The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-24
WORK THE
WHEELING DAN
TOIBEGLNS SOON.
Congressman Dovener Has an Inter
esting Letter from Major
W. q. Btxby.
WORK ON THE SPECIFICATION.
Is Being Prosecuted by the Engineers
and They Will be Completed
in January.

Congressman B. B. Doyener arrived
homo from Washington Sunday morn
ling, and will spend the holidays with
Mrs. Dovener at the Mcclure, after
1 which both Captain and Mrs. Dovener
vii return to Washington for the win
ter.
When seen last night, Congressman
DoYehcr was in o very happy frame OF
mind, as was natural after having re-
tcelred so many, compliments from his
Wheeling constituents upon the great
work he is doing in the cause OF Ohio
! river Improvement, q cause that is
very dear 10 the people of this COM
munity, and which in the not distant
future viii be foremost factor in the
advancement Of the great industrial re-
gion OF which Wheeling is the radiating
centre
II was very we'll satisfied with the
treatment accorded the Ohio in the
house rivers and harbors BILL" said
Congressman Doyener to an 1ntelli-
gencer man. 1.-THE bill carries some
thing like $4,000, OO0,and CT that amount
no les sthan $4,000, 900 will be ultimate
~ spent in Ohio river Improvements. ]
confidently anticipate that the bill will
pass without any further pruning
what of the Wheeling dam; when
will work begin on its construction"
THAT is q matter in which am
greatly interested" responded the con-
gresham. II had hoped that the speci-
fifications would be finished this fall,
but Major Bixby's force of assistants
has been greatly overworled, and con-
sequently there has been delay. How
ever. look to see the contracts let and
work begun the coming spring"
Major Bixby's Letter.
lowing letter from Major w. II. Bixby,
the engineer officer in charge OF the
ohloSriver improvements, relating to
the plans and specifications for the
Wheeling dam (No. 13), which will be
leadtwith interest by, Wheeling people,
!nasmuch as 1t is stated that the plans
for the dam will be completed next
month:
DEAR SIR:-Your telegram Of to-
| day was duly received concerning the
progress OF specifications for dam No.
IL. and was answered to the effect that
these specifications were under prepar-
Eation, but not yet, completed; every
thing having been specially delayed
Ithis month by the result OF freshets and
assembly OF Congress.
The, preparation. OF specifications for
this work requires q great deal OF time
and great deal OF special care. The
preparation Of specifications means not
only the preparation OF the text OF the
same. but nlso the completion OF large
number Of drawings giving details of
the construction and all the essential
features OF the work for the next two
or three years. Any errors, either OF
omission or commission, in these draw
ings and printed specifications will
cause great trouble during the progress
or the work. Such work is not .ordi-
nary routine work. There are no locks
of the sort anywhere in the world en-
cept in the upper Ohio river and the
preparation Of these specifications for
work at Dam No. IL requires the bene-
IL VI OIL DlSl .cNPcl VI ASSIST
ant Engineer Martin and his assistants
SO far as they have gained 1t at locks
., 8. 4. s and G. Mr.. Martin and his as
slstants are now at work on these
drawings and specifications and have
been for quite long time. Their work
IS. however, much interfered with by
the field work OF construction of dams
p 3, 4, and G, which can only be car
ried on, as rule, between June and
December. and which practically takes
all Of their time 10 properly look after
in this interval. November and De-
cember are d0ubly busy with us be-
cause OF the Interference with the work
and the extra work forced upon us by
the freshets which are liable to come,
and usually do come. Mt this time OF the
year, stopping, breaking up, and inter-
ferinG with the regular work and re-
Quirtng special attention in all sorts of
directions. These two months, Novem-
Der and December, are also doubiy busy
for us because the war department Is
calling for all sorts OF reports In order
to, supply information specially called
for by the various committees OF Con-
gress.. While had hoped to get out
l'these dam 10 specifications In Decem-
Eber, 1t now looks as IL 1t would be i'm
| possible to do so until some time in
= January. The field and office force OF
this office is not sufficient to keep up
during the field working season .(Junc
i to, December) with the demands made
'upontit This is especially so of recent
4 ye6rs because OF the amount OF extra
I'this has been done) and by the re-
quirement that oil purchases shall be
a advertised and awarded to the lowest
{. kbidder. together with the mass Of proof
.E.4eln - - ~