The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-14
ALABAMA's WATER POWER.

The AQVeTLlSSE lS llucOtSo " 14OAs @Se gene A. Smith, State Geologist, for e copy of Bulletin No. ', consisting of par tial report on the water powers of Ala bama, and we have been very much in- terested in. looking through it. This is only a preliminary report. compiled by Prof. B. M. Hall. and is devoted mainly to the water powers of that portion of the State lying north of Montgomery. showing the actual or estimated power which can be made available by controii- ing and utilizing the waters of the Talla- poosa, Coosa, Cahaba, Black Warrior, Tombigbee and Tennessee Rivers and their tributaries. To this is added a list, by counties, of the utilized water powers of the State.
 Looking over this report one can but wonder at the enormous possibilities of Alabama in the way of motive power for all purposes Of course, in partial re- port of this kind, it is not possible to give anything like an accurate statement of the total power which can be devel- oped and used, but enough Is set out to show that neither the present generation nor those who come after us need to de- pend on coal, wood or other fuel for any power that may be needed in any branch of development. In almost every commit nity there is a waterfall capable of sup plying power The rivers and the smaller streams, especially in all the northern half of the State, furnish an almost un- limited supply of latent power, and whether that power Is needed to run mills and factories, railroad and street cars, or for lights and other domestic uses, 1t stands ready to be harnessed and used For example, it is estimated that thirty one locks on the Coosa River will Fur nish 100000 horse power at the lowest stage of the water, and that the Ten nessee River will supply an equal amount, all of which has not yet been utilized.
 These examples of power which is yet untouched are only two of the many al- luded to in this report, and the import ance. of this source of power cannot be over-estimated. Up to a comparatively recent period students of industrial con- ditions were much worried over the pos sibility, if not the certainty, that it would be but comparatively short time till the available supply of fuel would be gone and the world would suffer for motive power. Then the wonderful power of electricity was shown, but they needed fuel to produce that power. The next and natural step was to begin to develop cleo trical force by water power. and that opens up what we may practically call an unlimited field for the future. When it is borne in mind that in the West cars are run and machinery driven by power generated from waterfalls more than one hundred miles of. 1t is easy to see that all the power which may be needed for any purpose and in any portion of Ala bama can be generated along our own streams, and we can also see that the possible or certain lack of fuel in the future need cause no apprehension, so far = as mechanical power is concerned. Our State can supply enough to drive all the machinery and all the cars. and provide all the lights for the Union, if 1t could be conveyed to them.
 This Report. with it's plates and many table and statistics, is a valuable one, and will form an interesting study for all who are interested in the Industrial develop ment of Alabama.