The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-03
WATER COMMITTEE
MAKES ITS REPORT
An Abundant Supply Is Close
at Hand
COMMITTEES APPOINTED
Board of Directors of the Commercial
Club Hold an Important Meeting.
Annual Meeting to Be
Held Monday.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED

Held Monday.
AT meeting of the board of directors
OF the Commercial club of Birmingham
yesterday afternoon the standing COM
mittees appointed by the new president,
r. H. Motion, was annoanced and APP
proved by the board. An important report
was submitted by a special committee ap
pointed some time ago to investigate the
water supply in the district.
The report shows there is no water prob
lem in the district, but on the contrary
there Is within easy reach supply suffi-
Gent to meet all possible needs
The meeting was called to order at $50
o'clock by L. Y. Anderson, as chair
man, in she abset ce of President Jack
son. The roll was called. and the seere-
tary read his report for the month of
May.
Secretary Babb read the report of the
inspectors of the election of officers Of
the club which was held on Monday
May s. TIE report was approved
The standing committees appointed by
the new president, T. H. Motion, wers
announee1 and approved by the directors.
TWO new committees. one on membership
Dounced
me election of a secretary and treas
urer was next taken up, and j. b. Babb
was unanimously reelected secretary and
J ohm Ii. Frye treasurer.
New Accommodation Train.
The following resolution introduced by
j. b. Gibson was adopted
Resolved, That the railroad and trans
portation committee is hereby requested
to take up with the officials of the South
ern railway the feasibility of establish
ing an accommodation train between
Taladega, via Wilton station, and Biz
the train TO leave Talladega at
or about o'clock a. IN. and arrive in
birmingham about $3.50 a M, leaving Bir-
mingham at or about 4 p. m. and reach
ing ITALIA 1ega about 7:30 p, m.
On motion of James Bowron the fol-
lowing committee was appointed to draft
resolutions of thanks TO retiring President
F.. NJ jackson for his efficient services
curing his term of office, the resolutions
to be presented to the annual meeting
of the club next Monday night: James
Bowron, w. w. Crawford, Frank Nelson,
NJ. V. Joseph and Robert Jemlson.
The following new members of the club
were elected: John G. Whitfield, Walter
Harper Robert e. Murphy, l. f. Young,
e. b. Crawford. John M. Caldwell, l.. c
Harrison, NJ Band, b. A. Thompson and
w. f. Motion.
w. p. g. Harding made report for the
committee appointed some time ago to
investigate the water supply in the dis
trict and the possibility of increasing the
supply for domestic and manufe turing
purposes.
Water Supply Support.
His report consisted of reports made
10y T. II. Aldrlch, chairman of SUBJ
committee to which is attached the re-
port of Wilson & Abrer, engineers, who
were employed to take measurements.
these reports follow:
Birmingham, la, May 20, 19O5-Mr. w.
p G. Harding, Birmingham, Ala.-Dear
Sir: Following out the programme dis
oussed by the water committee | took
the liberty of having the Cahaba river
near Helena, Ala, carefully measured be-
low the point where Buck creek emptes
into the river, in order to ascertain if the
amount of water at this point would not
be ample for the future needs of the
Birmingham valley, and | enclose here
with to you A report received from
Messrs. Wilson g. Abner, engineers, who
have been assisted in this work by Mr.
Fall, a government photographer. | am
happy to inform your committee that
there Is plenty Of water at this point to
supply at least three times the amount
now supplied to the Birmingham water
works. even If we deduct the total amount
of their present daily consumption. The
average during the low water period of
say three months from this point will
figure about twenty-five million gallons
per day This point is within nineteen
miles of Birmingham, and If the manu-
featuring interests or the furnace inter-
ests desired an ample supply for them
selves, outside of the present waterworks
company, a line could be built from this
point to Bessemer, and from there to
Ensley a total distance of say eighteen
miles, which would pass by the five fur
naces at Bessemer the three at Wood
ward the six Ensley. and by a short
extension the three of the Republic COM
pany at Thomas also. Of course. supply
ins, the steel plant al TGnsley. This infor-
nation Is convincing that without too
great an expenditure on the part of the
Ieople of this valley an ample supply
can be obtained n the present source
should become insufficient, and at a cost
within reasonable limits.
I enclose herewith fun report of
Measrs. Wilson & Abner. Yours truly
T. II. ALDRICH.
Report Of Engineers.
We measured the river on March 81 by
means of floats, using both surface and
submerged swimmers, but as a strong
wind was blowing down stream we sub
sequently made further measurements in
order to obtain reliable results. The fig
ures obtained were for cahaba river at
Louisville and Nashville bridge No. 50,
above junction with Buck creek near
Helena. PA cubic feet Buck creek, i67
cubic feet, and Cahaba river below the
junction, 431 cubic feet.
The next day we received letter from
Mr.. NJ. r. Hall. United States district
photographer at Atlanta stating that Mr..
Giles, one of his photographers would
go with us to the river and measure the
distance with a metre. This measure
ment was made on April with satisfac-
tory results. inasmuch as the discharges
of Cahaba river and Buck creek measured
separately. agreed with the amount of
the combined flow within II cubic feet.
The discharge on April was much less
than on March 81, particularly that of
Buck creek, the diminution being notice
able in the spill over mill dam near depot
at Helena which with the mill being idle
both days was very much heavier on the
DAY of the first measurement. The COR
responding gauge readings at Centreyille
also confirm this, as the discharge there
on April l was S44 cubic feet, while on