The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-25
COMPLETE SURVEY ORDERED
 FOR CANAL TO BIRMINGHAM


 l have been a great many other plants and industries subsequently located in this district costing many millions of dollars and employing many thousands of laborers. asH "So much so, in fact, that the census of 1910 showed the marvellous figures of 245 per cent increase In population in the city of Birmingham proper, with out including the vast increase and de- yelopment in other portions of the dis ltrict
 9th and very important. The Cham Der of Commerce feels greatly encour- aged to ask this reinvestigation and additional surveys because of the estab lished fact that In addition to the sources of supply embraced in MT. Rip ley's report it has been definitely es- abolished by detailed surveys of other able engineers made since 1898 that large and ample supplies of water are easily aavilable from other nearby streams and watersheds other than and in addition to those surveyed by MT. Ripley.
 These surveys and reports were made by several of the large coal and iron corporations with headquarters in this district and were and are ac- cepted by them as definite and conclu- sive evidence that such other large ad- ditional supplies of water were easily available for the improvement of the proposed waterway.
 Raising of Big Dam
 '7. The Chamber of Commerce, through the undersigned, would especially call the attention of the war department to the fact that it's recent wise action, which was deeply appreciated by this entire dis trict. in raising the height of Lock II. on the Warrior river. to 65 feet, will result in backing water up Valley river an estimated distance of nearly 12 miles,
 Tt Is roughly estimated that some eight miles of this backed up water will be available for transportation, thus bring ing navigation that much nearer to Bir- mingham, and also doing away with the necessity of locks 1, 2, and of, the Ripley survey to which reference has heretofore been made.
 This being the fact, and the high lifts having now been definitely and finally approved in the wise judgment of the war department, the Chamber of Commerce is greatly encouraged to be- ieve that a similar system of high. lifts as suggestiveiy set forth on the Attached blue print will greatly decrease the num- Der of locks necessary to furnish trans. portation and will also greatly decrease cost of construction. shortening of route, less delay at the locks, and altogether more satisfactory and economical in con struction and operation.
 Tn addition, these high lifts will re- suit in the impounding of flood water and keeping some available for dry periods, also for developing electric power for manipulation of the lock gates and for the lighting of the waterway. There are points on Valley river which are especially favorable for high lifts.
 "S. While the committee thoroughly understands that it is not it's province, and it distinctly disclaims any wish or intention to advise or suggest to the en- gineers who will have this work in charge, still il believes it can with pro- priety and without any reflection upon any other system of construction ern- poyed or contemplated by the engineers. hold in view the hope that some system of hollow dam construction, may upon investigation by the war department, re- suit in such substantial decrease of cost of construction in the proposed water way to Birmingham. as to cause the de- partment to look with favor upon the speedy and proper improvement of this waterway. A{ e
 '9 Since the report of Mir. Ripley, a complete and modern system of purifying the sewage water from Birmingham has been installed and the large amount of water thus purified is now available for reinforcing the supply for Valley river into which this sewage empties.
 no The Chamber Of Commerce feels encouraged that this proposed waterway to the heart of the coal and iron dis trict of Alabama will meet with sympa- thetic interest in the rivers and harbors committed, and at the hands of Congress. on account of the tremendous interest which is being manifested all over the civilized world in the Improvement and betterment of existing waterways.
 Work in Canada
 'The splendid system of waterways on the St. Lawrence river, which have been improved by the Canadian govern ment, on a basis of an approximate per capita tax of $l5 on every Canadian, af- ford food for profound reflection to every thoughtfA man seeking a solution of the growing and momentous problem of in creasing cost of living and transports ton. As Canada has only about one fourteenth of the population of the Uni ted States, a proportionate expenditure ir this country would give nearly $l.5O000.- 600 for the establishment of an efficien; system of interior waterways.
 Tn conclusion the Chamber of Com merce, through the undersigned commit tee, most heartily thanks you for the keen and persistent interest you have taken in this important question. and assure you that every citizen of this dis trict and every one interested in its de velopment and growth deeply appreciate this interest and earnestly hope and be lieve that you will do everything in youl reasonable power to enable the fBirmipg- ham district to speedily float out to tide water it's coal, iron and other heavy products, and thus not only enable oln own gulfport cities to build up great and growing manufacture and trade witt other countries, but will also enable Alabama coal and iron to obtain fol America, Americas mastery of tha trade on the high seas of the world. Very respectfully, ROBERT JEMISON, ',J. B. GIBSON,