The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-01-18
Want Rout Of Road Changed :.
II. 1kku- H.

Up Little KanAwhnr
Insisting that the naturaitrav and
traffic outlet off the upper Little Ka-
nawha valley u down the Little Kama
wha river all the way from Gleuvills
| and Grantsvilie TO its mouth, business
interests Of Parkersburg are actively
engaged In . campaign to set an ex-
tension Of the Elizabeth pike ON M
the riyer to ut least Grantsvills nsxs
summer. The Parbersburg AutoDs-
| bile Club Is leading In the movement
| and through Its president, Senator Z
b. Stats. 10 endeavoring 70 accom-
plish a change OF the course already
| chosen beyond Elizabeth. The state
road commission, IL Is said. has desig-
nnted route crossing the river By
bridge at Elizabeth. leaving the river
there and crossing the upper end q
Writ county back Of Burnings BprinR
on through Munday and Industry,
then following Standing Stone creek,
the big bend OF Little Kanawha river
and Two Rifle creek into Grsntsvilla
The automobile club and other orEa-
niZations and interests protest that
the road should follow the north shore
of the Little kaEawha az nearly as
possible all the way from Elizabeth to
CreSton.. where the road would take to
the south side OF the river, cross the
high ridge to the Calhoun county line
toward Annamoriah, bridging Anna
mortah creek near it's mouth and
crossing the big bend country into
Grantsville. The argument advanc-
ed by them In support of this route al nd
which hBs already been taken up with
the state road commission At Charles
ton. 10 that overland freighting faeui-
ties should be provided from Creston
Into Calhoun and Gilmer counties at
the head OF boat Navigation on the
Little kauawha.
II - pointed out BY Parkersbury and
upstream business Interests that q
road should be provided for hauling
merchandise taken that far By boat so
that merchants la Calhoun and ell
mer can get supplies through prompt
~ from Parkersburg. On the other
hand, In favor of the designated rpiIte
there are those holding to the opinion
that the new road should be bailt
through sections OF country not now
provided with outlets, such a. the
Little kanawha river proper has b.
boat aud train.
Capt. Milton r. Lowther, himself q
foreman steamboat man, advanced q
practical plan In a recent meeting OF
business men for controlling the trade
Of the upper Little Kanawhn valley
He suggested that efforts be- made To
get the federal government to extend
slack water navigation by construct
Ing two or three dams above Creston,
two at. least. From his old-time eY-
perience on the river he In confident
that such All improvement OF the
stream would permit regular steam
boat transportation practically the
year round to Srantsville. Later
other dams could be built to extend
the head OF navigation To Glsnvtlls.
1hen, he argues, the owners OF the
Little Kanawha Railroad would be
compelled to extend their rail line in
to the Giimer county coal feld rather
than zee the traffic nonopolisod by
- civer boAtA
Speaking OF river transportation,
Captain Lowther recalled that the or
iginal dams were PLACID In the river
by the Little Kanawha Navigation
Company many years ago IS ,rivGte
enterprise and tolls We're charged Tor
uSe OF inc LOCKS, principally In thosa
days for floating timber downstream.
Then the Little Kanawha Transporta-
don Company was organised and ran
q line OF boats on the river, and 1t was
Ia the employ OF this latter company
that he had his steamboat experience
large volume OF business was done
~ the transportation company boats
until the government took over the
dams, improved them and built oters
farther up stream, made the locks free
since which time steamboating has
not been 30 profitable on that stsezm
The reason for the present local az
itaton for an improved highway from
Parkersburs into the upper river
country Is apparon when 1t In realiz-
ed that hard roads are approaching
that territory from both Cha rleston
on the south, and Weston and Clarks-
burg on the north. There is already
an improved dirt road most Of the
way from GEantsville via Arnolds-
burg Int Roane county, which 10 fair
~ well connected up to Charleston, or
win be the coming summer via Glen
denim, and northward there is also a
pretty good road between Chenille
and Weston and from there TO Clarks-
burg.
Concerning the highway connecting
between Grantsville and Charleston.
Fl. b. Snyder, division engineer for
the state road commission. explains
that only the portions of 1t In Calhoun
and Roane counties are being CON.
structed by the state; that the long
stretch up Elk river ont OF Charles
ton via Clendenin to the Roane county
line 10 an improved dirt road being
bWlt By KanawhA county alone. Cap
tain Snyder suggests that Parkerp.
bNrg caA set a large volume Of bust.
noos from Peasants county By com
pleton Of the river road to st. MGr1s