The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-11-27

great waterway with freight steamers
constantly plying: Il from one en-" !" INC
other His address was an rnthuSiaS
tie ono and his explanations OF the pos
sihilitieS along the river which nave o'"h
neglected for "cNrS were clear ana SNOW
ed clearly that Il" has given conSiucr-
able time to IN" tdc;. uf increasing RIVER
traffic.
Col. Beach dwelt Mt some length on the
many advantages Ia b" gained by inc
business men and said that il Is i'np"Ea-
tive that the then In this section awake
- the opportunity facing them ana IN
ncdiately get busy on the proJect. LOT
i, is possible that the lives OF many OIL
the boys 1T the front may be saved
through the successful working "ut OF
the plan for Increased freight carriers.
by getting supplies To them when 'hcy
are needed. Tn" Importance Of 4 proper
wharfage system was also dwelt upon
hy Col. Beach and he said that this is a
matter OF some concern 10 many hut that
il is a proposition that can easily be
worked out and when 1t is II Will mean
the passing away of the old river men
who still use the lcv"cS never thinking
about the necessity of having u proper
landing place.
The only proper method Tor hano!nS
xhipuinE on the river. Col Beach said
wharveS Tor the benefit Of tn" shippers
and he did not think that the day IS Tar
distant when all these things Will he
seen along the Ohio. He also pointed
out the Importance OF having regular
schedules for the boats. both through
and local and predicted that line OK
boats run rs man would run any other
business in I business way would pay
large returns on the money invested.
II. {. Ogden spoke about freight con-
,!iiinus IN Wheeling and the other towns
along the'rlvcr.
Xetcuu1n Tells Of Plans.
Char."s; VI. k"tchum. manager Of n"
Commercial association. then outiincd
/ The plans that have been discussed ana
which he wished TO lay before the meet
.nS. He said In part:
When the Wheeling Commercial as
soc!ati0n undertook this project II did
so with 4 full understanding OF the
larseucSs of The task and an apprcci"-
. zion Of the difficulties TO be ovrrc"r!".
. Careful analysis. however. Indicated that
none oe the obstacles wcrn ln%urmount-
able. In years past river liners had
, been financial failures. Various cH-
: plantations were advanced. but they all
came down - Two fundamental causes
First and greatest: The crAit coul!
only operate about three months IN the
,-enr and were idln for nin4 months.
Government canallIau"n. At Mn e&-
t,snS.. too great for private Individuals
: 10 undertake. with = hope ut ad"uut."
-",uru. * now substantially ""mpi"i"
from Pittsburgh Ia I'ark"rsburE. AMI
boats can hr opcrate4 from ;"it /" eleven
months in ehc S"ar. This has only O''''u
pns!lb!.. during the last fifteen or clch-
teen months.
SECOND Lack OF proper shipping
landing. lna,'iEE and wharfage facilities
vas t;l.' 1,..Nt great cause. Z" thus may
b.. added TIA" ir:cguiarity ut service. lack
; Of responsibility Of boat owners and ihr
WILLINGNESS uf railroads 10 provide &c
; commodntiurs III the form Of switches
and side. tracks.
! "Rcduc. the whole situation as T.
exists today to 4 definite proposition.
| and is solution needs only some int.iii-
: gent corporation. - lttIc public spirit
! and = determination TO accomplish ;Hs
! desired result. with tt= tru= American
! spirit Of l, can ami it Will b. done.
t would Be Costly.
! ITO build = SiuGl" track nf railroad
| from Pittsburgh to Farkrr%hurS Goo
nilrs) would cost from $4,000 to
! &ln" "nn i mill: 1T 425.Un0 u NILE II
would cost sJ.hGn. G0n, and yet Ia" s'.v-
/ "ramcnt presents us w!t;l III" tr"" use
. nl the ohio which with proper c,Iup-
mont can carry moro tonrarr than w"
double track rs,iiCoaLS--- ana y" can ;;"i
J tho equipment for $4,000 per mill. or
| abnut 100000 \ barge To freight
car is AZ a live ton truck is :" Willis
| little red wagon.
| wv" all want 10 sec tho Ohio d"vci-
| oped into great transportation system.
We want ~ See /, soon. IL ether words.