The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-12-05
TEN MILLION BUSHELS OF COAL !
READY FOR SHIPMENT ON RIVER
GOOD BARGE STAGE IS EXPECT.
Ed TO MATURE ON UP
PER OHIO.
Longest Suspension Of River Traffic
IN Decade 70 Broken az Result
Of General Rains.

Ten million bushels of coal will be
moved southwark to Ohio and Missis-
sippi river points within the next
week. II the forecast OF the Pittsburgh
weather bureau materializes. accord.
ing to an Associated Press dispatch
received last night from Pittsburgh.
There is no doubt expressed by To-
cal rivermen that a good coal barge
stage will mature early next week,
possibly tomorrow. since. according
to Information received here. the re-
cent rains appear to have been gen
eral over the watersheds of the Ohio.
With stage OF 10 feet recorded
on the government gauge below the
McMechen dam, the river was rising
last night. Arrangements were being
made to lower the wickets early to-
day. and Superintendent George Pat
rick last night stated IL might be
necessary to start removing them
during the night The wickets at all
dams along the river will be lowered
so that they will not interfere with
the shipment of coal In the event
that barge stage materializes. II
is likely that the wickets will not be
raised again until spring.
Largest Coal Shipments.
The largest shipment of coal in the
history OF Ohio river traffic is await
ing sufficient Stage for movement al
Pittsburgh. There has not been a
barge stage since early in May. ana
as result all FOOLS in the Pittsburgh
district are filled with loaded barges.
boats and fats. II Is said that the
river between East Liverpool. o., and
Pittsburgh is practically lined with
barges awaiting movement TO south
ern points. Every available piece"
has been loaded, and practically all
the tow boats operating on this sec
/ ton OF the Ohio river are now at
! Pittsburgh. making up tows which
will be carried southwark as soon as
the stage permits.
River traffic so far az the tow boats
and larger packets are concerned. has
been suspended since May. the long
est suspension in almost a decade.
according to rivermen. because or the
low stages. Captain John Crockard.
OF the local wharf boat. stated yes
terday. that the past summer has
been one OF the most disastrous on
rivermen within his recolections
Last year. IL will be remembered.
there was a coal barge stage each
month OF the year. and steamers were
able TO operate practically all the
time.
A stage of 9 feet at Pittsburgh Is
necessary for the shipment OF coal
This affords a local stage of about
Is feet. Local riVermen do not an
ticipate a stage of more than is feet.
unless heavy rains continue for two
OF three days
kans~hs Re-Enters Trade.
II was announced yesterday that the
big steamer. Kanawha, which has been
| tied up at Pittsburgh since early in the
summer. because of the low water. will
Ire-enter the Charleston-Wheelin Pitts.
burgh trade, in command of Capt. VIM.
+. Roe. Capt. Roe. who is one of the
best known and most popular men on
the river. has been spending the sum
mer in Oklahoma. looking after his oil
interests. The Kanawha is scheduled
to clear the local wharf Wednesday
morning at s o'clock. bound for
Charleston. She is due to reach here
on the return trip TO Pittsburgh the
following Sunday.
! The gasoline packet. Grantsville.
cleared yesterday for Matamoras. She
Is due TO reach here this evening. and
will lay here over Sunday. departing
Monday for Matamoras
The Liberty arrived last night. and
VIII leave at IL o'clock this morning
for Marietta. instead of Matamoras.
| her usual terminus