Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-09
Atlanta to Gulf of Mexico by
River Route Has Passed
From Dream Stage to Be-
come Reality,
BY RALPH SMITH.


WASHINGTON, May "a line u
steamboats, plying between Atlanta and
the Gulf OF Mexico was a visionary
dream twenty years ago. The possibil
ity of making the Chattahoochee river
navigabIe between Columbus and th'
Gate City was discussed from time &
time at banquets AMI talkfests, but ths
word pictures OF steamboats, and whar'e:
IN Atlanta. that were painted by the
orators. were regarded only as semi
serious suggestions and never consid
cred as practicable by the busy work
a-day forces that have really made Al
Ianta and contributed so much TO TIE
development OF Georgia
Yet today the navigation OF the Chat
tahoOchee has been removed from tht
realm OF possibilities. and the banquet
suggestions of the past have been H.
vestigated by the United States war de
partment, and given the stamp OF ap'
prevail.
Deep water from Atlanta TO the Cult
Of Mexico not only Is practicable in tbs
view Of army engineers. II IS desiraole
and the suggestion merits the serious
consideration of the United States con
gress. and the financial aid and cooper
stion Of private capital
While the commercial and industrial
forces OF Atlanta, operating through the
Atlanta chamber OF commerce, have IN
recent years devoted serious thought
10 water navigation between Atlanta and
the gulf, the original movement, anC
one of the prOpelling forces OF the
movement was not an Atlanta man. he
=. however. a man who feels a deer
interest in the future growth of his
capital city and in che Industrial devel-
oDment Of his state. more especially that
territory contiguous TO the Chattahoo-
Chee river.
William e AdamsOn, OF CarrOlltOn
a representative in congress from the
Fourth district Of Georgia, initiated the
movement 70 make the ChattahoocFee
river navigable from its mouth TO the
city OF Atlanta Satisfied in his own
mind as to the feasibility OF the pro-
iect and convinced OF its worth, he sci
in motion the machinery which has re
suited in the approval or the project o.
the army engineers.
FIRST MOVE MADE.
shortly after he came TO congress
Judge Adamson discovered the impos'
sibility Of securing from congress ap-
CITATIONS with which TO make the river
nayigable above Columbus. So he Sc
cured a provision in the river and harbol
bill OF 1899 for the state Of Georgia
to authorize private capital 70 eTec'
cams in the InAIIznOOGuGe NAAe
approval OF the war department with
out further action by congress This
was the first important step, though
it's importance was not generally ap-
preciated.
Recently. Judge AdamSon has beer
in conference with hydro-electric engin
GERS and water power development com
ranies concerning the construction of th'
necessary dams and locks to make tbs
river navigable above Columbus. Thess
interests. however, awaited a survey b.
the United States army before commit
ting themselves. and now that the pro-
ject has been surveyed and approved
oy the board Of army engineers they
express themselves as delighted witt
the prospect
II is the opinion of Judge -Adamsou
as a. result of the favorable repor
OF the engineers. that private capita
will build all the locks and dams thai
will be profitable. and these, in his view
will 50 nearly complete the channel a.