The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-07
WATER
 POWERS OF ALABAMA
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 with a total fall for this section of 24s feet.
 This lower section offers very fine opportunities for development. The river is large being about the size Of the Mississippi at St. Paul and two and eight tenths times greater than the Hudson at Albany. Both of these streams mentioned are largely develop ed for power. The cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis are furnished with power principally from St. Anthony's falls in the Mississippi. and the Hud- son has a number of developments operating all sorts of establishments.
 The Coosa suffers very little from freshehs. at A point well above slack water at Wetumpka. For instance the record of 1886. the highest flood we have ever known was 53 feet at Wetumpka. while above. on Butting Ram Shoals. 1t was only feet. The quantity of water being practically the same at either location. This is on account of the great speed of the water over the shoals and the piling up lower down where the current is not so swift. =
 Many have imagined that this swift ness makes 1t risk to erect a dam. but such Is not the case. as the speed is soon relieved upon completion of the dam. Instead of the original violent current we will have a practically level pond or lake of large proportions i and depth, which will receive at it's upper end the river however swift in normal water or flood. Upon reaching the pond the flow will be dispersed over a greater area and cross section. and will move bodily and more quietly to- ward the dam below. over which 1t will simply fall with little apparent commo- tion as compared'to the original cramp- ed channel with rapid descent.
 Another very valuable water power stream is the Tallapoosa. It has the same general physical conditions as the Coosa. Att Tallassee are located the well-known' cotton mills of that name which, when completed will operate under head of 62 feet.
 Ascending this river we come three miles above. to the plant which is now practically completed for transmitting power to Montgomery.
 These two developments are good example. discussed before. of the ad- vantage in our section of a dam in- stead of the abrupt fall. The Tal- lassee Shoal covers several hundred feet, but is as near the abrupt fall as ever occurs in the South. This de-
 velopment had to be made to conform tp the existing topography. While the
 best result possible under the condi-
 tions was obtained, there can still be seen. in the necessarily. rambling masonry and excavation, the great value of the fiexibiiity mentioned in carrying out such a work. And with the natural minimum flow during the dry season. this shoal having practical ly no storage, will be at a great dlsad- vantage and can hardly be expected to meet the demand made upon 1t with all machinery installed as originally in- tended.
 The site above, had no shoal of con- sequence, but by erecting a dam of 42 feet neigh. the water was backed up the river for seven miles, flooding out other shoals and practically bringing them to one point. This dam was built at the exact location desired and all work was done according to re- qu'rements. and the result Is an ideal compact arrangement, and construc. tion. and a large storage capacity.
 From Double Bridge Ferry on this River, to the Columbus and Western Railroad Bridge, a river distance of, 6 fall of about 100. feet, and from this point upward to the forks of the Tal- lapoosa and the Little Tallapoosa. there is more than 100 feet; all well dis tributed as regards fall and storage capacity. In fact, the Tallapoosa is one of the best water power streams in the South, being fairly constant and not suffering from severe freshets.
 Alabama can also claim a one-half interest in the gChattahooche from West Point to Columbus. This Is the most valuable water portion. having a total fall in this section of 362 fet, only a portion of which Is utilized, This fall occurs principally at the following shoals: Jack Todds. Hargetts' 4sland, Tates. Mulberry and at and just above Columbus. The river has good rock bottom and banks and offers good sites for development.
 Going west from the Coosa we nave the Cahaba, with some, power, abvve From this place up the river to Shades Creek. a dlstanoe of miles. thereals a fall of 121 feet. the greater portion of which could be utilized, as the river is on a rock bed similar to rivers before dea- crfbed. and the banks are well defined and rocky.
 On all the large creeks running into these rivers, there will be found good powers. suitable for operating cotton factories of size up to 10000 spindles, or electric plants to light near by towns of moderate size, say up to 5000 inhabi- tants. Some of the larger creeks re- ferred to are. the Upper Yellow Leaf and Lower Yellow Leaf. Tsliadega, and Choccoloco flowing into the Coosa and l Kowaliga, Sandy and flowing into the Tahapoosa, all | having rock bottoms and banks and | good shoals.