USA > Alabama > History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume I > Part 76
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Presidents (since 1885) .- Reginald H. Dawson, 1885-1897; S. B. Trapp, 1897-1901; Jesse M. Carmichael, 1901-1905; Dr. Shirley Bragg, 1905-1907; J. Craig Smith, 1907-1911; James G. Oakley, 1911-1913; M. B. Wellborn, 1913; Hartwell Douglass, 1913-1915; P. J. Rogers, 1915-1916; Brooks Flowers, 1916; P. J. Rogers, 1916-1917; Wm. E. Matthews, Jr., 1917.
Members of Board .- J. A. McCutchin, 1868-1871; John Weiss, 1868-1871; Baker Kyle (colored), 1868-1871; I. W. Suttle,
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
1871-1873; W. H. Odione, 1871-1873; James Thaddeus, 1871-1873; Henry C. Bryan (colored), 1873-1875; S. D. Oliver, 1873- 1875; G. L. Zimmerman, 1873-1875; J. M. Bradford, 1875-1879; A. T. Goodwyn, 1875- 1881; J. H. Judkins, 1875-1883; A. G. Simp- kins, 1879-1883; James Kent, 1881; John T. McDonald, 1881-1883; Reginald H. Dawson, 1883-1885; Dr. A. T. Henley, 1883-1885; William D. Lee, 1883-1895; Dr. A. T. Hen- ley, 1885-1895; Dr. Judson Davie, 1895-1897; J. W. Grayson, 1895-1897; Dr. W. H. Blake, 1897-1901; E. W. Booker, 1897-1901; Dr. Shirley Bragg, 1901-1905; Dr. M. G. Clark, 1905-1907; Thomas Bradford, 1905-1907; M. W. Camper, 1905-1907; Dr. William W. Burns, 1907-1911; Hugh M. Wilson, 1907- 1911; Dr. J. T. Fowler, 1911-1913; Leonard F. Greer, 1911-1915; Dr. James M. Austin, 1913-1915; Dr. Russell A. Smith, 1915 -; J. M. Kyser, 1915 -.
Publications .- Inspectors, Reports, 1848- 1914, Warden, Reports, 1880, 1882; Laws, Regulations, etc., 1883-1895; Legislative re- ports and documents, 1844-1915, miscellane- ous. The publications of the board and in reference to the penitentiary are irregular and of varying value. No other than a general indication of their extent and issues can be made.
See Codes-Penal Code, 1841. Courts; Criminal Courts; Jails; Penology; Wetumpka.
REFERENCES .- Code, 1907, sec. 6479-6571; Gen- eral Acts, 1915, Index; Acts, 1838-39, p. 33; 1840-41, pp. 102-192; 1844-45, p. 161; 1882-83, p. 134; 1884-85, p. 187; 1892-93, p. 194; 1894-95, p. 849; Gov. John Gayle, Message, Nov. 6, 1832, in Senate, Journal, 1832-33, p. 6; Ibid, Nov. 19, 1833, in Ibid, 1833-34, p. 6; Gov. Hugh McVay, Message, in Ibid, 1837, p. -; Gov. Arthur P. Bagby, Message, Dec. 2, 1839, in Ibid, 1839-40, p. 8; Gov. Henry W. Collier, Message, Nov. 11, 1851, in Ibid, 1851-52, p. 8; Gov. Rufus W. Cobb, Message, Nov. 27, 1882, in Ibid, 1882-83, p. 114; Gov. Thomas G. Jones, Message, Dec. 9, 1890, in Ibid, 1890-91, p. 273; Gov. Wm. C. Oates, Mes- sage, Dec. 5, 1894, in Ibid, 1894-95, p. 225; Col. R. H. Davidson, "The convict system of Ala- bama-as it was and is," in Berney, Hand Book of Alabama (1892), pp. 254-266.
COOSA COAL FIELD. See Coal.
COOSA COUNTY. Created by the legisla- ture December 18, 1832, from the lands in- cluded in the Creek Indian treaty of Cusseta, executed March 24, 1832. It contains 655 square miles, or 419,200 acres.
It was named for the Coosa River, which forms its western boundary. The River com- memorates the name of two Indian towns, the one, Old Coosa on the western bank, near the confluence with the Tallapoosa, and the other, the more noted Cosa of Talladega County, lying near the mouth of Talladega Creek. The name is a word of the Alibamo-Kossati dialect, and is written Kusa, or Kusha as slightly nasalized, and signifies "reed brake." The first, or old Coosa, was certainly an Ali- bamo town, and there is hardly a doubt that
the second was likewise of the same stock, a colony of the mother town, which in prehis- toric days, either from conquest, or from an influx of Muscogee settlers, became a Creek settlement.
The act of establishment named Washing- ton Campbell, William Lovelady and Archi- bald Downing as commissioners to organize the county, Organization was retarded, how- ever, because of the troubles with the United States Government and the Indians, growing out of the treaty of cession. Practically nothing was done until 1834. Under a new act of November 28, 1833, Alfred Mahan, Larkin Cleveland, Simeon Chapman and George Taylor were appointed commissioners. A site was selected by them on the south side of Hatchemadega Creek, in what afterward hecame a part of Albert Crumpler's planta- tion. In accordance with the act it was called Lexington. All courts were held there for 1834. The commissioners, however, chose another site, and January 9, 1835, the legis- lature confirmed their selection, to which the name of Rockford was given. The offices and records were moved there, and it has since re- mained the county seat.
The first election precincts in the county were at the houses of Archibald Downing and Washington Campbell, designated January 12, 1833. In 1838 election precincts appear from the county records to have been established at Rockford, Wetumpka, Socopatoy, and at Kimbrell's, Terry's, Robbins', Goggins', James Lindsey's, A. Chancellor's and Littleberry Clark's.
Location and Physical Description .- It lies in the east-central section of the state. It is bounded on the north by Talladega and Clay counties, east by Tallapoosa, south by Elmore, and is separated from Chilton county on the east by the Coosa River. Its surface is con- siderably broken. Hatchet Creek runs in a south westerly direction through the state, and flows into the Coosa River, after uniting with Weogufka Creek from the north. North of this creek the drainage is to the northwest into the Coosa River. In the southeastern section the drainage flows into the Tallapoosa. Goodwater, located on the Central of Georgia Railway, and on a ridge dividing the head- waters of Hatchet and Socopatoy creeks, has an elevation of 872 feet. Kellyton, just a little to the south is 805 feet elevation. Rock- ford, the county seat, is 734.8 feet, Nixburg 731 feet, and Equality 745 feet elevation. As stated, the county is hilly and broken. Its sub stratum is metamorphic rock. Granite, marble beds of slate and kaolin in abundance are to be found in the hills, while in more limited quantities are gold bearing rocks, copper ore, pyrites, graphite, mica, corundum, asbestos and sulphur. It has several varie- ties of soil, principally red clay and gray, with belts of thinner soils along the hills and ridges. Its creeks are those above referred to and Ochuecola, Paint, Wewoka, Cowaliga and Elkehatchee. Its forest growth consists of long and shortleaf pine, several species of oak, poplar, gum and dogwood. The county
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
is located in the lower section of the Appa- lachian province. The northern part of the county lies in the Talladega Mountain and Ashland Plateau region of igneous and meta- morphic rocks, while the southern section comprises the Paleozoic formations below the Pennsylvanian. The Coosa coal fields are em- braced in the latter. Its temperature is mild in summer, but its elevation brings the aver- age low for the winter. Its annual precipita- tion is Inches. Details of the character and extent of productions are noted in the statistics below.
Aboriginal History .- This county is one of the richest in the state in evidences of primitive settlement. Many of the creek and place names suggest occupancy by the Upper Creeks from a remote period. In 1540 De Soto passed through and stopped at Itawa on Hatchet Creek, where the road from Rock- ford to Sylacauga crosses that stream. The later Creek towns of Atchina Hatchi; Hatchi Tchapa (upper); Ka Ilaidshi; Opil 'lako; Otl tut 'tchina; Pakana-talahassi; Potus'-hatchl; Sakapatayi; U-i-ukufki; Wako-kayi were all in the locality embraced in the present county. Near Dollar at the mouth of the present Weo- gufka Creek are found Indian graves. This is no doubt the site of one of the Coosa River towns, probably U-i-ukufki. Thousands of objects formerly belonging to the aborigines have been picked up in all parts of the county. They show many European trade articles. Practically all the mound and burial sites have now been leveled by cultivation.
Settlement and Later History .- Before the treaty of Cusetta on March 24. 1832, a few white men were scattered about among the Indians, but only a few of these are known. Greenberry Clark lived at Pumpkin Town; Alexander and John Logan, brothers, on Hatchet Creek above Rockford; Eli, Jesse and Adam Harrell, in the Oakchoy section, above Nixburg; James Lindsey, in the Hanover region; Archibald Downing and William A. Wilson in Marble Valley; Washington Camp- bell and William Lovelady near the present Eclectic; and W. H. Ray just below Rockford. About the time of the organization of the county Solomon Robbins, William H. Weaver and Larkin Cleveland, with his sons, Joseph, Benjamin, Robert, David and Harry Cleve- land, lived near the present Nixburg; and Albert and Robert Armstrong, Joel Speigner and Thomas and James Wall, near the pres- ent Buyckville. The Chapmans, Goodgames and Lauderdales had located near Socopatoy; and Jack McNeily was among the Indians in the neighborhood of Shelton Creek. John Underwood was a blacksmith among the Indians, with a shop near where the turnpike crosses Hatchet Creek; and a Mr. Kibler had a store near the Coosa and Talladega Ilne, above Goodwater.
Confederate Commands from County .- The commands listed below were made up in whole or in part from this county.
Infantry.
Co. I, "Wetumpka Light Guards," 3d Regt. (in part from Coosa.)
Co. B, "Governor's Guards," 8th Regt.
Co. B, "Coosa Independents," 12th Regt.
Co. C, "Alabama Borderers," 13th Regt.
Co. H, "Coosa Mountaineers," 13th Regt. Co. D, "Cochran's Greys," 17th Regt.
Co. D, "Coosa Farmers," 18th Regt. Co. B, 34th Regt.
Co. A, 34th Regt. (in part from Coosa.) Co. C, 34th Regt.
Co. A, "Southern Defenders," 46th Regt.
Co. B, "Coosa Rangers," 46th Regt.
Co. H, 47th Regt.
Co. C, 59th Regt. (Formerly Co. F, 2d Battn., Hilliard's Legion. )
Co. K, 59th Regt. (Formerly Co. B, 2d Battn., Hilliard's Legion.)
Co. B, "Rebecca Williams Rifles," 60th Regt. (Formerly Co. C, 3d Battn., Hilliard's Legion. )
Co. C, 61st Regt.
Co. E, 65th Regt. (Originally 4th Reserves Regt.)
Cavalry.
Co. G, "Knox Dragoons," 2d Regt.
Co. C, 53d Regt. (Mounted Infantry; in part from Coosa.)
Farm, Livestock and Crop Statistics, 1917 .- The statistics below are given for il- lustrative purposes, and, in tabular form, without any attempt at comparison or anal- ysis. They were gathered under the direc- tion of the Bureau of Crop Estimates, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Number of all farms, 1,670.
Acres cultivated, 72,400. Acres in pasture, 73,400.
Farm Animals:
Horses and mules, 3,800.
Milk cows, 3,400.
Other cattle, 4,330.
Brood sows, 1,200.
Other hogs, 4,570. Sheep,
Selected Crops (Acres and Quantity).
Corn: 40, 770 acres; 608,500 bushels.
Cotton: 2,100 acres; 500 bales.
Peanuts: 470 acres; 6,900 bushels.
Velvet beans: 4,770 acres; 17,170 tons.
Hay: 4,500 acres; 4,530 tons.
Syrup cane: 1,270 acres; 134,470 gallons.
Cowpeas: 6,670 acres; 26,900 bushels. Sweet potatoes: 900 acres; 64,000 bushels. Irish potatoes: 70 acres; 3,230 bushels. Oats: 4,530 acres; 9,400 bushels.
Wheat: 1,600 acres; 9,130 bushels.
Post Offices and Towns .- Revised to July 1, 1917, from U. S. Official Postal Guide. (Figures indicate the number of rural routes from that office.)
Cottage Grove.
Nixburg.
Dollar
Quinsey.
Equality-2.
Rockford (ch)-3
Good Water-4.
Salter.
Hissop. Welona.
Kellyton-2.
Weogufka-1.
Marble Valley.
Population: Statistics from decennial pub- lications of the U. S. Bureau of the Census.
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
White
Negro
Total
1840
4,858
2,137
6,995
1850
10,414
4,129
14,543
1860
14,044
5,223
19,273
1870
8,544
3,394
11,945
1880
10,050
5,059
15,109
1890
10,552
5,354
15,906
1900
10,856
5,288
16,144
1910
10,378
6,256
16,634
Delegates to Constitutional Conventions .-
1861 .- George Taylor, J. B. Leonard,
Albert Crumpler.
1865 .-- Daniel Crawford, C. M. Cabot, William A. Wilson.
1867 .- James F. Hurst.
1875 .- John B. Kelly, William Garrett.
1901 .- John H. Porter.
Senators .-
1837-8 .- Daniel E. Watrous.
1840-1 .- Dixon Hall.
1843-4 .- William L. Yancey.
1844-5 .- Sampson W. Harris.
1847-8 .- Seth P. Storrs.
1849-50 .- Seth P. Storrs.
1843-4 .- James R. Powell.
1857-8 .- Daniel Crawford.
1859-60 .- George E. Brewer.
1861 .- George E. Brewer.
1863-4 .- William Garrett.
1865-6 .- William Garrett.
1868 .- Thomas Lambert.
1871-2 .- Thomas Lambert. 1872-3 .- John A. Terrell.
1873 .- John A. Terrell.
1874-5 .- John A. Terrell.
1875-6 .- John A. Terrell.
1876-7 .- W. L. Johnson.
1878-9 .- W. L. Johnson.
1880-1 .- W. P. Oden.
1882-3 .- W. P. Oden.
1884-5 .- Jefferson Falkner.
1886-7 .- Jefferson Falkner.
1888-9 .- J. H. Parker.
1890-1 .- E. H. Berry.
1892-3 .- E. H. Berry.
1894-5 .- R. S. Nolen.
1896-7 .- R. S. Nolen.
1898-9 .- P. O. Stevens. 1899 (Spec.)
1900-01 .- P. O. Stevens.
1903 .- Walter Scott Smith.
1907 .- D. M. White.
1907 (Spec. )
1909 (Spec) .- D. M. White.
1911 .- W. B. Merrill.
1915 .- J. R. McCain.
1919-O. T. Smith.
Representatives .-
1837-8 .- William W. Morris.
1838-9 .- W. W. Morris.
1839-40 .- A. B. Dawson.
1840-1 .- W. W. Morris.
1841 (called) .- W. W. Morris.
1841-2 .- William L. Yancey.
1842-3 .- Anderson H. Kendrick.
1843-4 .- Howell Rose.
1844-5 .- Howell Rose.
1845-6 .- Howell Rose; James R. Powell.
1847-8 .- Samuel Spigener; Daniel Craw- ford.
1849-50 .- Anderson H. Kendrick; F. F. Foscue.
1851-2 .- Henry W. Cox; Neill S. Graham. 1853-4 .- William Garrett; James H. Wea- ver.
1855-6 .- George Taylor; N. S. Graham.
1857-8 .- George E. Brewer; Evan Calfee; Alexander Smith.
1859-60 .- Calvin Humphries; W. D. Wal- den: Alexander Smith.
1861 (1st called) .- Calvin Humphries; W. D. Walden; Alexander Smith.
1861 (2d called) .- A. T. Maxwell; D. W. Bozeman; Albert Crumpler.
1861-2 .- A. T. Maxwell; D. W. Bozeman; Albert Crumpler.
1862 (called) .- A. T. Maxwell; D. W. Bozeman; Albert Crumpler.
1862-3 .- A. T. Maxwell; D. W. Bozeman; Albert Crumpler.
1863 (called) .- T. U. T. McCain; E. S. C. Parker; James VanZandt.
1863-4 .- T. U. T. McCain; E. S. C. Parker; James VanZandt.
1864 (called) .- T. U. T. McCain; E. S. C. Parker; James VanZandt.
1864-5 .- T. U. T. McCain; E. S. C. Parker; James VanZandt.
1865-6 .- T. U. T. McCain; John Edwards; James VanZandt.
1866-7 .- T. U. T. McCain; John Edwards; James VanZandt.
1868 .- James VanZandt.
1869-70 .- James VanZandt.
1870-1 .- William L. Johnson.
1871-2 .- W. L. Johnson.
1872-3 .- Daniel Crawford.
1873 .- Daniel Crawford.
1874 .- R. H. Gulledge.
1875-6 .- R. H. Gulledge.
1876-7 .- J. B. Kelly.
1878-9 .- D. J. Thompson.
1880-1 .- R. S. Nolen.
1898-9 .- Joseph Porter.
1884-5 .- J. A. Suttle.
1886-7 .- J. N. Neighbors.
1888-9 .- W. C. Brown.
1890-1 .- R. S. Nolen.
1892-3 .- R. S. Nolan.
1894-5 .- H. R. Robbins.
1896-7 .- J. H. Porter.
1898-9 .- Joseph Porter.
1899 (Spec.) .- Joseph Porter.
1900-01 .- J. H. Porter.
1903 .- John Willis Johnson.
1907 .- John W. Johnson.
1907 (Spec.) .- John W. Johnson.
1909 (Spec.) .- John W. Johnson.
1911 .- W. R. Walker.
1915 .- J. A. Darden.
1919-J. M. Parker.
For many details on various subjects in the history of the county, see separate sketches of Atchina-hatchi; Bragg's Gym- nasium; Central Institute; Coosa River; Coosa Valley; Equality; Goodwater; Han- over; Itawa; Kellyton; Kialiga; Lexington; Nixburg; Opil 'lako; Ot tut 'tchina; Pakan-
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HISTORY OF ALABAMA
tallahassi; Potchus-hatchi; Rockford; Soco- patoy; Soils and Soil-Surveys; U-i-ukufki; Wako-kayi; Wetumka.
REFERENCES .- Acts, 1831-32, pp. 9, 49; Brewer, Alabama, p. 198; Berney, Handbook (1892), p. 284; Riley, Alabama as it is (1893), p. 115; Northern Alabama (1888), p. 123; Alabama, 1909 (Ala. Dept. of Ag. and Ind., Bulletin 27), p. 102; Alabama land book (1916) p. 54; Ala. Official and Statistical Register, 1903-1915, 5 vols .; Ala. Anthropological Society, Handbook (1910); Geo. Survey of Ala., Agricultural fea- tures of the State (1883); The Valley regions of Alabama, parts 1 and 2 (1896, 1897), and Underground Water resources of Alabama (1907).
COOSA MANUFACTURING CO., Piedmont. See Cotton Manufacturing.
COOSA RIVER. One of the important riv- ers of the State, belonging to the Alabama- Tombigbee River system. It is 282 miles in length, and in its upper reaches varies in width from 300 to 500 feet, with a minimum low-water depth of channel, since improve- ment by the Government, of about 4 feet. From Greensport to Wetumpka, about 142 miles, the average width varies from 600 to 800 feet, with numerous rapids, shoals, and deep pools. At "The Narrows," the river con- tracts to 100 feet, with a depth of about 85 feet. The greatest width, 3,700 feet, is at "Butting Ram" shoals, where the river bed is an intricate mass of rocks, reefs and islands. Below Wetumpka its width and depth are much the same as above Greens- port. The Coosa is formed at Rome, Ga., hy the junction of the Oostanaula and the Etowah Rivers, which have their sources in northern Georgia, and flows southwestwardly through northern Georgia and eastern Ala- bama, uniting with the Tallapoosa (q. v.), about 22 miles above Montgomery, to form the Alabama River (q. v.). From Rome to Gadsden, a distance of 128 miles, the river falls 77 feet; from Greensport to Weduska Shoals, a distance of 95 miles, 123 feet; from the shoals to Wetumpka it descends the Piedmont escarpment, falling 246 feet in 48 miles; from Wetumpka to its confluence with the Tallapoosa, 11 miles, it falls 3 feet. The elevation of the low-water surface at Rome, Ga., is 561 feet above sea level; at Greens- port, 484 feet; at the head of Weduska Shoals, 361 feet; at Wetumpka, 115 feet; at its confluence with the Tallapoosa at the "cut- off," 112 feet.
Geological Character .- For the most of its length in Alabama the Coosa runs in a south- west direction along anticlinal valleys worn in limestone and dolomite of lower Silurian and Cambrian ages. In the lower part of Talladega County, however, it ceases follow- ing the Paleozoic limestone valleys and swings to the south, thence cutting across the older metamorphic rocks of the crystalline area, to its junction with the Tallapoosa. The United States Geological Survey, in a report on the Coosa Valley, says: "The Coosa Valley in Alabama occupies the so ithern extremity of
the great Appalachian Valley belt, which ex- tends northeastward to central New York. This belt is characterized by a peculiar geo- logic structure. The rocks, originally depos- ited in horizontal layers on the sea bottom, have heen so folded that their beds now have all possible attitudes between horizontal and vertical. The great arches and troughs into which the heds were folded have been subse- quently eroded down to a nearly even sur- face. The harder heds, however, are eroded less rapidly than the softer ones, and hence the beds of sandstone and chert form narrow ridges, while the limestone and shale form intervening level valleys. The various shoals and rapids which obstruct the course of the Coosa River are due to these harder rocks crossing its channel. Where the river follows a helt of soft rocks, as is generally the case, its channel is deep and free from obstructions. It results from this structure that the various rock formations outcrop in long, narrow, parallel belts. Within this folded helt, there- fore, is found a much greater diversity in the character of the rocks which form the sur- face than in regions where the beds are nearly horizontal. There is a corresponding greater diversity in topography and soil and in mineral deposits and agricultural products. The rocks which form the land surface in the Coosa Valley embrace representatives of all the great subdivisions of the Paleozoic, to- gether with some formations both older and younger than the Paleozoic."
"The upper part of the Coosa, from Rome southwestwardly to about the beginning of the Coosa coal field, is a graded river," says Dr. William F. Prouty, assistant state geolo- gist, "and meanders on a flood plain, thus giving to its waters through here a fairly good depth and freedom from rapids and shoals. From this point, however, to We- tumpka the gradient of the river hed is much steeper, and throughout this area numerous locks and dams must be constructed to make the stream navigahle."
Topography .- In the Appalachian Moun- tains, where the Coosa has its source, the quantity of rainfall exceeds that of any other section of the United States with the exception of one or two small areas in the States of Oregon and Washington, and this, together with the thousands of large, perpetual, lime- stone springs and small streams which feed it along the upper portion of its length, makes the Coosa-Alabama River the third largest stream in the South, with respect to water discharge, being exceeded only by the Mis- sissippi and the Tennessee.
The Coosa River traverses three counties in Alabama, Cherokee, Etowah, and Elmore, and forms a part of the boundaries of six others, Calhoun, St. Clair, Talladega, Shelby, Chilton, and Coosa. The territory of these counties comprises nearly a million and a half acres, over one-third of which is in cultivation, and the other two-thirds covered with virgin forest, both pine and hardwood.
Improvement for Navigation .- The Coosa is now navigable at all times for boats of
394
HISTORY OF ALABAMA
light draft between Rome, Ga., and Dam No. 5, a distance of 192 miles, and from Wetumpka to its mouth, 7 miles. From Dam No. 5 to Wetumpka, 106 miles, it is not navigable on account of rapids and shoals, although projects for making it navi- gable throughout its length have been pend- ing for many years. If this stretch were opened, it would, with the Oostanaula and its tributary, the Coosawattee, which are nav- igable for small boats for a distance of 105 miles, between Rome and Carters, Ga., afford a continuous water-route of transportation from the latter point to the Gulf, by the waters of the Coosawattee, the Oostanaula, the Coosa, the Alabama, and the Mobile, a distance of 621 miles. One of the earliest Internal improvement schemes discussed in Alabama was the connection of the Coosa and Tennessee Rivers by means of a canal. In 1823 the legislature passed an act incor- porating the Coosa Navigation Co., with an authorized capital stock of $100,000. The company was chartered for 25 years, and the State reserved the right to subscribe to its capital stock "to an unlimited amount," which should be in addition to the authorized capital. The powers of the company extended to the improvement of the river at and above Wetumpka "so as to allow the easy and safe ascent and descent of boats of twenty tons;" whereupon tolls might be assessed for navi- gation upon a cargo-tonnage basis. Permis- sion for these improvements was asked of Congress and granted in 1824; however, it does not appear that much actual work was ever done. There still exist narrow, artificial channels through some shoals, known locally as the "State Boat Chute," which probably were constructed under these appropriations.
State Surveys .- On February 19, 1867, an act of the legislature was approved, author- izing the governor to appoint a commissioner to examine the Coosa River from Wetumpka to Rome, Ga., and to report upon the feasi- bility of making it navigable for steamboats, and on the probable expense of the necessary improvements. The expense of the examina- tion was limited to $3,000. The governor ap- pointed as commissioner Thomas Pearsall, who made the reconnoissance and submitted his report in 1868. On December 31, 1868, an act was approved, authorizing the appoint- ment of a commissioner to survey and report upon the practicability of constructing a canal on the west side of Coosa River, from the head of the "Staircase Falls" to the most practicable point on the Alabama River, and upon the existence of coal, iron ore, and other valuable mineral deposits in the vicinity of the river. Mr. Pearsall was again appointed and submitted his second report on December 31, 1869.
U. S. Government Surveys .- In 1828 Con- gress appropriated a part of the surplus of the Tennessee River improvement fund for improving the Coosa. In 1870 an examina- tion by Government engineers was authorized to be made of the Coosa from the Selma, Rome & Dalton Railroad bridge (now South- ern Railway) to Greensport, 77 miles up-
stream. Two years later an instrumental survey, upon which to base plans and esti- mates for improvements, was made. In 1875 an examination was made from Rome, Ga., to Gadsden, about 135 miles, which resulted in a plan for securing a navigable channel 80 feet wide and 4 feet deep at extreme low water. The following year an appropriation was made for improving the river from Rome to the railroad bridge, and from that time improvement work has been more or less con- stantly in progress. The original project for the improvement of the Coosa River contem- plated the opening of a continuous water- route of transportation from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Ohio, Tennessee, Coosa, Etowah, Ocmulgee, and Altamaha Rivers, with canals from the Tennessee to the Coosa and from the Etowah to the Ocmulgee. This was designated as the "southern route." Later projects contem- plated the improvement of the Coosa for nav- igation in connection with the Alabama and the Mobile to tidewater at Mobile. The pres- ent project provides for securing from Rome, Ga., to Dam No. 5, a channel 4 feet deep at mean low water and 100 feet wide, to be ob- tained by open-channel work and the construc- tion of locks and dams, one to be located at Mayos Bar, 71/2 miles below Rome, and four locks and dams and one dam without lock be- tween Greensport and Riverside, Ala. The lock and dam at Mayos Bar were completed and the lock opened to navigation September 22, 1913. Locks Nos. 1, 2 and 3, situated, re- spectively, 0.68, 3.86 and 5.24 miles below Greensport, were opened to navigation June 30, 1890. Lock No. 4, 21 miles below Lock No. 3, was opened for navigation in Septem- ber, 1914. In 1892 the plan was modified by Congress so as to include the improvement of the entire river from Rome to Wetumpka. Under this enlarged project, a lock, known as No. 31, was built at Wetumpka but no dam was constructed. Following a report of 1905, the whole project was definitely abandoned, except the construction of Dam No. 5, 11 miles below Lock No. 4, which is now nearly completed. It is proposed to continue open- channel work including dredging, rock exca- vation, and the construction of jetties and dikes in the shoals between Rome and Greens- port and also between Locks Nos. 3 and 4, to complete Lock No. 4 and Dam No. 5, and to maintain the improvements already com- pleted; but all projects for new work in im- proving the river for navigation are now in abeyance. Up to June 30, 1915, the Gov- ernment had expended for improvement of the Coosa, $2,240,806.53, and for mainte- nance of these improvements, $110,661.80, a total of $2,351,468.33.
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