The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13


s"s-e-s
nitude of the river and it's possibilities
we quote from the report OF Gharles
Firth. United States assistant engineer
in his report of November "a loSS' III
which he says: Velocity observations
taken at Lock 4 show a discharge of 1921
cubic feet, with a velocity of l.3S feet
per second at a stage of Is feet above
low water Similar observations at We
tumpka at low water show discharge
Of 1896 cubic feet with a velocity OF O9
feet per second
In the annual report of the chief of
Engineers for 1879, page 1903, the low
water discharge of the Mississippi river
at St. Paul is given at $500 cubic feet
per second. In the report for 1880, page
1872, the low water discharge of the IIud-
son river between Troy and Albany is
given as about 1000 cubic feet per sec
ond and in the report for 1881 page 1923
the low water discharge of the Ohio river
at Plttsburg is given as 1866 cubic feet
at zero of the guage and as $50 cubic
feet per second at 3 inches of the guage.
Comparing these discharges with that
of the Goosa at Wetumpka, 1t appears
that the volume of water flowing in the
Coosa at low water is about equal to
greater than that in the Ohio at Pitts
burg
National Importance.
The Coosa riN er, reaching like Ban
deau across the State of Alabama from
Rome, Ga, to Mobile, crosses every line
of railway that extends from the Ala
bama cotton, coal and iron fields and the
great pine forests to the Gulf and South
Atlantic. The cost of these elements of
industry, commerce and civilization is d
fact that interests the people of every
section of the United States.
The cheapening OF the cost of Transport
tation on these commercial necessities is
a duty of the government when 1t holds
the paramount control or such a channel
of navigation.
The Coosa river mas claims to national
care and consideration that are not pos
sessed by any water course of the United
States of similar length not yet open to
steam navigation. On the banks of this
river great geological systems are in con-
tact with each other, the river draining
each of them. Such a condition is not
presented elsewhere in the United States,
if it is found in any other country
These systems. bearing the rich mater
ial of their full development. each contri-
butte to industry and commerce the indis-
pensable element of progress in asricul-
lul anu the aTlS ifdl are III UNIVERSAL
use. Among these arc coal. iron, lime,
marble, granite. the states. kaolin. mica,
asbestos, and many cognate minerals,
with soils clays, sandstone, and other
useful minerals OF great variety.
Such geological areas are found else
where in the United States in perfection,
and each of them is indispensable in the
sources, but they are widely separated in
other localities, and their transporta-
ala r.
pensive that their vaiue is much dimin-
ished.
Along the banks of the Coosa River
these several formations meet and that
river is natural conduit for their inter
change. The forests and the productions
CT these severa! systems are indigenous
to such formations, and are very rich and
varied
The use of the Coosa River as the Gem
nerciai outlet to the ocean fer this IN
mense field of industry in agriculture,
forests, quarries. and mines is a great
national duty that is devolVed upon Con-
gress The United States being the para
mount power entitled to improve this
river, the States of Georgia ana Ala
bama can not do this necessary work.
Congress has continuously prosecuted
this national duty, ana the only question
is whether It shall now be abar dored
mensurate with its vast importance.
Present Improvement.
The present Improvement of the Coosa
River, now being carried on under the au-
spices of the War Department Of the
United States, was begun in 1870. but
owing to the mcager appropriations for
that purpose this work has progressed
very slowly, and frequently during this
period, as is now the case, the work has
been almost entirely suspended. Delays
like this, with the work standing in an
unfinished state, necessarily cause heavy
damages to the work previously done.
and so 6emoralize the forces, until it
takes :. good portion of the next appro-
priation to reorganize and place the
work back on It's former roofing. Much
Of the appropriations have been spent in
this way, while If sufficient sums OF mon
ey were appropriated to push the work to
completion, would save all this useless
DELAY and expenditure of money. We have
no criticism to make except as to the in
ADEQUATE sums CT money appropriated for
this important work.
II has been suggested that it would be
better to abandon this entire scheme
rather than continue this Hasteful plan
Of operalions. TO abandon this PROJECT
would be to repudiate the purposes OF our
forefathers as far back as 1873, ana throw
all the money tndt IleAo peeh 9i'ht
on this important stream. When We take
into consideration hose facts in connec-
ton with the magnitude of the river the
rich fields of agriculture, forests, lime.
iron Goa. and manufacturing, through
which this magnificent stream flows IN
such close proximity to the seaboMd the
abandonment OF the project can aot be
within the contemplation Of any rational
men.
The able engineers in charge tf this
work estimate that s6,oOO,01O VIII give
four-foot slack water navigation from
eek to Wetumpka, Ala, which Is the
portion of the river now CLOSED to naviga-
ton. This money can be more economl-
ca'ly expended in six years than 1t couio
be in twelve ana more economically
spent in twelve than in twenty-four.
Therefore, we recommend and ask that
Congress place the work of opening the
CoCsa River to thorough navigation on
the continuous contract plan, and appro-
pirate 100000 to be spent In six years
in the opening Of this important stream
tho xuorlx m he done according to the