The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-01-23
YOUGHIOGHENY CANAL
PROJECT TO Be DISCUSSED
Inland Waterway From Ohio to
Atlantic Seaboard Attracting
Attention of Manufacturers

Youghiogheny and it's tributaries to
the Atlantic Coast, indicates that the
master minds of Pittsburgh coal and
iron producers are giving the project
serious thought and consideration.
j In last Thursdays issue of The Re-,
publican a story was carried, along
with map showing the four proposed
routes that, have been surveyed for
the canalization of the waterway from
Pittsburgh east This article has Gre
ated much interest not only among the
local people but by men in other parts
of the country, hence the news from
! Washington relative to the Pitts
burghers' interest may be added to
last Thursdays story.
The news story from Washington is
as follows: ,et ...ei
An energetic campaign in which all
congressman from Western Pennsyl-
vania will participate was opened in
Washington today to link an improv-
ed Youghiogheny River with the great
waterway systems of the country.
AS interested leaders laid plans for
a meeting in Pittsburgh Monday be-
fore District Engineer j. J. Balm, at
which the needs for the improvement
of the Youghiogheny will be presente-
ed, these developments took place:
| Ill., yNo, no,,o a, oouo n0fipo
that it was watching the movement
with interest.
A statement was issued declaring
Western Pennsylvania congressman
never before were so united on an
important project.
Every manufacturing and mining
enterprise in the locality to be eff
fected by the improvement was called
to have representatives at the Pitts
burgh meeting.
Government Ready to Act
! Assurances were obtained from the
proper House and Senate committees
that any legislation proposed would be
given earnest attention.
The people generally of the Yough-
iogheny Valley were asked to coop
crate in whatever way they could to
insure the successful carrying out of
the project.
With the full support of Senators
David A. Reed and Joseph B. Grundy,
the river improvement scheme is be-
ing fathered by Congressman Adam
M. Wyant, of Greensburg; Clyde KEEL
ly, of Edgewood, and Samuel A. Ken
dali, of Meyersdale. Kelly and Wy
ant Joined in a statement declaring
the project was on its way to success.
"The present fate Of this much
needed improvement" their state
ment said, "rests with those in West
ern Pennsylvania, who are vitality in
terested.
"Local Engineer Balm has ordered
hearing on January 27. At that hear
ing the case for this improvement
must be made. Every manufacturing
and mining enterprise which needs
this additional transportation must be
represented.
Facts and figures will alone be Of
weight. Everything depends upon the
proof of general interest and the rea-
sons which so abundantly justify the
| Improvement of this river.
/ Mckee Discusses Plans
"The task rests with those actually
in need of the service to be rendered
by canalized Youghiogheny River"
Plans for the Pittsburgh meeting
were discussed with Wyant and War
Department officials by w. M. Nc
Kee, secretary of the McKeesport
Chamber of Commerce. He said Geo.
H. Ashley, state geologist, would be
present at the hearing to give the re-
suits of the special study he has made
on the potential production of coal,
limestone, fire clay and gravel in the
rich territory served by the Yough-
iogheny. -. -
! Figures obtained from Ashley dis
close that a total Of nearly 2,000,-
100000 tons of coal is recoverable in
the McKeesport to West Newton and
West Newton to Connellsville areas.
These areas now produce more than
100000 tons of coal year and ev-
licences is expected to be presented
at Mondays meeting to show that ap-
proximately 70 per cent of this will
be shipped down the Youghiogheny if
it is improved. F..
19-Mile Improvement
The project contemplates the i'm
provement of the river from Fifteenth
street in McKeesport to West New
ton, a stretch of 10 miles, as start.
Later further improvement up the
river may be sought.
The territory serves one of the rich
est bituminous fields in the world.
The Pittsburgh Coal Company already
has abandoned its uneconomic mines
in favor of its Warden and Banning
mines in the. Youghiogheny valley.
The McKeesport Coal and Coke Com
pany operates shaft mine there and
the largest tin mill in the world, the
4 T01.Aat Se