The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1903-12-12


manufacturing centers and large
cities want this produce, this raw
material in coal, iron, etc. and are
willing to pay fair price for it. All
that is needed is the connecting link
of cheap water transportation.
In order to more specifically indi-
cate what is necessary to be done
by the government, herewith is
shown figures, officially submitted,
covering the Tennessee river and
its several tributaries most suscepti-
BILE to early and practical improve
ment, whereby the advantages
sought for may be enjoyed by more
than 100000 inhabitants of this ter
ritory, and many other millions else
where who want our products.
First in Importance to be consid-
cred is the Tennessee river proper
from the junction of the Holston
and French Broad rivers, four and
one-half miles above Knoxville, to
where it empties into the Ohio river
at Paducah, Ky.
Tennessee River.
The Tennessee river is one of the
largest tributaries of the Missis-
slppi river Since the Muscle Shoals
canal has been opened to navigation
it contains no insurmountable OBJ
stacle from its source to its mouth,
a distance of G51 miles, and at the
present time during several months
in the year, may be navigated
throughout it's entire length.
AS the work of Improvement is
continued upon other less formidable.
Instructions than Muscle Shoals, the
season of navigation will be corre-
spondingly heightened, and it is en-
tirely practical to so improve this
river as to make navigation contin-
'p'S thi''S lipbl tilG year lpI 10
entire length for boats of sufficient
size for the needs of commerce.
Favorable for Improvement.
Owing to it's hard bottom, stable
banks and ample discharge, the river
is particularly favorable for i'm
provement and, as it never freezes,
it escapes one of the principal OBJ
structions to navigation found upon
most fresh water rivers. The 90
ject of the improvement of the lower
river, 226 miles as far up as River
ton, Ala, is to obtain a low-water
channel OF not less than five feet
deep and $50 feet wide.
Major John G. D. Knight, in his
annual report for 1901, showed that
a depth of three and one-half feet
existed in the channel for 1876 miles
up the river as far as Hamburg,
and on the shoals in the next thirty
miles not over twenty-four inches
was available at extreme low water.
In the thirty miles from Riyerton
to Florence, Ala, ascending the
river, are met the Bee Tree and the
Colbert shoals. 1t is proposed TO
avoid the Colbert and Bee Tree
shoals by means of two locks and
lateral canal having depth of
six feet on lock sills at extreme low
water.
In the section OF forty-eisht miles
from Florence to Decatur, Ala, are
the Little and Big Muscle shoals,
the Elk River shoals and other
minor Instructions.
Major Knight estimates that it is
possible at an expense of about
$1,250,OOo, TO obtain slack water nav
igation from Florence to the Big
Muscle shoals canal, giving five
feet of water on the lower sill of
the lower lock of that canal.
Between Decatur, Ala, and Chat
tanooga, Tenn, it is 100 miles. 1t
has been recommended TO obtain
five feet of normal low water, as
sumed at one foot above extreme
low water. up to Scott Point, sew
enteen and a half miles below Chat
tanooga, by regulation works at
cost of $770,64O, the work 10 extend
over four or five seasons, and
thence to Chattanooga by q lock
and dam at an estimated cost of
SSSS. 624, the latter work requiring
three years for it's completion.
From Chattanooga to the head OF
the Tennessee river is 1888 miles.
At present the river can be navi-
gated at ordinary low water stages
by boats drawing two feet, but at
extreme low water it is doubtful if
very small boats drawing more than
twelve inches could reach head
waters. It is proposed to secure by
regulation works channel depth
of at least three feet at extreme low
tide.
The commerce on the Tennessee