USA > Alabama > Hand-book of Alabama. A complete index to the state, with map > Part 45
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Work was commeneed on channel excavation at both Elk River and Little Muscle shoals in the latter part of 1877. All operations at Big Muscle shoals were carried on by contraet up to November, 1879, when that system was abandoned and hired labor employed.
The head of the Muscle shoals improvement is at the upper end of Brown's island. Here a temporary dam was built in the latter part of 1877, and channel improvement begun at once. Up to November, 1882, 56,000 cubic yards of solid rock were excavated from this channel. From the foot of Brown's island to Loek A, Elk River division, a dam of dry rubble masonry two and a half miles long, and contaimng 60,195 cubic yards of stone, forms the upper pool of the canal. Lock A is the head lock of the system. The gates and wickets of this lock are operated by hydraulic machinery, power being furnished by a Jouval turbine wheel. A canal one and a half miles long, 100 feet wide, and giving a depth of six feet of water is excavated to Lock B, the lower lock of the Elk River division. Just below here General Joseph Wheeler, who has been so earnest in his advocacy of this work, forded his cavalry in October of 1863. Between this lock and Loek 1 of the Big Muscle Shoals division the river forms almost a pool for 6.3 miles. Considerable rock excavation has been done in Gil- christ Island chute and on Nance's reef.
A heavy wing dam of riprap masonry marks the entrance to the main canal. Lock 1, near the head of this canal, is a guard and regulating lock, capable of a lift of ten feet.
1
527
WATER LINES OF ALABAMA.
The following table gives the length of pool above each lock, with the lift and amount of masonry :
NO. OF LOCK.
LENGTH OF POOL. Feet.
LIFT. Feet.
MASONRY. Cubic Yards.
1
Guard Lock
8 to 11
4.280
B.
7,920
12
6,098
1.
Guard Lock
0 to 10
4,300
2.
10,300
6
0.95!
3.
10,000
12
6.764
4 ..
9,570
10
6.932
5.
9,80ti
12
4,715
6
22,000
13
2,884
7.
7,100
12
3.533
8.
4,000
10
3.495
9
2,000
10
4,6445
11
82,690 15.6 Miles.
Extreme, 118
50,595
Minimum, 105
The locks of the Muscle Shoals canal are each 300 feet between miter sills, sixty feet wide, with a depth of five feet of water on the sills, and lifts varying from six to thirteen feet. The masonry of the eleven locks of the system aggregate 50,600 cubic yards of cut stone. To give some idea of the magnitude of this work, this masonry would build a wall eighteen feet high, seven feet thick and two miles long. The cost of this masonry was $1,277,511.00, an average cost of about $116,141.00 for each lock. The six upper locks have each four miter gates of iron. The five lower locks are entered by drop gates above and miter gates below. The average cost of each lock complete is about $127,000.00, an aggregate cost of $1,331,635.00 for the eleven locks.
The Shoal Creek aqueduct, with its twenty-five piers and two abutments, each seventy-five feet long and eleven feet high, may be considered as about equal to two locks. The piers contain 3,070 cubic yards of eut stone. There were used in its construction 546 heavy 172-inch iron beams and fifty-two 15-inch beams. The bottom of the aqueduct consists of 468 curved steel plates, with 102 plates forming the sides. These plates have a length in all of about 16,000 feet. The total weight of the iron in the aqueduct is 2,000,000 pounds. The cost of the aqueduct, in round numbers, was $125.000.00.
There are also numerous bridges, dams and dry masonry retaining walls across branches along the system. The prin- cipal of these are at Second creek, Bluewater creek. Douglas branch, Hell Town branch and Six Mile creek. The masonry of these dams and bridges aggregate 1,000 cubic yards. Three
528
HAND-BOOK OF ALABAMA.
waste weirs, at different points on the canal trunk, discharge the superfluous water and three drift sluices relieve the canal, of accumulated drift. The masonry in these weirs and sluices aggregates 3,500 cubic yards.
At Little Muscle shoals 47,000 cubic yards of solid rock have been excavated from the channel, and a system of wing dams, fourteen in number, built. These dams contain 11,000 linear feet of stone, aggregating 18,448 cubic yards. The total cost of this work was $126, 180.00.
Over 270,000 cubic yards of solid rock have been excavated from the channels and canal trunks; over 1,000,000 enbic yards of earth excavated, and 500,000 cubic yards of earth embankment built. The total amount of iron on the entire work aggregates 4,555,229 pounds, or 2,278 tons, costing $138,000.00. Over 13,200 linear feet of dams have been built, containing 80,000 cubic yards of stone.
The canal connects 660 miles of navigable waters of the Tennessee river, otherwise divided into two sections, and unites with the lower Tennessee river about 1,000 miles of tributary streams. The total amount expended on the Muscle shoals improvement up to September 30, 1890, is $2,817,341.18.
Though much miscellaneous work remains to be done along the entire line of canal to carry the work to completion as de- signed, yet the Muscle Shoals canal, our great national water way, is now in actual operation and an assured success. The long hoped for all water route without breaking bulk, is at- tained from Chattanooga to the sea and the head of navigation on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
In his annual report for 1890, Colonel Barlow writes :
" Nowhere in the United States has the growth been more marked and rapid than in the country immediately bordering on the Tennessee river. The opening to a limited extent of the vast mineral interests of this section seems to have given a wonderful impetus to this growth and has by giving in- creased confidence to those already engaged in new enterprises attracted the attention of those seeking new investments for idle capital elsewhere.
The inhabitants are watching with eager interest the progress of the river improvements, realizing that the benefits
529
WATER LINES OF ALABAMA.
accruing from an open river, navigable throughout the year, will be well nigh incalculable.
Cheap transportation and an open river to the commercial centers of the Mississippi valley is believed to be all that is needed to insure the growth in the commerce of the Tennessee that will soon make it one of the main arteries of our vast and intimately connected system of navigable southern and west- ern waters.
The cities and manufacturing centers springing into life along the banks of the Tennessee, and its mighty water power in reserve, especially in North Alabama, cannot escape notice, but demand the attention of statesmen and capitalists.
The national government has already appropriated $3,954,- 000.00 for Tennessee river improvements, all of which will have been practically expended before any additional appro- priation can be made available by the Fifty-second Congress, which, however, will be forthcoming, as it is clearly shown that generous appropriations for necessary public works now form a part of the settled policy of the nation. This maguif- icent highway of commerce demands and will receive further improvement from Knoxville to its month. An instrumental survey of upper Tennessee is already provided for, which will furnish data necessary whereon to base a project for opera- tions above Chattanooga, while among the improvements al- ready projected below Chattanooga are channel work at the "Suck," a canal at the Little Muscle shoals, and a shore canal around the Colbert and Bee Tree shoals, and the preservation of the extremely advantageous winter harbor at Paducah." *
* The canal, opened November 16, 1890, has been in constant use. The number of steamboats, barges and miscellaneous craft, exclusive of government boats engaged on the work, that passed through during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, was 132.
530
ILITER LINES OF ALABAMA.
PROJECTED CANALS OF ALABAMA.
Guntersville and Gadsden Canal. - The town of Gun- tersville is located in Marshall county, Alabama, on the left hank of the Tennessee river; while the town of Gadsden is in Etowah connty, Alabama, on the right bank of the Coosa river. It is proposed to connect these two points, and the waters of their respective rivers, by a canal, to be known as the Gunters- ville and Gadsden canal. A survey to this end was made, under authority of Congress, in 1871,f which resulted in an estimate of $9,518,467.00, as the cost of such an improvement. The canal, upon which these figures are based, is to be fifty and one-half miles long, fifty-six feet wide at bottom, seventy feet wide at top-water, five feet least depth of water, two tow paths eight feet wide on top, two feet above water surface, and locks 120 feet long between gates and thirty feet wide.
No work has ever been done on this canal, beyond the survey mentioned. Should this canal be completed and the obstruetions to navigation on the Coosa removed (the Musele Shoals canal, on the Tennessee, having been completed), water communication would be established between Mobile, on the gulf, and the Mississippi river and all its tributaries. This suggested water line would connect the great mineral resources of Alabama with the granaries of the west, and carry an im- mense traftie in heavy freights, and result in the greatest consequences to the mineral development of Alabama.
The Tennessee and Tombigbee Rivers Canal .- Several years ago, Congress authorized a survey to ascertain the feas- ibility of connecting the waters of the Tennessee and Little Tombigbee rivers, by a canal, via Big Bear creek. The report was unfavorable, making the cost of such a canal $1,705,312.00, and that even this amount would give a navigable water way for not more than four or five months of the year. No work has been done on this canal, beyond the survey.#
. The only completed canal ever known in Alabama, other than the canals con- structed for the improvement of the rivers of the State, was that which connected Huntsville with Triana, on the Tennessee river, about ten miles distant. The water supply originated with the "big spring" in Huntsville, one of those remarkable natmal fountains of the valley of the Tennessee. The canal was built by cotton planters. It came into disuse after the Memphis & Charleston Railroad took its place as a transportation line.
t Ser Report United States Chief Engineer (1872), page co. and Appendix. page 520. + For an account of Muscle Shoals canal, see ante, page 526, Tennessee River
REVIEW.
In 1819, Alabama became a member of the federal union- one of the sisterhood of States. At that time, her broad ter- ritory was almost an unbroken wilderness, and to a great extent obscured in primitive darkness : alone, the home of the native red man, and the hardy pioneer. It was not long to remain so, however, for the advancing tide of civilization brought with it brave hearts and strong arms, to conquer and improve. The State's admission into the union was followed by a marked increase in population, and in 1830, scarcely eleven years thereafter, her population numbered 309,527 souls -- a gain of 181,626. Her progress was very rapid from that time until 1860, when we find her a great and opulent State, and ranking among the first of the States in population, wealth, and intelligence. But the war came, and Alabama was destined to walk through the fires of adversity. For four years, destruction and death swept around and over her: and in 1865 she emerged from the war, utterly impoverished and despairing. Her people once more essayed the task of climb- ing into the sunshine of prosperity, now more difficult than ever, and slow and painful was their progress, as round by round they mounted up. At last, after years of bitter struggle and self-denial, their patience and fortitude begin to be re- warded, and the State's great natural advantages and wonder- ful resources are receiving the attention they so eminently deserve. It was to direct the attention of the outside world to these advantages, and to aid our people in their brave efforts to build anew their shattered fortunes, more than for selfish ends, that the work of this compilation was originally begun, and it has been the author's aim, in an impartial manner. without embellishment or concealment, to present the truth about the State and her resources, firmly impressed with the conviction that no words of his coukl add a feather's weight to the potency of this truth. In as clear a manner as possible.
532
HAND-BOOK OF ALABAMA.
but with much labor, he has aggregated Fers, and left them, in every instance, to speak for themselves. Ile has made no attempt to gloss, and style has been ignored for perspicuity. Whatever may be its faults, honesty of purpose and statement cannot be denied to the work.
In the compass of the work, much has been said ; but much has been necessarily left unsaid, to prevent swelling the vol- ume to too great size. If, too, some subjects appear unduly abridged, let it be remembered what an immense mass of matter claimed the author's attention, and how necessary it was for him to select and condense.
If there is one thing which this compilation has clearly demonstrated to the author's mind, it is that Alabama, in time, is destined to become one of the greatest and richest of the States, and that her future is bright with promise. And this is not mere conjecture, but a dispassionate conviction, after an attentive study of her situation and resources and a careful review of the State's progress since the publication of the first edition of this HAND-Book, in 1878.
Since that date, the population of the State has increased from 1,262,505,* to 1,513,017,f a gain of 250,512 in numbers, or 19.84 per cent., and its taxable values from 8126,773,262.85, to 8275,316,491.23, a gain of $148,543,228.38,# or more than double.
The tax rate for State purposes has been reduced from seven mills to four mills, and the bonded indebtedness of the State decreased and funded at a low rate of interest.$ Many of the counties of the State have greatly increased in wealth and population, and the progress of several of them has been almost phenomenal. The county of Jefferson has increased in population from 23,272, in 1980, to 88,501, in 1890, a gain of 65,229 persons, or 280 per cent., and its assessed values from $2,569,359.00, in 1877, to $41,008,106.00. in 1891. The county of Calhoun has increased its population from 19,591, in 1880, to 33, 835, in 1890, a gain of 14,244 persons, or nearly seventy- three per cent., and its assessed values from a couple of millions, in 1878, to $11,579,949.00, in 1891, and many of the
* Population by the census of 1880.
1 Population by the census of 1530.
I See Appendix.
§ For debt statement, see Appendix.
533
REVIEW.
other counties of the State have increased proportionately in wealth and population during the same period.
The growth of some of the chief cities and towns of the State during this time has also been remarkable. The city of Birmingham has grown, since 1878, from a straggling, experi- mental station in Jones valley, of about 3,000 souls, with as- sessed values of a few hundred thousand dollars, and the crude appointments of a pioneer town, to be, in 1892, the second, if not the first, city of the State, with a population of 26,178 and assessed values of real estate of $13,059,000.00, and with all the appointments and conveniences of a well equipped modern eity.
The city of Anniston, nestling among the beautiful hills of Calhoun county, at the foot of Blue Mountain, opened to the general public in 1: 88, has grown since then from the proprie- tary hamlet of about 500 souls, to " The Model City " of to-day, with a population of nearly 10,000, and a pride and ornament to the State.
Bessemer, the latest star in Alabama's galaxy of mineral cities, dating its existence from 1877, illustrates by its progress the wonderful riches of the region in which it is situated, and is an earnest of the grander development of the State's re- sources yet to come.
The cities of Huntsville, and Florence, and Tuskaloosa, and Gadsden, and Sheffield, and Fort Payne, and many others, show great improvement ; while Mobile, " The Gulf City," fanned by its sweet bay breezes and profuse in flowers, struggling for a series of years since the war to hold its own against the new order, which by the opening up of new markets and new avenues of trade, was robbing the city of much of its old time prestige and commercial importance, has caught the general infection of progress now pervading the State, and is rising up to higher things.
Montgomery, " The Capital City," likewise with its shade and flowers and lovely homes, has made great advance in all respeets since 1878, and is now one of the most attractive and prosperous cities in the south ; while Selma, in season " a veri- table bower of roses," has moved far to the front in the race of southern progress.
Turning from the individual counties and cities, to the State at large, we find still further potent evidence of the
534
HAND-BOOK OF ALABAMA.
development in Alabama in the past fourteen or fifteen years. In 1877, the number of railroads in the State was twenty-four, with a length of main line of 1,819 miles and an assessed value of $10,528,060.43; in 1892, the number was forty-three, with 3,426 miles of main line and an assessed value of $47,883,- 749.87, an increase of 1,607 miles of main line, and of $37,355,- 689.44 in assessed valne. The number of completed furnace stacks in the State at that time was thirteen ; the number in 1892 is fifty three, with an annual capacity of 1,618,000 net tons. In 1880, the production of iron ore in Alabama was 171,139 tons; in 1889, it was 1,570,319 tons. In 1880, the pro- duction of pig iron in Alabama was 77,190 tons; in 1891, it was 891,154 tons. The statistics of coal production in the State are equally encouraging. In 1880, the production was 323,972 tons, valued at $476,011 at the mines, while in 1889, the production was 3,378,484 tons, valued at $3,707,426. The output for the year 1892 will be, it is estimated, 4,000,000 tons.
In the matter of cotton manufacturing, the State has also made considerable progress since 1878. In that year the num- ber of cotton mills in the State was eighteen, with 59,244 spindles and 903 looms. In 1892, the number of mills is twenty-five, with 162,951 spindles and 3,433 looms.
In fact, since 1878, the State has made great progress in all industrial lines ; but it is not alone in population and material wealth that the State has advanced. The number of her schools and colleges has largely increased ; her churches have multiplied ; her appropriations for public schools have more than doubled ; her institutions for the education of the blind and deaf have been enlarged and strengthened ; her charities for the care of the unfortunate-the poor, the siek, the infirm and the insane-have been extended and brought within the reach of all: her convict system softened and improved, and in all other respects the State has made very great advance.
If so much material wealth has been added to the State and so much development had in the past fourteen years, may we not confidently expect like results in the coming ten years. by judiciously and systematically advertising the State to the world and bringing her rich resources to the knowledge of those who have capital to invest, or who are seeking homes where labor will be rewarded and life made comfortable and happy.
APPENDIX.
BONDED DEBT STATEMENT OF ALABAMA,
Showing the Number and Amount of Bonds Issued - the Amount of Interest Due for the Fiscal Year Ending Sep- tember 30, 1893, and the Amount of Bonds yet to be Issued.
DESCRIPTION.
AMOUNT OF BONDS ISSUED.
INTEREST 1892-1803.
1 AMOUNT OF RONDS YET TO BE ISULD.
CLASS A BONDS -- AT 4 PER CENT. INTEREST.
$1,000.00-Nos. I to 4,973, No. 4,975 and Nos. 4,977! to 6.000. 500.00-Nos. 6.001 to 7.254 and Nos. 7,256 to 7, 438 100.00-Nos. 8,251 to 9,169. .
$5,998,000 00 718,500 00'
81.900 00| 8271,956 00' 8201.600 00
CLASS B BONDS-AT 5 PER CENT. INTEREST.
≤1,000.00-Nos. 1 to 578
578,000 00
28 900 00
18,000 00
CLASS C BONDS-AT 4 PER CENT. INTEREST.
$1,000.00-Nos. 1 to 777 and Nos. 785 to 970.
963.000 00;
38,520 00
30,000 00
FOUR PER CENT. FUNDING BONDS.
$1,000.00-Nos. 1 to $54
500.00-Nos. 1 to 200
851,000 00 100,000 00
38,160 00
Totals
$9,203,100 00 8377,516 00 5249,600 00
NOTE .- Class "A" bonds, Nos. 4.974 and 4.976, of $1.000.00 each, were taken up and cancelled by the Governor, and $100,00 bonds, to their value, issued in lien of them.
Bond No. 7.255, for $500.00, was lost in transit to John > Manning. of New York, and bond No. 7,438, for $500.00, was issned to him under act approved February 18 1591.
Class "C" Bonds .- The seven bonds Nos. 198 to 784, inclusive, issued November 28. 1878, were taken up and cancelled in payment for missing coupon -.
TABLE OF VALUATION AND TAXATION.
The following table shows the valuation of property, rate of taxation, and amount of taxes collected in Alabama. each year from 1876:
536
HAND-BOOK OF ALABAMA.
YEAR.
VALUATION OF PROPERTY
TAX RATE.
AMOUNT OF TAXES.
1876
$135.535,792 00: 51, mills'
$1,016,518 44
1877.
130,790.138 57.
7 mills
915,592 97
1878.
126,773.262 85 7
mills!
887.412 84
1879. .
123.757.072 85: 7 mils
×66 299 51
1880.
139.077,328 22 616 mills
908,678 5
1881.
152.920.115 14 6'2 mills'
1,035,915 05
1$$2.
151 520 551 25 61, int11s!
924.583 5%
1883 ..
158,518,157 00 61% mills;
1.031.068 11
1884.
167 124,594 49 612 mills
1.087,681 43
1885.
172.528,933 22 6 mill>
1,041,897 74
1886.
173.808,097 00 6
mills
1.043,967 88
1887. .
214 925 869 00 516 mills
1,201,286 56
1888.
228.869.041 00 5 mills!
1,153,391 74
1889 ..
245 917.517 41 4', mille!
1.113,308 70
1890.
278,979,575 41 4 mills
1.042.618 03
1891 ..
275,316 491 23. 4
mills
1,107,388 84
TABLE
Showing the population of Alabama at each decennial census since the admission of the State into the union.
YEAR.
WHITES, COLORED'
ALL OTHERS.
TOTAL.
1920
>5.451
42.450
127.901
1:31
190,406
119 121
309,527'
1810
335,185
255.571
590,756
1850
420.514
345,109
771.623
1×60
526,271
437,770
964,041
1870
521.384
475,510
98
996,992
18<0
662.185
600,103
217
1,262,505
1890
830,796
681,431
! 790
1,513,017
TABLE OF ALTITUDES IN ALABAMA .*
STATION.
FEET.
FEET.
Akron
149
Alexander City ..
742
Alpine
470
Ambeson
702
Ashly.
456
Attalla
602
Athens
707
Bangor
466
Barely
509
Barton
498
Batesville
280
Battle.
152
Beaver Meadow
136
Bellefonte.
639
Belleview.
160
Bibb Mills
446
Birmingham
696
Blonnt Springs
432
Blue Mountain
791
Bolig. e
123
Boyle
Branden
896
Brierfield
388
Broeks
502
Brownsboro.
631
Brown's Cut
244
Burnsville ..
182
Cahabe plines.
598
Calera
500
Calvert
57
('amp 1till
733
Carson
54
Carthage
176
Centerville. W. bank Cahaba, opp ...
2.59
Chehaw.
252
Chestang
43
Childersburgh
416
Chunchofa
78
Citronelle
317
Clanton
504
Clays
193
Clear ('reek.
538
Clements
419
Cleveland
15
Coo-ada
1×3
Cold Creek.
34
Collinsville
738
Colummana.
535
Columbus
262
Coopers.
456
Coosa Station
447
Cottondale.
273
* This list is only partial. It was impossible to make it more complete.
t Base line, Gulf of Mexico.
ELEVATION.t
STATION.
ELEVATION.
537
APPENDIX.
ELEVATION.
STATION.
FEET.
FEET.
Courtland
560
Coxe's.
373
Creola
23
Cross Plains .
Cuba ..
219
Cullman
$00
Cunningham
Curry's.
540
Dadeville
Deatsville.
Decatur
Deer Park
148
Diekson
488
Dixie ..
Elkuont.
796
Elmore
197
Epes
129
Enfaula
2200
Eureka ..
979
Eutaw
183
Falkville
601
Fitzpatrick's
Flint
566
Foot's
646
Fort Deposit
520
Fort Payne
883
Gardner's
542
Gilmer
536
Gold Hill.
765
Goldsby
183
Goodwater
867
Green Pond.
491
Greenwood
601
Griffiths Mills
186
Harrall's Cross Roads
192
Harris
562
Hartsell's.
671
Hays Mills
751
Helena.
398
Holliman's
9.37
Hull's.
111
Huntsville
612
Ironaton.
Jackson.
Jackson's Gap
690
Jacksonville
028
Jamison
Jonesboro.
527
Jones Stati
209
Kellyton
Kymulga
426
Ladiga
671
Larkin-ville.
620
Lary's
160
Leighton
563
Leona
51
Livingston
144
Logan
134
Lomax
623
MeCalla
455
MeDonald
683
Madison
578
Maplesville.
356
Marion
176
Midway.
506
Milner.
838
Miner Station
119
Mitchell.
259
Mobile ...
Mobile Signal Station.
69
Montevallo ..
Montgomery
162
Montgomery Signal Station
219
Morris
406
Mountain Creek.
->10
Mount Vernon ..
49
Munford
621
Nebo Mount, tunnel at grade
330
Nebo Mount. summit of mount
288
Opelika
812
Oxford .
653
Patona
689
Peeples.
213
Pelham.
425
Pensacola Junction
68
Phelan
790
Pike Road.
295
Plantersville 241
Plateau
37
Pollard.
Randolph
548
Reese .. 530
652
122
Selma, N. E. bank Alabama river 110
112
Depot. Broad street.
N. O. & S. R. R 121
Sepulga 200
Siluria
462
Slade's
54
Smallwood's
Spring Hill
312
Springville
727
Standiford
574
Steel's
610
Stevenson. 602
Sturdevant.
741
Talladega
561
Tannehill
485
Taylor's
173
Tensals
8 492
Town Creek
Trinity.
0:34
Trussville .
Tuskaloosa
181
Tusenmbia
Union Springs, M. & C. R. R. cross. I'niontown Depot.
4:14
Uniontown, Ala. Cen. R. R. crossing 274
1,031
Vance's
511
Verbena.
418
Warrior
5-47
Waverly.
≤05
West Point
417
Wetumpka 183
Whistler
Whitmg 553
Whitney.
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