The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-08-22
roads could not successfully compel,
with river transportation.

II he knew the length OF the span OF
the river bridge at Morgantown
He replied that he did not. He was
Informed that the length Of the span
in that bridge was 2S4.4 feet. He
was also asked II he knew thu
length Of the span at Fairmont.
This bridge has span OF $50 feet
he WAS told. He was then asked II
these two bridges having a span
shorter than the span of the bridge
to be erected ri Caiawba would have
any influence on MS opinion as to
the neccssitv Of having the span OF
the proposed bridge heightened. lie
said that he was sorry to know OF
these bridges, but that the informa.
ton did not make any chang" In his
opinion. He was fighting for CON
s"rvation Of navigation. He was
asked tina, Il 1t were not true THAI
the wal department had inserted in
the terms upon which bridges are
constructed over naviGablc streams.
a clause which gave II the right to
change any bridge when II deemed
ii necessary TO do so. He said that
ii was true that there was such Il
clause in the agreement, bu; where
there are bridges SO constructed
there We're many interests affected
I Ia. thnt .
hard proposition to effect Il change
after Il bridge had been constructed.
Railroad bridges. company bridges,
county bridges. city bridges. are af-
fcctcd and when a ease is prosrcut-
ed. All these corporations form
community of interests that make II
hard to get Il bridge changed aftc!
II IL once erected.
Captain Tillcy was asked if he
knew that AT Il distance OF 1900
feet below the site of the proposed
bridge. the river was only 295 feet
wide, less than the length OF the
span us proposed by the railroad
company. He replied that he did
not. He was asked II 1t were not
true that a coal tow would pass
through the span that was wider
than the river easier than ii wouiH
n narrow place in the river. He re-
piled that it would pass easier
til" narrower place in the
river.
Captain Tillcy stated that he bas-
ed his statements upon twenty-five
years experience in navigation.
Captain Isaac n. Reno. of Pitts
burgh. is Il member of Harbor %,
American Association Master Mates
and Pilots. This is an organization
of over 200 experienced mates and
pilots who are engaged in the fight
for better channels for the operation
of steamboats,. He testified that
they want all spans to be not less
than four hundred feet. He was d
pilot in the early river traffic to
this city and plotted boats from
FairmUnt to M0rgantown, making
trips daily. He said that the state
mcnt Of Captain Tiii"y that it was
easier to pilot a boat through mar
rover channel. where there banks
on either side than TO pass Il pier
where the channel was slightly Wild
or.
Assistant Engineer 4. b. McGrew.
Of the United States Engineering Of
flee Al Pittsburgh, told how 1t came
that the bridg" span at Morgantown
was narrow. This was on account
Of It's position in relation to the
wharf and the lock which Is only a
Short distance above.
Captain e. T.. lIogg. river man
Of considerable experience. was thea
called. He said that in his opinion
that the span as contcndcd for by
the BuckhannOn and Northern Rail
road Company would be sufficient
and would not interfere with navi-
CATION He is at the present time
plotting the Steamer Clyde. which
tows the river shipments Of the
Parker Run and Clyde Coal C0mpa-
mics. The witness gave il as his
opinion that boat would 80
through the span as easily AS II
would the narrow place in the river
below and with the same degree Of
safety to the boat, the cargo and to
the crew on the boat.
Captain Craven llogg, another pi-
lot and a member of Iiarbor %,
American Association OF Master
Mates and Pilots, corFobOraicd the
statements OF Captain G. p. IIogg.
Captain Craven Hogg. at the pres
rnt time. is also engaged in plotting
boats that carry the shipments Of
the clyde and Parker Run Coal
Companies that are transported by
barge.
MIR. ". L. Watson. Jr.. general
manager OF the Rosebud Fuel Con-
pany. and of the Parker Run Coal
Company. stated that in his opinion
the span as cOntended for by the
Buckhannon and Northern, would
be sufficient. He stated that eighty
per cent OF the product of the Park,
or RIM wns Skinned Inv large lint