The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-28
|NDORSES
 PLANS OF KENDR|CK FOR PLANT ON COOSA
Local Civil Engineer Says Estimates of Time and Money Needed Were
 Very Conservative

Robert II. Elliott, one of the oldest and best known civil engineers in the Sir mingham district. in a letter to City En- gineer Julian Hendricks plan as printed ndorsed Mr. Kendricks' plans as printed in The Age Herald several days ago for municipal waterworks plant on tue Coosa river
 MT Elliott brings out the point that even if the present operating water- works plant is ever purchased 1t will eventually have to be extended 10 reach tho coosa river in order to supply sui hcient water for Birmingham. Upon re- quest, MT. Kendrick has permitted tho letter to be published and it Is fo- lows:
 Letter to kendrick
 Dear Sir-The public interest in your report on the municipal waterworks plant has prompted several citizens to ask for an expression of the views of members of the engineering profession, and, with your permission, my observations arc ad- dressed to you
 In addition to the objections you specially urge against the Warrior river as a source of water supply, there is the
 
 drains from coal lands. The coal for nations have but a thin covering of earth and the rain flows away rapidly. without leaving much water in storage. The ef- feet is to to reduce the stream flow to a very small amount in a drouth, If 1t is possible, 1t is good practice to avoid the coal measures as q source of water sup ply. and your selection of the Coosa as a basis for estimat tes of costs and recommending it as the best source of water supply cannot be successfully at tackled
 "The Coosa drains the older geological formations in Alabama, Georgia and Ten nessee, which have a deep top soil that retains and stores water, and returns it to the surface with well regulated flow that continues during the drouths. This constitutes one great value of the Coosa to Birmingham and overrides every minor consideration At the lowest point of stream flow in the Coosa 1t will furnish | about 100 times the amount of water needed by the city.
 Estimates Are Conservative
 'The time limit you require for the building of the water supply plant is | about three and one-half years and the cost $i,500000. Both estimates are con servatlve and furnish sure basis for | action by the city commission. The com mission now know the amount of money netutu anu l1ti u Siuulu De Ill nanu dl least three and one-half years before the present water contract expires. It would he feeble diplomacy that did not finally decide the question of building a munich pal plant purchasing the existing waterworks several years ahead of the termination of the present agreements. The bond issue to provide money for the building of a municipal plant should be authorized at once, and compromises hereafter If accepted, will be between parties on equal footing.
 "Fhe operating waterworks plant 10 well built, and valuable in every way. and it's location Is especially good as be- ing on the line to the Coosa river. If the city expands as anticipated. the pres ent pant must he enlarged, and 1t can be incorporated with any extension to the Coosa which must ultimately become the source of supply.
 T sincerely congratulate you on the admirable preliminary report Yours truly. k. H. ELLIOTT."