The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-30
Floods and Possible Methods
OF Prevention are Discussed

nineteenth centurA. Tonight. II Is pro-
posed to discuss briefly and IN the order
stated thrstl the nature and extent OF
the approved projects for lettering
~navigation on the Ohio; tsecond) floods.
tnelr causes, results. and possible meth
DDS OF prevention. and of protection
agaiust their disastrous results.
tFlrsD. Nature and extent Of approved
projects Tor hettcrtng navigation on the
ohiot The constitutional authority for
river Improvement by the general gov
eminent IS an inferred one. and is based
on the power Of congress. under the con-
stitution, to regulate with
foreign nations and among the severa.
states, and with the Indian tribes"
lHl- seems a slim basis for the eN-
teusive work which has been undertaken
10y the federal authorities in the way or
river Improvement. but court decisions
IN early cases As TO the Interpretation
OF the clause in question We're liberal.
ana as a result the federal river WORK
mas become. as time passed, continually
kItdt4 ~ scope and more complex In
It's nature, so that now 10 seems well
established that the commerce clause
includes control Of nuyigahle streams
even to their sources. as well as control
OF constructions over or IN streams
whether navigahle or non-navigapie.
provided such structures affect the naVi-
sanle capacity Of any stream under i'm
provement by the United states.
The distance from Pittsburgh to Cairo
is 800 miles. and the basin Of the Ohio
river covers an area of 10000 square
miles, and contains "a population or I3.-
100000 10 100000 people. The dis
ma ~ W ANf lAhfN NhNNNIAANNA AANNNHa
and the depths during August. Septcm-
her and October are generally not suffi-
client Tor open river navigation. For
uis reason river work intended TO rem
fdy this deficiency was the FIRST class or
Improvement undertaken by the United
states. The early work consisted then
the open-rtver channel and the construc-
uou in 1895. by a private company. OF
a canal with locks around the falls OF
the Ohio az Louisville, Ky. This canal
was operated as a corporation until the
United states assumed full control Of IL
in 1915.
Started in 1874.
In 1874. Major W. +. Merrill. CORPS OF
Engineers, L. =. Army. recommended the
construction OF locks and movable dams
for securing 6-foot navigation between
pittsburgh and Wheeling. and iu 1875.
favored the extension OF this system
throughout the entire river. though he
was iu some doubt Of it, applicability to
the portion OF the river below Louisville.
NariOus other surveys and reports fol
lowed. until the River and Harbor act.
approved January IS. 1910. adopted the
present proiert Tor fbe i,,nroy.v,.rt ~
the entire ohio river by 70 system OF
locks and movable dams TO secure a
depth OF feet, a. n total
cost OF $50 100000 the project to be
completed in Il years.
surveys were at once started under
this project. and at present. Of the S.
locks and dams thus provided. III are
completed and In operation. one has been
eliminated. and Is are under construc-
ton by contract or hired labor. While
sites have been adopted FOR all. and pur-
chase OF sites has been made for most
OF the remaining structures All locks
have been completed or construction ON
them started. and. with continuing ap-
pr"priatiouH hy congress. slack-water
HhN iEhupu from Pittsburgh TO- o. point
beyond Iarkerzhurr. should be- COM
rleted lN the latter part 10 1917 or tho
l9t'l NJ locks and dams. rs are Boo
the Wheeling district. % OF these being
completed and fU Iu course Of rfuafrfrr-