of erecting locks
| and movable dams SO as to secure a
six-foot stage of water in said river.
Copies of this resolution will be for
! warded to Ohio Congressman and Col
onel Berry, member from across the
river; also to Senators Foraker and
Hanna. In addition Superintendent
Murray yesterday telegraphed the sub
stance of the memorial to Senator For
aker, with the request that he watch
for the bill in the Senate and try to
have it amended. In addition to this
formal action Secretary E. P. Wilson.
of the Ohio Valley Improvement Asso-
citation, sent letters to commercial
bodies in Ohio river cities, calling at
tention to the appropriation and the
action of the Chamber of Commerce.
and asking that similar action be TAX
en-.
Commenting upon the matter, Col
onel Wilson said yesterday:
Colonel John l.. Vance, President
OF the association, has been quite i'll
in Gallipolis for several weeks, and
was not in Washington during the
preparation of this bill. When he
heard of this proposition he was very
much surprised, as the association had
caused very thorough Investigation OF
this subject TO be made when the pro-
ject OF improving the Ohio river by
locks and movable dams first mooted.
Upon the information OF promi-
nent engineers and the estimate OF
competent contractors it was practi-
cally escertained that the system OF
movable dams, which was finally
adopted by the Government. could
not be made to carry a heavier body of
water than is now carried by the Da-
Wis Island Dam.
THE estimate of the engineers fur
ther showed that, Ly judicious appli-
cation of this system to other points
on the river, a minimum stage OF six
feet could be secured, and. upon infor-
nation and data thus carefully prepar-
ed, Congress has proceeded to the
completion of Davis Island Dam, to
the survey OF the river as far as Mari
eta, and to the location of several
other dams below the Davis Island
Dam. all OF which, when finished
would combine to secure the six-foot
stage of water.
Surveys below Marietta have been
ordered, but only partially completed
because the fund heretofore appropri-
ated for the purpose is not sufficient to
carry the work of survey to compile
ton.
''Now, the introduction of this prop
osition TO go over the whole ground
and remodel the plans upon the basis
of a nine-foot stage Of water Is in the
nature OF a disturbing element, which
lacks in intelligent support so far as
our Cincinnati people are informed.