The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-09
TOPOGRAHICAL
SURVEY ENDED
The Route Of the Proposed Canal to the
Warrior River.
PRECISE LEVEL PARTY OUT
1t Will Not Finish Until February
Working to Meridian.
RIPLEY WILL COMPILE HIS REPORT
This May Be Done in Birmingham II De-
ponds the Fate of the Canal-Length
Of Survey Sixty-three
Miles,

The Typographical survey of the War
rior canal has been completed.
Yesterday more than a half dozen
wagons loaded with the Instruments and
camping outfits Of the TWO field parties
In charge of Mr.. Barnes and Mr.. Swift,
drove into Birmingham from McAdorys
Mill.
The Barnes party finished Ghe survey
to the Warrior river about one week
ago, and since that time both paroles
have been working in the vicinity of Nc
Adory's Mill. The work was done under
the general supervision of Assistant
Un1ed States Engineer Joseph Ripley.
He had his forces here and began work
Sept. 10, and the geographical survey
was finished within three days Of the
time predicted by Mr.. Ripley.
There is yet a precise level party, in
charge of Capt. Ferguson, working near
Powers Station, between Tuscaloosa
and Miridian. The work of rhis party
will not be completed before the middle
of February, 1898.
This party is ascertaining the accurate
sea level in order Ito establish the need
ed elevations. On account of the prev
alence of the yellow fever work begun
az this end of the route and progressed
toward Meridian.
The length of the line surveyed for the
proposed canal measures SO miles, while
an air line would measure about 35 miles.
The work of preparing a report en-
bracing estimates of the cost of the con-
struction of canal now confronts En-
ganeer Ripley and his assis ants, Messrs
Barnes and Swift.
Mr.. Ripley said yesterday that 1t
would take several months Ito formulate
this report. He said it might be COM
piled here in Birmingham, although b.
was possible that he would be ordered
to Mobile If the report is made in Bir-
mingham it is likely that a room in the
government building will be secured.
THE PROPOSED ROUTE.
The proposed route Of the canal is
from Five Mile creek Ito The Warrior
river Following the intricate curves of,
the creek the distance would be nearly
fifty miles.
Patriotic and progressive citizens of
Birmingham have been working on a
scheme to have Birmingham connected
with ,ihe Warrior river for several years.
Former Mayor Van Hoose is th= orlgi-
nal promoter off the scheme and has been
quite successful thus far The first vic
tory was when the government ordered
an engineer here to- look over the ground.
On his rport a sum of money was appro-
priAted by congress for the preliminary
survey which began September 10. The
report to be formulated by Engineer RIP
ley will go Ito congress and then the ques-
ton so important to Birmingham will be
decided.
A QUESTION OF WATER.
He will give an estimate of the cost
and also state whether there is water
enough i'm the adjacent creeks to make
the plan feasible. This has been the
only question. Many who have been
over the route say there is am abundance
Of water On this point, of course, En-
gineer Ripley would say nothing.
A canal through to the Warrior river
and some improvements along that wat:r
course would connect Birmingham with
the sea- This would give cheap outlet
to the, heavy products of this district.
There is no onA who does NOT recognize
the advantages of such an Improvement
The Representatives of this district in
congress have la'bored hard to have the
canal built.
BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER.
Engineer Joseph Ripley arrived here
last September with HIS force, which was
divided into three PARTIES. One bsgan
at Five Mile creek, the extremity of the
proposed waterway, and worked to Nc
Adory's MILL about six miles below Bes-
semer. Party No. 2 began alt McAdory's
mill and continued to the Warrior river.
They cid the actual field work, each crsw
being composed of fifteen men.
The third crew, the precise lsvel party,
worked the entire distance and into Me-
ridian.
The members of two sUrw lying crews
were in the city last night Their homes
are in many states number of Ala
bamians being included A majority OF
them will Lave Birmingham today.
ruhpICc MAMnv nEAn