The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-03-10
PROVISION INCLUDED IN
RIVERS hND HARb0RS BILL
Congressman Bankhead Found 1t I'M
possible to Secure Appropriation
Asked and Then Bent Ef.
forts for New Survey.
BY LucIEN JULIEN WALKER.

Washington 9.-(Special)-"The Secre-
made a survey of the Alabama and
Coosa rivers with view to a six-foot
channel in said rivers from Lock on the
Coosa to Mobile
This is the language of a provision In
the rivers and harbors bill as it will be
formally reported to the House of Rep
resentatives, and the bill will appropriate
$4,000 for the survey.
The new survey from Mobile up to st.
Clair County, is of such great Importance
to Alabama that it is highly desirable
to all interests in the state that there be
restatement in this place Of the ques-
ton of the Coosa Improvement, most es-
pecially as some wild figures and wilder
deductions have by some extraordinary
errors appeared in the public prints.
The figures of $15.OOO0OO, the sum total
published in Alabama as having been
hitherto expended by the government in
the Improvement of the Coosa, are wrong
to the extent of $13639, 674.S So; the total
sum actually expended by the govern
ment in the Improvement of the Coosa
river being 81 ,26O S25. .15 precisely.
AS to the resurvey and original survey
of the Coosa provided for in the rivers
and harbors bill it is here stated upon
the highest and most direct authority
that for months it has been the positive
purpose of Chairman Burton and, incl
dentally, of the entire Republican majori-
~ of the rivers and harbors committee
TO provide for a permanent dam at LOCK
A in the Coosa and entirely abandon the
project of further improving the river.
In other words Chairman Burton was
resolved on account of what he consider
ed practical business principles that not
another dollar should be expended on
what appeared to him TO pe the impos-
sible task of opening the Coosa to pro-
f1table navigation between Rome, Ca,
and Wetumpka, Ala.
When the rivers and harbors commit
Tee assembled for work, early in January
the very first river taken up in Alabama
was the Coosa. Congressman Bankheau
of the committee at once proposed that
five hundred thousand dollars besappro-
nriated for the Coosa, he being amongst
The seventeen members representing the
forty-iye states, especially representa-
tive of all Alabama. And being one of the
four members who have served longest
on the committee he was kindly and pa
tiently listened to- but the majority re-
1ected his first and every subsequent
proposition favorng the Coosa, as tho
nrvate records of the committee meet
ings may show.
Finally he insisted THAI a reasonable
proposition of the sum total voted to all
Alabama be given to the Coosa. The
reply to this was in effect that the ma
iority would be willing to cut down Ala
bama's allowance to the extent of what
was demanded for the Coosa!
viii Order New Survey.
Failing in his prolonged efforts to
obtain money for the Coosa, except 70.
maintenance and discountenancing the
nroposition of his fellow members to give
to the Warrior alone all the money IN
tended for the various rivers of Ala
bama Congressman Bankhead, in order
10 save the Cocsa from being permanent
" abandoned and taken off the books on
the chief engineer Of the army, concen-
frated all his efforts toward inducing the
committee to order an entirely original
survey of the Coosa and the Alabama on
project of six-foot navigation. This was
objected to because the expert army en-
gireers summoned by the committee
testified that instead of the completion of
the project for four-foot navigation cost
.ne about $6,000,000, as contained in pre-
yious estimates the work would cost at
the lowest possible figure twelve million
dollars and possibly twenty million; ana
ms to Congressman BankneaTs main pro-
nosition for an original survey for six
<oot navigation from Mobile to Lock No.
4 or the Coosa that was objected to on
account of the estimated cost of more
than twenty-five millions.
Navigation All the Year.
In making and persistently urging his
oronosition for an original survey for six
foot navigation Congressman Bankhead
bad mainly in view the great Interstate
enterprise of giving six-foot navigation
ali the year round from Mobile to near
Cadsden. That would be of incalculable
saIue TO the entire State of Alabama.
FINALLY. some days ago, Chairman Bur-
ton. for the Republican majority. yielded
20 the Alabama Congressman's urgent
,nnortunities and happily consented to
,nsert in the rivers and harbors bill a
clause directing the new surveying of
the Coosa and the Alabama.
The main fact which has made Chair
man Burton and the Republican majority
of the committee SO determined to cut
off the Coosa entirely from present and
culture consideration is that expert evil
dence TO the effect that four-foot navi-
cation would make the necessary ex-
nenditure twelve million dollars) a fool
isb and indefensible waste of public
money; 1t having been proved that
barees or boats carrying less than five
hundred tons of lumber. iron, COAL stone.
md so on cannot be profitably worked.
Four-foot navigation would permit only
harges or boats carrying three hundred
md fifty tons TO pass.
This much, and all told, is all of It Of
ncially ascertained. 1t is of record; and
Il is offered here with the hope that
rhe-e may not be any further confusion
II figures or perversion of facts.