The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-08-21
HISTORY Of OHIO R|VER'S'LOlN
WATER TOLDBY OLD TINE PILOT
CAPTAIN J. HARVEY LEIGHTON Eh-
CALLS TI1E VIXEN GNAoo
oREw ON RIVER BED.

Ths present low stage OF tho river -
due TO tho repairing OF dams down tho
river.
Dam No. "a below MoMschen Ia be-
ing repaired causing the pool hero TO Dc
A. It's lowest IN many years ScFrral OF
he larger boats that have tried TO pass
here bave stuck on bars and othH' q"
longer try 70 go above hera
According TO tho old river mon, THIS
= the first time the river has over oeon
So low, Scvera, can remember when me
ba,k river was completely drained ana
rrass was growing on tho bed OK the
s-reom hut since tho dams have been
mn, n this condition has been removed.
A. meeting OF the rtvermcn before
tho dams were put IN they Claimed that
a nine foot stage OF water was suii-
..lent FOR the boats and oarEes that were
nm through here; but since the dams
have been put up for that stage OF
water they have complained that X -
not enough, Some OF tho Goa. COM
nanles near Pittsburgh load their bar
ges for a fourteen stage OF water ana
when they catch on bars complain.
Accort9irC - Captain J. Harvey
Leighton. formally pilot on several OF
the larger boats that piled between New
orleans and the head or the river
claims that the new pilots do not know
what the bed Of the looks like, all they
know Is where the main channel Is ana
that when they get out Of that they are
like little children In Il woods, not
knowing which way TO turn or which
vay 70 GO \ boat In this stage or
water is very hard TO handle at the wind
will blow II clear around, regardless OF
the rudder "a the current OF water Is
not strong enough 10 wheel the LARGER
boats around before the wind. oloow-
ing steadily on the side OF tho boat II
carries II around.
Monorgahelia Is Treachsrous.
The MonongahelIa river was very
trcChercus before the dams were put in.
having shoals, falls and rapids making
Il impossible TO navigate more than
few miles above Pittsburgh. With the
dams and other improvements now IN
existance. Il Is Manageable up to Fair
mont, opening up coal fields that would
be impossible 20 operate without the
river conveyances.
The bottom Of tho river Is more eS-
posed now than ever before IN the men,
DRY OF the oldest river men. and tho new
pilots can see FOR themselves the diff
fcrent holes and bars. This Is one OF
the few opportunities that present
ted by rivermcn The bed Of the river
CHANCES slowly and once known there
"a little fear OF u pilot being at FAULT
The hole near what was formally known
as Bell-lS& Beach al the head OF the
island, Is one OF the many dangerous
places OF the river. and one all pilots
try 10 keep away from. In the future
this condition will not be 50 bad as the
ptlots examined the bed Of the river al
this place and know now how far they
IAN 10 without being IN the danger
zone.
Many BAD Places
The way the bed of the river Ia dus
IN at different places by companies
after sand and gravel causes many dan
Scrous places and much trouble TO boats
with barEes that are overloaded. Many
times barges viii stick on sand reefs
formed by this operation and ause much
work and delay OF transportation. Tht'
has happened near the mouth OF Wheel
ing creek several times in the pas
wear.
The water In the back river "a nov
So low that Il can be waded at many
PAGES This branch OF the river Ia!
been known 10 dry up altogether arc
h., dry so long that blades uf grass hav,
been p!ckel from what would be IN
ned Of the river. Horses and wagon:
have been driven across at this ttm'
"a the island where garden stuff wout'
&c purchased from IN" farmers an'
AIKEN back 70 the Ohio side where
would be sold by Hucksters.
The river below here - IN bad con
d.tlon but up 70 here It can be navigate,
sa sely az the dams hold the water I"
stage sufficient for the largest boa
10 be rloated upon rs surface.
The rapatr work on dam No. IS vii
~ completed w.;hin a week so as q
enable this pol 10 be flooded In orde
Tor the boats TO again be able TO journe
I'D the river.