The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-30

canal proper dhat is the Valley division from Bessemer to Five Mile creelO storage reservoir must be built from the headwaters of Five Mile creek, but even with this it is doubtful if the canal can be operated throughout the year. If, however, the work Is confined at present to canalizing Valley river and building storage reservoirs, which can also De used as loading basins. the saving on freights will be enough to build up large export trade, and I can answer that the project is both feasible and advisable
 Water Supply Ample
 To quote further from this report at Its conclusion: That the water supply for the river division is ample: that reservoir on Meadow creek is neces sary. and that with 50 feet head If water 1t will be large enough to supply over 100000 cubic feet daily, which will main tain two-thirds of the maximum traff1 of AZ lockages daily during an extreme drouth of 90 days: that when the traffic approaches that limit the capacity of the reservoir can be increased so as to sup ply 6.G0O,000 cubic feet daily by building second dam for 90 feet head of water That the expenditure of $3 GOO for ca- nalizing Valley river is fully warranted by the assured and prospective shipments from the district
 How anyone can doubt. after reading these reports to Congress that the ca nalizing of Valley river is not possible is beyond me. Mind you, these figures were based on low-lft locks and also si00.000 for d railroad to carry supplies to these locks. It is confidently believed that the cost would be naturally reduced by using high-lift locks. as by this meth cd you impound your water and strengths er yoW canal enab bling boats to go across =. Al T should the low-lift dams be used.
 So you see that Ripley said there was sufficient water for the river division. I will tell you why the matter of canaliz- ing Valley river has always been ad- versed. Because our people have insisted upon report of the whole propositioiI, up to Five-M Mile creek above North Bir mlngham. If we had asked the govern ment to report separately on the matter, they would not have adversed the canal up to Bessemer. Then again. our own congressman and senators have been | against it; our citizens have been luke warm. or indifferent and no wonder the I government engineers adversed the prop osition as whole The thing to do is to ! tell our representatives in Congress that we want this canal. To tell the govern ment that we want it. How did the north 1 Alabama and Georgia peoNe get Locks 1, 2. 3 and on the Coosa river? They went after them. Today they are not used at all and for the time being this money is wasted Are you going to let that be the case with the Warrior? It Is 1 10 be hoped not
 Get Canal to Bessemer
 | Build your pike roads and municipal railroads if you want but until you get | this canal up to Bessemer, you will never be in a position of realizing, to the full | water transportation, on competitive rate basis. Your railroad or pike road will not put you on the Warrior by any means. The government adversed Hous l tons request for a canal, but the people | said we will put up half the cost oi | this canal ourselves. We want it. and we are going to have it. Houston got | the canal. If we don't look out and get busy Dallas will be on actual water trans rortation on Trinity river, 250 miles from | the gulf. before we are. Why will not