Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-03-17
RIVER NEWS.
Locks and Dams to be Strength
ened.
Many of them Need Attention-Wo FORK
that Has Been Mapped Out for the
Coming Summer by Maj. Powell-No
Announcements about the Local Riv-
er from Him.

eF from Hin.
Mai. Charles F. Powell, United
States engineer in charge of improve
ments on the Monongahela and Ale
gheny rivers, has about completed
his plans for the summers work of
putting the locks and dams on the
former stream in good shape. Maj.
Powell says there is really more TO
claim his attention than he can well
take care of and the most needed will
be attended to first. His plans as
laid out provide for extensive repairs
at Locks Nos. 2, 3, 5, 6, and I. Lock
No. 2 will be the first point to which
the governments workmen will be
sent.
Workmen have been employed
steadily on the large lock getting 1T in
shape for the permanent repairs which
are to be made. Maj. Powell con-
templates greatly enlarging this lock
as well as replacing the wall which
gave way last December but he said
the fulfllment of his plans depended
entirely upon whether congress made
an appropriation at this session.
New lower gates are being made for
the small lock at the government boat
yard at Lock No. 4, and as the small
lock is not in the best Of repair, a
large force of men will be employed
there for several weeks, strengthening
it at every possible point, so that it
may stand the entire burden of lock-
ing during the three or four months
that the large lock will be closed.
At Lock No. lot of timber work
will be done in the way of construct
ing various protection just above the
lock and dam. Part of this is con-
tract work which will be advertised
in few days. Lock No. 6 will re-
quire large force of men for a month
or two. Maj. Powell's plans regard
ing it are that the lock shall be
heightened and the dam is to be rails
ed There is now not sufficient water
in the pool above. This latter project
was started last year but the winter
stopped operations. Lock No. 7 is
very weak and has caused those in
charge no little anxiety. It will be
strengthened and repaired during the
summer season. At Lock No. 4, the
government will build a small saw
mill to furnish lumber for its needs
and large lumber shed is now being
erected there. Maj. Powell says he
had a part Of this work in mind last
season but the serious accident at
Lock No. 2 forced him to withdraw
his workmen from various points.
His plans as now arranged may re-
quire more than can be done.
No announcement has been made
by Major Powell about that part of
the river that interests Morgantown
people the most and that is between
this place and Fairmont. We are
hopeful that greater speed will be in
sisted upon from the contractor than
we have had for the past year. Mr..
Mcdonald is now at Browns landing
where he is putting in an immense
pumping plant.
This plant is to be used by one Of
the coal companies that is developing
that section Of Fayette county. He
will be there for some time and has a
large force of men at work on the inn
provement The main that runs
from the river is to be thirty inches.
The progress on the locks and dams
has not been altogether satisfactory
and those who are interested in their
completion have determined to do
what they can to stir the authorities
up. The engineer in charge will prob
ably be given instructions to do what
he can to make the work go on faster.
Who this engineer is to be is not
yet known as no announcement has
been made relative to it.