The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-09-18

sylvania railroad is to be obliterated as is
shown by the maps prepared by United
States engineers, the valuable oil prop.
erty that lines both sides OF the river
within radius of many miles of Oil City
will be valueless and the fleets of barges
and finished lumber that come from Tio-
nesta and vicinity will no longer float on
the river.
&c. L. Ashcrsft, L. f. Archibald and
II. S. Robb, of the United States Engi-
neering department, Pittsburg, arrived
in the city yesterday and will be here for
a few weeks securing data regarding the
business and commerce OF the stream
north of here, preliminary to making
their report.
"Mr. Ashcraft spent yesterday after
noon and evening viewing the situation
at Rock mere and therefore could not be
interviewed but his colleague, Mr.. Archi-
bald, talked freely and unreservedly and
his interview brought nothing in the way
of comfort or reinsurance TO any resident
of OIL City or any other town that lies ad
jacent to the Allegheny.
"There is no announced intention Of
improving the river in any way. The
confiscation of railroads, highways, oil
and lumber properties, the farms that
line the river banks and other interests
are 10 be buried under SO feet of water in
order that Pittsburg's wharfage may be
protected from high water in rainy sea-
son.
"a dam is to be constructed the entire
width of the river at Panther run, at the
head of Horse creek eddy. 1t is to be So
feet breast. Its length is to be $40 feet
| from bank to bank and it is calculated to
back the water to point one mile above
Tionesta, Forest county, where "dam No.
~ will then be constructed. In all, three
of these terrible mensces to the lives OF
river valley residents will be construct
ed above Oil City, with one or more on
Tionesta creek, but it is with Dam No.
that Oil City is most concerned at pres
ent. The body of water in the proposed
| dam when filled with flood water will be
| 63 ieet high against the concrete breast of
the dam and will extend up the river 16
$40 miles.
Engineer Archibald's maps show that
much of the property along both sides of
the river, most of it valuable for oil pur.
poses and upon which there are now
many producing wells and others in the
process of drilling, will be wiped out.
"rhe tracks of the Pennsylvania rail-
for the entire length of l6 10 miles, will
suffer a like fate and several wagon roads
will have to go. These include the road
at Panther Hollow, one near Eagle Rock
and considerable stretch of highway at
the lines of Forest and Venango couu ties.
"At least 30 trains daily, with heavy
tonnage of coal and coke, northbound
from Pittsburg to Buffalo, are sent over
this low grade daily by the P. r. r. As
many more come south between the two
points with ore and merchandise.
ut will be we'll TO remember that the
dam is to be built entirely for impound-
ing purposes. That is, there will be no
locks and there will be no means by
which any river craft can pass the dams
to be erected. At Panther run the drop
would be sheer SO feet, and that means
the elimination of any means by which
the manufactured lumber and barges be-
ing turned out at the important river
towns north OF here would be able to get
to Pittsburg. The industry of barge
building would Immediately become
lost art, so far as the residents north of
here are concerned.
"The menace to lives below the dams is
to be constant. for part of the scheme is
to furnish navigable water for the Ohio
river and hold it until the boating stage
is low and then release 1t, that the heavy
tows OF the Pittsburg river trade may be
sent south without interruption the year
around, except when winter closes navi-
CATION.
"This Flood Commission is pure and
simple Pittsburg combination, and its
aims are not only mercenary and selfish,
but they contain an element that is ap-
palling in its disregard for human life |
and interest. With Johnstown and Aus
tin fresh in the minds of all, and with Oil |
City's awful experience following the
giving way of the small dam at Spartans-
burg on Oil Creek in 1892, the proposition
could scarcely be accepted as being made |
seriously but for the fact that the repre- |
nf fha
are investigating its feasibility and upon
their recommendation depends the fur
therance of these designs that are scarcely |
to be classed as of human origin.
"Aside from the pre-eminent question |
of safeguarding human life, the Common
wealth and the Government, both of |
which are to be asked to make appropria- |
tions for these reservoir dams, would |
probably be required to pay the recon-
pense. For in planning this wholesale
confiscation the Pittsburg Flood Commits
sion show their spirit of parsimony in |
their estimate of costs to be incurred, not !
only in the construction of the dams that
are to hold this immense lake of water
but in the estimate of damages to be paid.
"The figures are direct from the note
books of the United States engineers.
The estimated cost of the construction of |
the Panther Run dam is 81 ,2l9, 800, and of
that total the sum of S4O2 700 is for the
construction of the dam and only $G58, 100 |
to pay for property confscated, and rail-
roads and highways eliminated from pub
i.c service. The remainder of the sum
total is what is to be paid for engineering
and contingencies
uDam No . Is to ba oonstrnotol o,,o