The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-28
w. B G Harding Presides and Explains Water Conditions
 in Jefferson County
EENDRICK IS ELECTED
 CONSULTING ENGINEER
Harding Tells of Splendid Water Sup ply for Domestic Purposes, But Urges Importance of Greater
 Supply for Industries.

The scheme to provide a larger water supply for the Birmingham district is rap- idly reaching a tangible shape. The movement was brought up at the Commercial club several weeks ago by resolutions introduced by w. P. G. Hard- ing, president of the First National bank. A canal Is projected from either the Little Warrior or the Coosa river The supply of water, it is thought, Is most likely to be obtained from the former source.
 The resolutions offered by MT. Harding provided for the appointment of commit i tees from each of the municipalities in the district, from the Board of Revenue and from the Commercial club.
 First Meeting. The first meeting of the general commit- tee was held yesterday afternoon in the Commercial club rooms. The meeting was very representative one, and there was much interest in the project displayed. The following compose the committee: Commercial Club-W. P. G. Harding, w. H. Kettig, W. H. Woodward, E. M. Tut wiler and T. H. Aldrich.
 irmingham-W. M. Drennen, Mayor; H. A. Stockmar, Harry Jones, D. R. Cope land, w. R. Gum and J. G. Greener, members of the Board of Aldermen.
 Ensley-Mayor N. w. Scott, Alderman Sherman H. Mason. Alderman P. J. Rog- CTS and George R. Byrum, president or the Board of Trade.
 Pratt City-Mayor E. J. Hudnall, M. J. Shevlin, Dr. J. B. Stagg and R. F. Love- lady.
 Bessemer-Mayor T. T. Huey, W. J. Parkes, H. F. Mundes, A. Il. WoodWafd and Dr. E. F. Lacey.
 Many Attended Meeting.
 A majority of the members of the com mittee attended. In addition there were present Julian Kendrick, City Engineer and chief engineer for the Jefferson couh- tv sanitary commission; R. B. Smyer, sec retary of the Jefferson county sanitary commission; Hugh McGeever and Job Co., ing. members of the Board of Revenue; P. Byrne, a civil and mining engineer, and one or two others.
 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Harding about 3:3O o'clock J. B. Babb. secretary of the Commercial club. being chosen secretary of the gen eral committed
 s"rhis conference Is called at the sug- eestion of the commercial club for the purpose of Investigating our water re- sources for manufacturing purposes, salo MT Harding in calling the meeting to order. I've have a splendid supply Of pure and wholesome water for domestic purposes, and the Birmingham water Works company has spent large amount in improving it's plant. There Is no ln-
 70 in this matter, l think, to encroach upon the rights of the water company. But we must make some provision for the future. In ten or twenty years time we will be in a bad condition for want or water for our manufacturing enterprises if we do not act now.
 Natural Flow Desired.
 Tn making the preliminary surveys for the proposed canal we must of course se- cure, if possible, a natural flow by gravity. l have in my possession the maps and reports made by engineers em- ployed by the Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company, the Republic Iron and Steel company and the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company, to make pre- liminary survey of the proposed canal. These reports were made by John A. Milner and P. s. Milner and are dated Jannary 20, 1902.
 "The preliminary survey was made from Viola, in Blount county, on the Little Warrior river to North Birmingham, distance of twenty-three miles. The pro- posed canal will be an open canal greater part of the distance, but of course aqueducts will have to be con- structed across ravines and other places along the proposed line. It would be easy sailing at the lower end, according to the reports of the engineers. After allowing the Birmingham Water Works it's consumption from the canal there would be left something like 35,O00,OOO gal Ions of water every twenty-four hours. I would like to hear from some of you gentlemen with reference to this matter" q am heartily in favor of building the canal if it can be done.' said H. A. Stockmar, a member of the City Council from the Ninth ward.
 Legality of Bond Issue. "As to the legality of the matter. am in a position to give some information,