The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1905-07-26
Tells of Work Done on Cumber-
land River Last Year.
business Has Been Good and Is On
the Increase-Much Improve
ment Necessary.
CUMBERLAND's GOOD SHOWING.

pleted his annual report on the Cum
berland river which says in part:
Below Nashville the river extends
for 1873 miles. From 1890 to 1870
the legislatures of Tennessee and
Kentucky made several appropria-
lions for the improvement of naviga-
ton of the Cumberland river, but
little benefit to the general condition
of The river seems TO have been ac-
complished The Cumberland River
Navigation company was incorporat-
ed by the state of Tennessee in 1876
for improving the navigation of the
Cumberland river below the town of
locks and dams but nothing tangible
was done to carry out the proposed
improvement.
THE original condition of this
section of he river was considerably
INSTRUCTED by rocky lodges conglom-
erare gravel and sandbars, snags.
and other surface distractions on ac-
count of which navigation was rend-
cred very uncertain.
The present project for improving
the Cumberland river below Nash
VILE was adopted July l3, 1892, by
river and harbor act of that date.
II contemplates the extension of the
lock and dam system of the upper
river over a considerable portion of
the river below Nashville by the con-
struction of seven locks and dams.
commencing at or near Harpeth
Shoal Uock Al and ending at Big
Sandy Shoal Lock G..
Under this project appropi iations
aggregating 100000 have been
made and S402,S41.5S have been ex-
pended, of which s1G,55O 2S were
applied to maintenance.
"These expenditures have resulted
in the periodical removal of snags
and other. surface distractions from
the Manageable channel. the protec-
ton OF the bank of part of Cum
berland Island In Kentucky Chute at
the mouth of the river, and the prac-
teal completion of Lock and Dam A.
whereby six-foot navigation has been
afforded all the year round for a dis
lance OF 1878 miles above the lock
The season of profitable navigation
from the Ohio river to Nashville has
been prolonged from forty-lvc TO
ninety days. depending on the stage
of the water"
After stating the conditions under
which the river may be naviga;ed at
present, the report continues:
ut is proposed TO apply the
amount estimated as profitable ex-
penditure for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1907, to the location and
acquisition of the sites of locks and
the abntmonts of Dams b and ID,
and TO the construction of Lock and
Dam b. The cost of maintenance of
the open river channel in its present
condition is estimated at $1,000 per
annum.
1.-THE reported tonnage for the cal
endar year 1904 on the lower river
was about 275,57l tons, having an
estimated value of s3,O34,GOO pas
sengers carried. $50. The tonnage
consisted mainly OF railroad ties,
with considerable Items of other tim
Der products. farm products, sand and
gravel and general merchandise.
1t is reported that the Tennessee
Central railroad, which parallels the
Cumberland river from Nashville to
Clarksyllle had rates in force before
the completion of Lock and Dam A
of from Is to PC cents per 100
pounds, and that since this lock is in
operation these rates have been re-
duced above the lock to from 6 to
~ cents per 100 pounds.
Above Nashville the river extends
557 miles. The report states tina.
this section of the river extends from
Nashville to Rockcastle river and
was formerly considerably obstruct-
ed by rock reefs. lodges, snags. etc.