The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-17
A GRAND ENTERPRISE.
BUILDING A CANIL BETWEEN THE
TENNESSEE fND GULF WATERS
The Ball Set Rolling Mayor NanHoose
REEVES Deep Interest In an Old
Project-Iutorest Aroused.

/ determination upon a project whose sue
cessful termination would lend new lus-
tire to his good name. II Is an undertake
ing of large proportions, but 1t is the
/ great results that are to be achieved that
| viii compensate the pains ana idJ'i eN-
pended. -,
1t il simply the construction OF a canal
uniting the waters OF the Tennessee Win
| the waters Of the Warrior and Coosa NV
ers.
IL Is a grand enterprise, whose promo
ton would prove of incalculaple dement,
10 the development Of the matchiess min
eral resources of Alabama, tc say no
thing of enhancing the value to the pro
Queer Of the home market Tor everything
grown on our soil.
Some time last November Mayor Van
l4oose was invited by the Commercial
| club OF Birmingham to deliver an ADDRESS
! to them on the line of what was most
| needed 10 promote the welfare or BIZ
mingham His response was prompt ana
the subjcct-mattar Of his remarks ana
the manner In which he handled his IDEAS
aroused hearty interest and Sympathy.
/ which at once took such shape that sun
stantial results were assured. lie adVo-
Gated as enterprises which more than all
/ others combined would advance Bir-
end the construction of canal uniting
the Tennessee and Warrior rivers.
| Immediate interest was taken in both
projects. IL is true both are old In the
hopes and expectations OF Birmingham
and Alabama, but II needs no prophetic
/ vision 10 discern that their achievement
is now as certain a. IT IS possible for IN.
| telligent effort 10 accomplish anythinS IN
the business Both enterprises are en-
] q. &. al. fas4l "a
! the widespread interest already elected
I'm the most enlightened quarters their ac-
complishment is inevitable.
| OF what has been done with regard 10
I a steel plant much has been said, and
much remains 10 be told Of most en-
/ couraging nature our people may rest
assured Birmingham is bound TO become
a steel manufacturing centre. We nave
passed the delrious period-thank
| Heaven-of the boom. when we all
/ belonged TO a sanguino crowd. who lis
tened with credulify TO the whispers of
fancy and pursued with eagerness the
! phantoms OF hope. We have got 10
where we base no expectations except
/ upon the soundest and coolest Of business
calculations aud pursuing that course
We hay. nothing 10 fear
Birmingham is going TO make tremen-
! dous strides in the near future and the
| State Herald and her brainy and plucky
business people are going 70 make the
/ way clear Much is 10 be done. and there
I is row spirit in the ozone Of this mar
We nously blessed region that means that
much Will be done.
Navor VanHoose was requested by res
/ olution to open up on the subject OF the
canal lie began work at once and IN
/ stituted correspondence with prominent
people far and near the persons address
/ ed being congressman. civil engineers and
others Of rapaCicus public spirit concerned
| In the welfare Of this district.
Among those already addressed by Mr.
| VanHoose are ali our representatives, IN
| Congres y. II. Alirich. Joseph +. John
ston, Governor Oates. J. A. Miner D. y.
| Miner Col. "A. Harding. Mai r. ". FL
lott. A. VI. Shook. J. II. Woodward.
| Thomas Seldom AM the mayors Of Hunts
! Vile Gadsden. Stevenson. Decatur, Ius-
| cumbia. Sheffield Florence. Tuscaloosa,
Rome. ca. Montgomery. Selma. Demop-
oils. Mobile. Eutaw. Alfalfa and of every
other town i'm the territory. Letters are
pouring I'm to the mayor every day evinc-
ing the deepest interest In the subject.
MAYOR VANHOOSE'S LETTER.
Following is the form OF a letter sent
out by Mayor NanHoose. which has met
with most gratifying responses:
Birmingham, Ala, Jan, Q, 1896.
Mr.-,
Dear Sir: Considerable interest is be-
| ing revived here IN the discussion Of ca
nal connecting the Tennessee and Warrior
rivers, using. as far as practicable, such
tributary streams as may flow between
! them.
! Ny attention has been recently called
{ to the fact that Pittsburg has taken steps
/ to at least investigate the question Of
] al he
/ that city: also TO the fact that the over
| head trolley can easily be utilized for the
! operation OF canal boats. | would, there
| fore. very much appreciate your views
| upon this question. and venture TO sug-
gest something like the following line Of
investigation and inquiry.
]. What surveys have been made Of
| this canal? BY whom. where and when
were the lines run, and what data has
been collected? II any report accom-
panied such survey. or da;a collected.
can You advise me where ! can find such
report or data?
| 2 II YOU know Of no survey Cr report
can You give me any idea as 10 the prac-
ticalility from an engineering STANDPOINT
OF the building Of such canal and It's
probable cost?
g. II such a canal should appear prac-
ticable from an engineering standpoint,
/ all Nv me 70 ash now lN NhAi J4u-Al'iif
would be the best way TO have it con-
| strgcted? Would you advise IL az a mat
| tef Of private undertaking. by individuals
| or corporations7 II not as a private I'M
| dertaklng. would g be advisable for the
state Of Alabama 10 take hold OF IT, util-
! ize its cOnyicts either by lease 20 con-
! tractors or work them itself securing all
! possible assistance from the general gov
1 eminent and other states interested In
/ this waterway: also I'm construction and
| when completed 10 put 10 under the
! charge Of the general government. espe-
cially I'm so far as regulating the flow Of
water from the Tennessee and COosa riy-
! ers into the canal.
You will AZ once see not only what an
/ Interesting discussion this is from an en-
/ cheering standpoint. but also what vast,
/ II not incalculahle advantages would ac-
/ crue not only 20 the city Of Birmingham
/ and its immediate district, but also 70
! the entire State OF Alabama. and 10 other
\ States through which the Tennessee now
! finds an outlet. and also. possibly TO the
! general government as means OF trans
! ferrinr its gunboais and coast iefence
vessels from one system or waterways 10
another
| In kindly answering the above / will
be glad II YOU will give me your views
| fully In reference 10 the whole subject,
and not confne yourself 20 what have
| .entured 70 outline as inquiries
| will much appreciate the courtesy OF
! as early q reply a. may be convenient
/ to you. Yours truly
]. A VANHOOSE. Mayor