The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-07
UNDEVELOPED WATER
 POWERS OF ALABAMA
In Paper by MT. Henry (. Jones An Earnest Plea Is Made for Utilization by Means
 of Electricity.

The fOlt0WlnS paper was IOcu ~s s, recent meeting of the State Commercial and Industrial Association m tnis city. Ii was prepared by MT. Henry c. Jones of Montgomery, the electrical engineer who originated the scheme Tor general ing electric power on the Tallapoosa River.
 In contemplating thts subject, eacn one here has naturally pictured Tn mind an individual idea of what con stitutes a water power. Doubtless this conception has generally taken the shape of a mighty torrent of water falling abruptly from a high to a LOW level. 2; S {fv i'd
 Thsi idea should be dispelled. as we are not to consider water 3ower oi this character for two reasons: First-Abrupt, falls of any size do not occur in sAla5amA.
 Second-The abrupt fall is not the ideal condition in our State nor m the South even did it exist
 Very naturally, onG would suppose that a precipitious fap of water would constitute a perfect condition and sucn would be the case we're the flow Of the stream practically uniform the year round. ~ss%
 In other, sections these abrupt falls are very valuable as the streams are fed in their upper reaches. by large lakes or melting snow. thus anordlng a constant flow of water in summer as we'll as winter. .r
 In the South. however. our dry perion is long and severe and cur streams are not fed by lakes or snow, but from their source. in the great Appalachian Mountain eysetm, descend rapidly to the more level land of other formations. This means that oar streams are very susceptible to floods and droughts from excessive or insufficient rain fall. At one season, such a stream may ceal destruction and within a short time thereafter it may be almost dry.
 Had we the abrupt fall, the chance of development would be limited to such a flow of water as we would be sure of obtaining at the very driest season of the driest years. No invest ment would be prudently made unless the power expected was based on this minimum only Then for greater portion of each year and frequently whole years together, we would see going over our fall, water In abundance amounting to an enormous waste and corresponding loss in value to the power of that class. NdLuTG, WulCH pIONioSo cocNS ly in all things for all people, haf graciously cared for the South and oui State in placing natural conditions IT harmony with our requirements.
 Instead of few falls of considera' ble height, sensitive to every stream tiuctuation, we have streams witt shoals and pools alternating. By put ting our masonry fin dams instead oi in canals around precipitious falls, Wt get the exact head required and have created an area for storage which VII help us out in low water.
 This storage may be practically snS amount according to need. Dams car he built which will, while affording th' fall desired, impound sufficient water t' tide over any low water of the summer months. thus bringing the naturally variable flow to the uniform average required.
 This method of catching the surplus water and eking 1t out as needed dur ing drought, is a very simple proposi tion. but it Is the only solution for sue -cessful water power development II the South. And development by cree ton of dams has another advantage If permits the work being done neare tn conform to the engineering require ments. An abrupt fall, however. IS fixture and all work must be done t conform to 1t and frequently a prett, piece of engineering is spoiled by thi lack of Aexibility.
 It is true that the abrupt fall ap peals to the eye, but the enginee counts cost and result without regar to aesthetics and doubtless many of ou people have passed over fine opportu mites for profitable development be cause they were looking for a gram bit of scenery and disregarded the les pretentious ASft river or creek, whic to them was only an obstruction stream with dangerous current.
 The greatest water power stream | Alabama and in the South les sufferin today because our forefathers con sidered it's greatest feature an obstruc ton and so dubbed 1t, for want of fore sight generally attributed to our sire:
 We have had presented an able papel telling us why this stream, the Coos River should be opened to naviga atioT
 It Is very true that the countI through which this river flows is a rich in natural resources IS any regio on earth. But what of the river itsel It is worth. in its water power feature. as much or more than every god resu that could be obtained by it's bein opened to navigation.
 If the fall in this river. within it available wzeef power portion. that i from LOCK 4 below Greensport to We tumpka, were concentrated at on noint. we would have the magnificer spectable of a mighty river taking leap of more than 300 feet, more tha twice the height of the great Niagar cataract. And I dare say that it woul auarxy oIIl with ifs cpa-f less energy that all the mines an fields within its valley could not bu consent to hamper it's yielding to ma its enormous power. And yet, in tn succession of shoals and pools natur has shaped it better than a cataract afrording with our conditions. the yer maximum power though sheared ( the cataract's thunder and prismati splendor.
 This grand river to be deprived of il power to drive the wheels of industr! simply to float a little coal upon il bosom?
 Coal-ahich 'is only a passing thinl just as our forests have passed away Are not Biologists now figuring tn day when the last ton will be take from the earth? Is that passing thin to be compared with the eternal natul of this great river: which knows hi! tory we know not of and will renal 10 do coaHs work for man as long z the sun and the winds combine to fee Its fountains?
 Shall we barter for today. that whic will care for our children long after oI wasteful methods have exhausted co as fuel?
 And what of iron! Adhering Iogican