Col. T. S. Sedgwick, as a part of the survey for the extension of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from Cumberland to Pittsburgh. This survey is reported in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1876, Part II, pages 58-129. It was also published separately as Executive Document No. 137, House of Representatives, Forty-fourth Congress, first session. For details I would refer to the above reports and to the maps that accompanied them, which are now on file in the office of the Chief of Engineers. The whole distance from Connellsville to McKeesport, the point at which the Youghiogheny empties into the Monongahela, is 44 miles. In this distance the river falls 148 feet. To slackwater this distance would require 15 dams of 10 feet lift each. The cost of these dams would vary greatly. In the lower end of the river there is an occasional appearance of sandstone rock on one side or the other of the river, but in no case does the rock extend more than a few feet from the bank. It practically amounts to building the lock and dam on a gravel bottom, thus necessitating an expensive foundation. In my report of August 14, 1874, the estimated cost of a lock and dam on the Lower Youghiogheny was stated at $230,000. Of this sum $50,000 was for the foundation of the lock. I do not see how this estimate can be materially changed, and therefore I present it again. As we ascend the river the cost of dams becomes less, and it is materially reduced as soon as we strike that part of the river having a bed of rock. No allotment was made for a resurvey of the Youghiogheny; and in view of the fact that careful estimates had been made on the three lower locks and dams, which ought to be built first, it was both impracticable and unnecessary to make careful estimates on the upper locks and dams. There will be abundance of time to make these estimates after the work of construction has begun, and meanwhile the resident engineer can become better posted as to the needs and the resources of this river. Accompanying this report is a carefully prepared statement of the resources of the Youghiogheny Valley, and of the probable commerce that would be created if the river were slack watered, which has been compiled by an expert statistician, Mr. George H. Thurston, of Pittsburgh.* The following is a concise summary of the most important facts: The Youghiogheny bisects a large basin of the finest coking coal in the United States, being that from which the famous Connellsville coke is made. The demand for this coke is only limited by the available supply, and as it is used in blast furnaces all over the United States it may be fairly classed as a national product, and therefore deserving of cheap transportation at national cost. The coal lands lying within 5 miles of the Youghiogheny River, from its mouth to Ohio Pyle, are estimated at 830 square miles, with an aggregate workable thickness of 30 feet. The total amount of workable coal is therefore about 15,000,000,000 tons, whose value at $2 per ton is $30,000,000,000. The Connellsville coal basin is 50 miles long by 3 miles wide, with from 8 to 9 feet of coking coal. It is estimated that it contains 768,000,000 tons, whose value is $1,536,000,000. Youghiogheny coal is the standard steam coal of the West, and Monongahela coal is usually sold under this name. The present commerce of the river is limited to three coal works in the pool formed by Dam No. 2 of the Monongahela River. Their annual Omitted. Printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 20, Forty-sixth Congress, third session. shipments are from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 bushels of coal and coke, whose estimated value is $500,000. At all points above these works shipments are made by rail, and are practically limited to coke, as the coal cannot compete with the similar coal which is transported by water on the pools of the Monongahela. For the present I would only estimate on one lock and dam at a cost of $230,000, and I would suggest that this sum be provided in two equal annual installments, so that the work may be prosecuted with energy and economy. Respectfully submitted. Brig. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. WM. E. MERRILL, AA 13. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF TAGGART'S [TYGART'S] VALLEY AND BUCKHANNON RIVERS, WEST VIRGINIA. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Cincinnati, Ohio, January 6, 1883. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit herewith the results of the preliminary examination of "Taggart's (Tygart's) Valley River, West Virginia, above Grafton to the Three Forks of Buckhannon, and furnish an estimate of the cost of removing the obstructions in the Buckhannon River from the town of Buckhannon to the Three Forks of said river." This examination was assigned to Mr. J. B. Holbrook, assistant engineer, and his report is hereto attached. The Tygart's Valley River is the upward extension of the Mononga hela, which latter begins 13 miles above Fairmont, W. Va., at the junction of the West Fork with the Tygart's Valley River. It rises in the southern part of Randolph County and flows nearly due north, its chief tributaries being the Middle Fork and the Buckhannon River. Its total length is about 135 miles. From its mouth to Grafton is 20 miles, and from Grafton to the mouth of the Buckhannon is 30 miles. Buckhannon River is a tributary of the Tygart's Valley, and it takes its rise in the southwestern part of Randolph County, West Virginia, and flows a little east of north until it falls into the Tygart's Valley River in Barbour County. The distance from the Three Forks to the mouth is 47 miles, and the total length of the Buckhannon River is about 57 miles. It will be observed that this examination is limited to the Buckhannon River and to that portion of the Tygart's Valley River lying below the mouth of the Buckhannon and above the town of Grafton, an important station on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The estimate required by Congress is limited to that part of the Buckhannon River between the Three Forks and the town of Buckhannon. Both rivers are exclusively rafting streams, nor can they be used for any other purpose, the fall from the Three Forks of the Buckhannon River to Gratton being over 700 feet, which is an average of more than 9 feet to the mile. The Buckhannon River is nearly closed by jams of heavy logs and huge bowlders, while in the Narrows of the Valley River, between Byan's Mill and Matlick's, a distance of 113 miles, there are ten vertical falls, the smallest being 2 feet high and the highest 31 feet; 26 feet of which latter is vertical. The total fall in the Narrows is 300 feet, an average of 26 feet to the mile. It is evident from the above summary statement that all that can be done to these streams is to remove the isolated bowlders and masses of rock that cause log jams, and thus facilitate the downward passage of logs to the railroad at Grafton. Mr. Holbrook estimates that for $3,000 all the worst obstructions above Buckhannon could be removed, and 50,000,000 feet of first-class timber could be opened to a market. I do not think that the necessary improvements can be completed for this sum, but as the work is merely an aggregate of a great number of small jobs, wholly independent of each other, any appropriation whatever can be expended advanta geously, and therefore I submit his estimate as it stands. Future experience will afford a basis for accurate estimates of the cost of completing whatever necessary work the first appropriation leaves undone. The last river and harbor act forbids the survey of any river or harbor whose survey or examination is ordered in the act, unless the local engineer shall certify as the result of the preliminary examination that "in his judgment said harbor or river is worthy of improvement, and that the work is a public necessity." In the present case I have to report that no survey is needed, as the preliminary examination has developed all of the essential facts. I will add, however, that in my judgment the importance of bringing to market a large body of the magnificent white oak of West Virginia fully justifies the small expenditure herein called for, though I do not feel warranted in characterizing this work of improvement as a "public necessity" in the sense of being something that is indispensable. The map accompanying this report has been compiled from a map of the Buckhannon River (kindly copied by Mr. W. G. L. Totten, of Buckhannon), made by order of the United States district court of West Virginia, as part of the proceedings in a land case, and from a map of the Tygart's Valley River between Philippi and Grafton, made by the engineers of the Grafton and Greenbrier Narrow Gauge Railroad. A few miles of the lower portion of the Buckhannon River and that part of Tygart's Valley River lying between the mouth of the Buckhannon and Philippi was sketched by Mr. Holbrook while making his examination. An interesting letter from Maj. D. D. T. Farnsworth, of Buckhannon, a former governor of West Virginia, gives a statement of the commercial interests that will be benefited by a removal of the obstructions that now make the Buckhannon River impassable. Respectfully submitted. Brig. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. WM. E. MERRILL, Major of Engineers. REPORT OF MR. JOHN B. HOLBROOK, ASSISTANT ENGINEER. preliminary TORONTO, OHIO, October 24, 1882. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of my reconnaissance of the Tygart's Valley River, West Virginia, above Grafton, to the Three Forks of Buckhannon," and my "estimate of the cost of removing the obstructions in Buckhannon River from the town of Buckhannon to the Three Forks of said river," as per your instructions of date October 2, 1882. * Omitted. Tygart's Valley River, after receiving the waters of the Buckhannon, is more generally known on the maps as the East Fork of the Monongahela. It is formed by the junction of Mingo Run and Valley Head Creek, in the extreme southern part of Randolph County, West Virginia, on the Mingo Flats at the northern base of the Valley and Pine Mountains, in latitude 38° 28', longitude 80° 2'. In its course north it crosses the 80th meridian eight times, and flowing through the counties of Randolph, Barbour, Taylor, and into Marion, it joins the West Fork to form the Monongahela 2 miles above Fairmont, latitude 29° 25′, longitude 80° 6′. The Buckhannon River is formed by the junction of its East, Middle, and West forks, at the foot of Beech Mountain, in the northwest corner of the southwest part of Randolph County, West Virginia, in latitude 38° 40', longitude 80° 17'. Flowing north through the central portion of Upshur County to Buckhannon town, it bends eastward to the boundary of Barbour County, thence north about 9 miles, it empties into the Tygart's Valley River, latitude 39° 3', longitude 80° 5′. From the Three Forks of the Buckhannon to the village of Grafton, on the Tygart's Valley, the Buckhannon and Tygart's Valley Rivers have the characteristics of a mountain stream. Their course is sinuous, accommodating itself to the contours of the hills and knobs of the region; the fall is probably 700 feet, very unevenly distributed, being at Moat's Falls 26 feet vertical, at Wells Falls 10 feet, while at Buckhannon town the current is so sluggish as to be hardly perceptible. The width varies from 100 feet to 350 feet, and the depth from 1 inch to 10 feet in low water; in high water from 7 feet to 15 feet. The bed is sandstone, in pools covered with a few inches of sediment; in the rapids, bare tables, eaten and grooved by the ceaseless trituration of the water, and frequently ledged, forming cascades and falls; in the narrows, bowlders, some 200 cubic yards in content, have tumbled from the mountain-side. From Three Forks to Bean's Mill the distance is about 10 miles, course winding, average width 150 feet, average low-water depth 8 inches, fall 60 feet. The obstructions are three islands and 2,000 cubic yards of bowlders. The mountains sloping to the water's edge are 400 to 600 feet high. From Bean's Mill to Gould's Mill, 54 miles, is the most obstructed portion of the Buckhannon. Chains of large bowlders extending quite across the river are frequent. Three log jams extend from mountain to mountain, the logs piled up to a height of 20 feet. Lesser jams are frequent, and all of the 22 islands are more or less strewn with logs. My estimate of bowlder obstructions is 8,500 cubic yards. The width of the river is from 100 to 300 feet, the depth of high water 15 feet, fall 250 feet. From Gould's Mill to Burner's Mill is 2 miles. The principal obstructions are near Gould's Mill. Grassy Run flows into the river at an angle of 140°. Just below its mouth is a gravel bar strewn with bowlders. Above, on the opposite side, is a clump of large bowlders. The combination makes the most troublesome place in the river. The bowlder estimate is 2,700 cubic yards. The fall is perhaps 40 feet, the width 200 to 300 feet. The hills are not so high and leave a narrow bottom on either side. From Burner's Mill to Buckhannon is 7 miles. Average width 200 feet, average depth 3 feet, fall 25 feet. Toward Buckhannon the valley widens to a distance of 200 rods. The dam at Buckhannon slackwater for 3 miles, and the river is bridged, the span being 180 feet. From Buckhannon town to the mouth of Buckhannon River and to Tygart's Valley River is 23 miles. The current is sluggish, the river is 100 to 200 feet wide, and there are no obstructions, except at the mouth where the water tumbles among rocks into the Tygart's Valley. The depth varies from 1 to 10 feet. The hills frequently encroach on the narrow valley, coming quite to the water's edge. The Tygart's Valley River from Buckhannon River to Philippi is 6 miles. From Philippi to Byan's Mill is 5 miles. Both of these stretches have the features of the lower Buckhannon, except that the fall is a little more rapid. From Byan's Mill to Matlick's are the Narrows. The distance is 11 miles. At Byan's the river bends abruptly to the east, holding that direction for 3 miles to Moat's Falls, where it turns to the north, following the mountain wall 7 miles, whence to the west 14 miles into Matlick's. In this distance of 114 miles the fall is over 300 feet. There are ten different falls, each not less than 2 feet. Moat's Falls, including the rapids just above, is 31 feet. Wells Falls, so named from the remarkable depth of the pots, is 10 feet high. This portion of the river was very much obstructed by bowlders until they were crushed and partially removed by the Tygart's Valley River Boom Company. From Matlick's to Grafton is 7 miles. The river is smooth and unobstructed, there being but 20 feet fall. Low-water depth is 18 inches, and the width 200 to 300 feet. The hills of all this region are rich in coal, iron, and sandstone. In the Narrows of the Buckhannon I saw exposures of coal veins ranging from 12 to 18 feet. Between Burner's and Buckhannon is a fine grit sandstone suitable for grindstones, and excellent foundation and building stone is inexhaustible. Merchantable timber abounds-poplar, white oak, ash, hickory, cucumber, walnut, and cherry. Below Burner's much has been cut off, perhaps half, but above Burner's there are more than 100 square miles of virgin forest. Agriculture is carried on to some extent, grass, corn, and wheat being the principal products. Cattle are raised for export, and the wool clip is yearly increasing. Land is valued at $8 to $50 per acre. The Buckhannon and Tygart's Valley rivers, from Three Forks of Buckhannon to Grafton, are not, and never can be, navigable streams, but they are the only outlet for a vast quantity of the best of timber. Logs are brought successfully from the Upper Tygart's Valley and Middle Fork to the mills and factories at Grafton, from whence the general markets are accessible by rail. The timber of the Upper Buckhannon is effectually locked in by the obstructions between Bean's and Burner's, and unless the obstructions are removed, the most of it will be burned on the clearings of the settlers, and so be a total loss to the country. Should it be deemed advisable to improve the reach of river from Bean's mill to Burner's mill, it would undoubtedly be a great benefit to the adjacent country (the villages of Buckhannon, Philippi, and Grafton) as well as a profitable investment for the people at large. As a practicable plan of improvement the clearance of a channel 60 feet wide is proposed, and a wing-dam below the mouth of Grassy Run. The channel would be for use in medium freshets, which the milling interests propose to prolong by the use of "splash dams" to be built above in the forks of the river. I estimate it will require, blasting and scattering 4,400 cubic yards sandstone, at 50 cents..... A sufficient wing-dam at Grassy Run would require 27,000 feet (board measure) oak logs, at $12, in place Total cost of improvement.... $2,200 00 $324 00 300 00 150 00 2,974 00 The lumber handled at the Grafton boom in 1881 was 1,588,000 feet; 1882, to October 1, 2,281,000 feet. The mills above Grafton do but a local business. About one hundred persons are employed in the industry. It is thought the proposed improvement will make accessible at least 50,000,000 feet of lumber; that many new mills would start at once; that the annual product would increase from 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 feet. The average market price of lumber is about $15 per M. Fifty thousand thousands, at $15, amounts to $750,000. The estimate of the cost of the improvement which will save this valuable resource from certain destruction is $2,974. Whether it is the duty of the General Government or of the State Government or of the individuals directly interested to make the improvement I leave for more competent persons to decide. Respectfully submitted. Byt. Col. WILLIAM E. MERRILL, JOHN B. HOLBROOK, Major, Corps of Engineers, Ú. S. A. LETTER OF THE HON. D. D. T. FARNSWORTH. BUCKHANNON, W. VA., October 19, 1882. MY DEAR SIR: Your interesting note came to hand, and in answer would say that the lumber business on our river above our town for many years has been almost entirely local, because of the large rocks that well-nigh defeats the floating of logs to this point. The lumber lying above Bean's mills and above these obstructions is simply immense. I think that from this place to the headwaters of our river, which is floatable for logs, and within 2 miles of the river, there could be not less than 50,000,000 feet of the finest lumber in the State, and very easily brought down the river to this point, were it not for these large rocks. With the improvement of our river, and now that we are to have a railroad, this would become one of the finest and most extensive lumber-shipping points in the State. The variety and quality of the timber, as well as the quantity lying within easy reach of the Buckhannon River, can hardly be surpassed in the United States. Unless our river be so improved, and that in a reasonable time, that this lumber can be safely gotten out, it will be burned up and destroyed by the fast-increasing settlers. Shall be pleased to hear from you. Yours truly, Mr. JOHN B. HOLBROOK, United States Assistant Engineer. D. D. T. FARNSWORTH. |