Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-06

as to fog and smoke, and as to where
they would tie UP. All said the smoke
was very annoying and caused much
trouble. Mr.. C. E. Miller, civil engineer,
explained the maps. and Captain bravo
asked him a number of questions. During
these examinations, Mr.. Hearne made
some good points. Major Powell asked
why the Bellaire people could not do their
business by going to Wheeling by way of
Bridgeport and also Benwood. Mr.. James
L. Anderson fully explained how incon-
venient and expensive it was and the
amount of time it required. At this point
the rivermen were given a chance to give
vent to their opinions. James o.
Wood, of Harbor No. %, of Pittsburg,
stated that their association had over 200
members, n that Major Bixby had ask
ed them to send a committee to this con-
ference. He had been a pilot on the river
for thirty-eight years, and was opposed to
bridges with piers in the river, as they
were an obstruction to navigation. He
described the different stages of the water,
also the difficulty with the smoke, which
at times was so dense that it INSTRUCTED
their view. He stated that all bridges
'ANA 1ANAS "SIC IL lllCIIdCt Navigation.
Mr.. Hearne started to question the wit
ness, but Major Powell stated that they
must not use so much time, and to just
let the witnesses tell their story. Captain
P. w. Boil, of Harbor No. 25, Pittsburg,
and Captain w. l.. Anderson, of the same
organization, and pilot of the Keystone
State, gave the same evidence as that of
Mr.. Mckee.
Captain bravo, of the Pittsburg Coal
Exchange, made an eloquent speech
against the bridge, saying he was aston
ished that a body of men would want to
place on impeachment in the way of the
navigation of the Ohio river which the
great Mississippi valley was dependent
upon. The captain also gave a slap at
the railroad combinations. Attorney John
Arbenz. of Wheeling, made quite a stir
ring speech and eulogized the theory of
the bridge, but wanted it not to hurt
navigation. Mr.. Arbenz represented the
Rapid Transit Company. Mr.. Hearne
said that Mr.. Arbenz's speech reminded
him of Mark Anthony's Grafton over the
dead body of Caesar. and that Mr.. Ar
benz wanted a ferry franchise and no
bridge; also that he had a boat which re-
minded him of a flying machine and that
it would afford much amusement to the
board if they would visit it: that Arbenz's
ferry franchise was the niger in the
wood pile"
Mr.. Arbenz stated that his words had
certainly struck a tender spot and that
it showed its effect.
At 2:3O o'clock the meeting closed. The
engineers will make a report, which goes
to the chief engineer at Washington, and
from him to the Secretary of War. who
only has the power to grant the fran
chise. Among those present from ,,lt
of the city who were much in
terested in the matter were Messrs.
Lee Clark, James McCready, Joseph
Hastings and Captain bravo. the
grand old defender of river navigation.
who for sixty years was on the river and
was collector of customs in Pittsburg
under Garfield and Harrison, and has also
been in the Legislature. All of the above
were from P%ittsburg.
Mrs. Kelley. proprietress of the Hotel
Windsor, is deserving OF much credit for
the way the crowd was entertained. and
especially the elegant dinner that was
served to the guests.