The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-11

1 made a survey of that stream to as- l certain it's possibilities as canal. | They reported favorably on the scheme with one exception, and that was that it lacked an available and adequate source of water supply, which was knock out blow. The writer believes that this aqueduct project would furnish the necessary water supply.
 Costly? Why, sure; 1t would cost some money But 1t is entirely practicable. And the writer will bet bean that. if this proposition was located in California and 1t was con sfdered necessary to build it for the general good of the community, 1t would be done, and done quickly and I thoroughly. They have a way out in that neck of the woods of getting together on matters like this. and doing things, that other people might well initiate to advantage.
 Referring to the attached sketch map, which is not drawn to scale, the elevations above mean sea level are given at various points along the proposed route of the aaueduct. These elevations. and in fact all data notes on the sketch. were taken from the typographical contour maps of the U. s. Geological survey. There
 
 are approximations only; no accurate figures could be submitted until after field surveys had been made.
 There would be countless details to be worked out and settled upon. such as right-of- condemnation proceedings. crossing of railroads, public roads, streams, streets, etc: put these would be merely matters Of detailed design and construction, ana would present no special diff cuitles. After the successful com pletion and operation of the Panama canal the New York state barge canal, the New York city subways. and numerous canals in France, Rel gium, Holland and China together with the three celebrated European tunnels-Mont Cerris (S miles), St. Gotthard tsA miles). and Simplon tl21s miles), this job doesn't appear to assume such stupendous propor- tions.
 u ls not question of "can it be oone: because almost anything is possible of accomplishment In engi- ncering these days 1t would he A question Of what would it cost?" Thfs recalls the story of the director and the engineer. The director was expressing his doubts as to the feasibility of certain piece of work. , Flnaily the engineer said: Tt isn't question of can 1t be done, but what it will cost. You furnish suf- ficient capital and I will build yol Tour track asbestos railroad through he'll"
 The dimensions of the tunnels, the cress-sections of the open cuts and all ether details would depend en- tireiy on final calculations obtained from iaI surveys The dimensions herein noted are used merely to form some idea of the size ofsthe sob. and to
 start the ball a-rolling," should anyone feel inclined to criticise this scheme.
 The writer's idea would be to use the line from the intake to the load ing and turning basin as an aouc- duet only. and not as a canal for the use pf boats or barges However. he does not hesitate to state that this adueduct could, in his opinion, be made to serve as a barge canal II would simply be a matter of cost
 It would be~a great day for this district if there were a lake. or pool about iv feet deep and 40 acres in area. convenie ntly located to Ensley, Bessemer ana Birmingham, and at the head Of slack-water navigation. so that trucks could unload rails, pig iron. vitrified- pipe, cast iron pipe, Hates. shapes, rods, cotton. ce- ment end all other classes of mer- chandise directly into barges for for eign shipment out of the Port of Mobile, Nest ce pas? But it would take some time-and some money.
 In reply to the objection that the United States government would not consent for>any water to be taken from the Tennessee river above Muscle Shoals. the writer states that one detail of this scheme would in- clude the construction of storage res- ervoirs in the vicinity of Guntersviilc.- to impound flood waters that would be used later ds required. ~The writer