Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-14

WOAC lhC ilucS Iuii, anu WIldl Qdld ildS been collected? If any report accom- panied such survey, or data collected, can you advise me where can find such report or data?
 2. If you know of no survey or report can you give me any idea as to the prac- ticability from an engineering stand point of the building of such a canal, and it's probable cost?
 3. If such canal should appear prac- ticable from an engineering standpoint, allow me to ask how, in your judgment, would be the best way to have it con strueted? Would you advise it as a mat ter of private undertaking by individ- uals or corporations? If not as a private undertaking, would it be advisable for the state of Alabama to take hold of it, utilize it's convietS, either by lease to contractors or work them itself, securing all possible assistance from the general government and other states interested in this waterway; also in construction and when completed to put it under the charge of the general government, eSpe- cially in so far as regulating the flow of water from the Tennessee and CooSa rivers into the canal.
 You will at once see not only what an interesting discussion this is from an en- gineering standpoint. but also what vast, if not inealeulable advantages would ac- crue. not only to the city of Birmingham and it's immediate district but also to the entire state of Alabama and to other states through which the Tennessee now finds an outlet, and also possibly, to the general government as a means of trans ferring it's gunboats and coast defense vessels from one system of waterways to another.
 In kindly answering the above I will be glad if you will give me your views fully in reference to the whole subject, and not confine yourself to what I have Ventured to outline as inquiries.
 l will much appreciate the courtesy of as early reply as may be convenient to you. Yours truly,
 J. A. VANHoosE, Mayor.
 It will be seen that this letter properly makes the subject a concern of far-reach- ing effect and covering bigger range of varied interest than any public enter prise ever attempted in the south.
 AS one of the answers to Mayor Van Hoose says "it is an enterprise second in importance only to the Nicaragua canal"
 But here are some. other expressions of the correspondence:
 H. H. Hayden, editor Demopolis Ex- press: "It is a desideratum of vital i'm portance to several states. It is some thing the government should be glad to undertake, for 1t would strengthen its hold upon popular approval, especially in the south"
 Mayor Gesner Williams of Demopolis writes that his people are alive to the importance of the enterprise and will give it their material attention.
 Banker J. H. Fftts of Tuskaloosa writes an unusually interesting letter, which he begins by saying the subject was one which never failed to awaken in the mind of an intelligent citizen of Alabama the brightest hopes for the fu- ture grandeur and glory of the state." MT. Fitts says in conclusion, after going into details. which the State Herald will publish hereafter, along with other per tinent data: "Of course the best way of constructing the canal would be to get an appropriation from congress and let the government do it. as it would be worth to the United States ten times the cost. But in an age when statesmen are relegated to the rear and petty politi- clans are grabbing for the public funds it would be difficult task to obtain such an appropriation. The next best plan is for the state to construct the canal with convict labor. If our citizens generally appreciated the advantages to Alabama which this great and grand enterprise would confer, there would be no difficulty In providing the means. It would be worth, in commercial point of view, more than any of our railroads"
 Maj G. D. Fitzhugh, engineer, sug- gests: Organize stock company, get possession of the convict labor of the state and such federal aid as would be adopted without federal control"
 Maj Hugh Carlisle the famous and in-
 
 Coosa railroad, who recently won a suit which restored to him 10000 acres of land between Guntersville and Gadsden, writes a letter in which he shows the liveliest interest in the project and promising hearty and active cooperation.
 MT. T. H. Aldrich favors first a canal from Birmingham to the Warrior river by private enterprise, and adds: "The gen. eral government is now improving the Warrior river. They could do a great deal more if there were prospect of business accruing from their work. Their project comprehends slack water naviga- tion up to the mouth of Valley creek By damming up Valley creek part of the way and building the canal up the line of the creek, head of water could be obtained for canal and thousands of manufacturing sites developed along its line. Birmingham would immediately become the greatest iron producing cen ter in the known world. Pig iron and coal could be carried from Birmingham to the sea for 30 cents a ton, because we could then reach the sea and sell pig iron at $1.50 cheaper than any other known region in the world. The cheap ening of the cost of pig iron has nearly reached its limit in this region. The next thing to do to give us another start is to cheapen the transportation of the heavy raw materials that we produce in the district" MT. Aldrich says in con clusion of his very interesting and in structive letter: T would most earnestly suggest that the vital problem for this district and the enterprising men of this district to take hold of. is this subject of cheap transportation of our products"
 The State Herald will from time to time publish correspondence and data on the canal project. That it's agitation is bound to result in some good and possi- bly, in vast benefit to our people Is the conviction of every one who has given the slightest thought to that subject and to the matter of the cost of transportation.