The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1912-09-06
IMPROVEMENT
Of the Big Sandy River Is at
Stake.
Citizens Of Counties Along the Valley
Should Prepare for the Visit Of
U. S. Engineers.

The improvement Of the Big
Sandy river and its two main forks
by system of locks and dams WAS
projected many years ago. After
numerous delays from causes aiso
numerous the improvement has
progressed until five dams and the
necessary locks have been colnplet-
ed, one near the mouth of the riv-
er. one at Kavanaugh, one at Lou
lisa, one at Saltpeter, on the Tug
fork, and one at Chapman, about
miles above Louisa, on the Levisa
fork. These various locks and dams
represent the highest types of con-
struction designed to improve a
navigable water way and represent
also the expenditure of very large
amount of money. They are almost,
II not perfect in design and erec-
tion and accomplish with precis-
ion and dispatch the purpose for
which they were intended. to-wit,
the forming and holding of pools Of
sufficient length and depth to per-
init the passage of RATS. barges and
boats. This is the condition which
will confront the special Board of
United States Engineers ordered by
Chief Engineer Bixby when it makes
re-examination of the two
forks of the river as of-
dered. The Board will also find
that the highest point reached oy
slackwater in either fork of the riv-
er has, practically, just touched the
lower edge OF the coal fields
through which the Big Sandy river
runs. 1t will also find that trans.
portation along the slackwater nov
available in season is seriously
handicapped by the difficulty which
Is SO pronounced at dam number
one when the Ohio is at the usua
summer stage. At that time en-
trance through the lock by boat /.
sometimes impossible, and it doe.
!. e'' require the knowledge possessed
M United States engineer to SEE
hlhat when you can't get into riy
eF nat river and whatever improve
inei S 1t may have are practically
hor lless to you, 1t is said tha
lFn the completion of the Norfolk
sstern through the coal field.
tF Vest Virginia and the Ches
elo'.ke & Ohio through the vas
eal damain OF the upper Levisa
40 its forks there is NO need fol
~ father facilities which slack.
WtA transportation would furnish
ltis said that certain Senators
congressman at Washington
ilft to know whether or not the
i Fnrexements contemplated for the
fpPr branches of the Big Sandy are
i4cially needed" Come and see! 1t
Id I'D that the C. & o. railroad
! n Scontracted to handle from 200
" 70 carloads of coal and coke
pa riein for the Consolidation Coal
"A dloke Co. alone, the smallest
az nat being 200 carloads, increas-
lns 500 carloads as the output
oi Fnnes increases This contract
y ecn'y one OF the big coal cor
4 u q nx~lr -.
tha npire of coal. bigger than
any, ste on the known earth. This
4s 2 contract for one road, isn't
uSs ~ viii it do when all the
yAh, companies really get TO
sori n
ittlh Kanawha Is slackwat-
ersq &ps from end to end. The
.cpe sehtt'f the mines along that
3 f'ea be very small when
ctitn n r,th what the mines Of
.ths w'R lady will turn out when
fup isys "a, but there is not the y
slisl't ST hpation that ''the game Y
is ao' We the POWDER Why IS y
the at1et States building costly I
locl slit -..lns from Pittsburg 3 u
the hl,y II is to answer the s,
gan os Hople''A A . foct
70 Cain cheaperr
the gre t'.1..'s "