REPORT ON THE WATER-POWER
OF THE
EASTEKN G-ULF SLOPE,
EY
DWIGHT IFOZR/TIEIR, DPzet.
INSTRUCTOR IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OE TECHNOLOGY,
SPECIAL AGENT.
1012 W P— VOL 16 53 833-i
#
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
LETTEE OF TEANSMITTAL v
GENEEAL DISCUSSION 1-4
Bainfall and temperature (table) '. 3
Eelative distribution of rainfall during the year (table) 3
THE ALABAMA EIVEE AND TKIBUTARIES.
THE ALABAMA ELVER .% 4,5
Tributaries of the Alabama river 5-20
Minor tributaries of the Alabama river (table) 6
The Cahaba river 6, 7
Estimate of power at the principal shoals on the Cahaba river, from Shades creek to Centreville (table) 7
Drainage areas of the Cahaba river and tributaries (table) 7
The Tallapoosa river 7-10
Estimate of power at Tallassee falls and vicinity (table) 9
Estimate of power of the Tallapoosa river at different points in its course (table) „ 10
Principal tributaries of the Tallapoosa rider (table) 10
The Coosa river 10-13
Estimate of power available at Wetumpka (table) 12
Estimate of power at the principal shoals on the Coosa river (table) i3
Tributaries of the Coosa river 13-15
The Chattooga river 13, 14
Cedar creek '. 14
Minor tributaries of the Coosa river (tabic) 14
The Etowah river 15-17
Fall in the Etowah river for 41.4 miles below the mouth of Little river (table) 16
Estimate of power at the Etowah Mining $ Manufacturing Company's privilege (table) 16
Drainage areas of the Etowah river and principal tributaries (table) 17
The Oostenaula river and tributaries 17, 18
The Oostenaula river 17
The Coosawattee river .' 17,18
Estimate of power near Carter's Landing (table) 17
The Conasauga river 18
Drainage areas of the Oostenaula river and tributaries (table) 18
Utilized power on tributaries of the Alabama river (table) 18-20
THE APPALAOHICOLA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES.
THE CHATTAHOOCHEE EIVEE 21-26
Fall in the Chattahoochee river (table) 21
Power at Columbus and vicinity 22-24
Fall in the Chattahoochee river within about 4 miles of navigable water at Columbus, Georgia (table) 24
Estimate of power in the vicinity of Columbus, Georgia (table) 24
Power near West Point 24, 25
Estimate of power at the principal shoals in the Chattahoochee river below Thompson's bridge, Hall county (table) 25,26
Tributaries of the Chattahoochee river 26-29
Nickajack creek 26
Soap creek 26, 27
Willeo creek 27
Vickery's creek 27
Chestatee river 27, 28
Yahoola river 28, 29
Cane creek 28,29
Tributaries of the Chattahoochee river (table) 28
835— viii
iv TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Page.
THE FLINT RIVER 29
Tributaries of the Flint river 29, 30
Tobler creek 30
Big Potato creek - 30
Estimate of power at Rogers' privilege, near Thomaston {table) 30
Tributaries of the Flint river (table) 30
Utilized power on tributaries of the Appalachicola river (table) . ............ 31-33
Utilized power on sundry streams tributary to the eastern Gulf (table) 33, 34
Summary of power utilized on streams tributary to the eastern Gulf (table) 34
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. .
Fig. 1.— Plan of the Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company's water-privilege 8
2. — View of the Tallassee falls, Tallapoosa river 8
3. — Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company's mill 9
836
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
Boston, Mass., July 9, 1883.
"Professor W. P. Trowbridge,
Columbia College, New York. N. Y.
Sir: I have the honor to submit a report upon the water-power of the eastern Gulf slope, based upon
investigations carried on under your direction during the spring of 1881. Sufficient time was at command for only
a hasty reconnaissance of some of the more important streams, which is the more to be regretted as this section
was found to be extremely attractive, not only by reason of its extensive and varied natural resources, including a
large amount of available water-power, but also because of the frequent evidence that was met of an increasing
interest in the development of those conditions. It is desired to call attention to the principles observed in the
estimates of flow and power, which are fully explained in connection with the report on the region tributary to
Long Island sound.
Very respectfully,
D WIGHT PORTER.
837— v
+
I
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2013
http://archive.org/details/reportonwaterpow1855port
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
Although the section thus indicated might properly embrace all the gulf slope east of the Mississippi river, it
is here for convenience limited to that portion east of and including the basin of the Alabama river. As thus
defined it stretches over 600 miles along the coast, from Mobile bay to cape Sable, and extends inland a distance
varying from about 80 miles in the Florida peninsula to 350 miles in northern Georgia, comprising an area, in
round numbers, of 92,000 square miles. The principal rivers are, in order from the west, the Alabama, Perdido,
Escambia, Yellow, Choctawhatchee, Appalachicola, Ocklockonee, Ocilla, Suwannee, Withlacoochee, Hillsborough,
Ohilocohatchee, and Oaloosahatchee, with their affluents. But of these main rivers only the Alabama and
Appalachicola reach, through thier tributaries, far enough inland to include within their basins any important
water-powers. The remainder are comparatively sluggish, and are bordered by lowlands subject to overflow. They
drain a region accessible only to a limited extent by railroad, and find but little use except for the rafting of timber,
and, where navigable, a small amount of transportation of lumber and agricultural products. They are usually
obstructed by snags and shoals, but in most cases have been surveyed and found susceptible of improvement for
navigation at moderate expense.
The land along the immediate coast is often swampy, and in Florida seems to retain that character even to the
upper waters of the streams. In the cases of those streams heading in southern Georgia swamps are less noticeable,
but yet frequently border their courses, even 50 miles or more from the Gulf. Although this region evidently can
have but little value for water-power, that resource is not entirely lacking, and it is asserted that there are numerous
short streams, reaching back but a little way from the coast, which are nevertheless characterized by a remarkably
full and uniform flow, and, being often navigable to the very points where it would be natural to improve them by
dams, offer unusual advantages for small powers. They are clear streams, running over sandy beds, and are free
from dangerous rises. A striking example of this class is found in the case of bayou Minette, which empties into
the bay directly opposite the city of Mobile. It heads back but little more than a dozen miles and drains only 72
square miles, yet near the mouth a framed dam has been built on a pile foundation, and a fall of 10 feet obtained,,
with a minimum, it is claimed, of not far from 200 horse-power. By the power thus secured there are run a cotton,
factory of 2,000 spindles, a woolen factory of 50 looms, and a saw-mill. Navigation extends directly to the dam.
Receding northward from the Gulf, the land gradually rises, and in Alabama to a distance inland of 100 or 125
miles we are upon the Tertiary formation. In Georgia this reaches still farther to the north, and, excepting a narrow
strip in the west, is limited approximately by a line running from Columbus northeasterly through Macon to
Augusta. This southern division is distinguished by a gently-undulating surface, a thin sandy soil, capable,
however, of easy and great improvement, an extremely healthful climate, and perhaps is most noted as including
the great pine-belt. Almost everywhere there is a magnificent growth of the long-leafed pine, with much hard
wood also intermingled. The cutting and rafting of timber is an active and growing industry along most of the
streams, but has not yet been in general so far prosecuted as seriomsly to diminish the supply.
The northern limit of this belt in Alabama does not attain an elevation of more than 350 or 450 feet. It is
succeeded to the north by the Cretaceous formation, which stretches from west to east across the state but extends
not over 30 miles into Georgia. In Alabama this formation has a general width from north to south of about 50
miles, and constitutes the so-called cotton-belt. It is but moderately timbered, and is in fact a prairie region with a
level or gently-undulating surface. The black soil is underlaid by the rotten limestone, is heavy and calcareous in
nature, splendidly adapted to the production of cotton and corn, and also yields well in tobacco, potatoes, various
small grains, and grasses. The climate is less healthful than either to the north or to the south, there being a liability
to fevers in summer and autumn. Springs are almost entirely lacking. The streams rise quickly after rains and
then rapidly sink away, and often go nearly or quite dry.
Passing beyond this belt still farther north we come upon the elevated and mountainous portions of Alabama
and Georgia, the region in which principally lie their resources in the way of water-power. The great Appalachian
system which follows down the Atlantic coast throws out spurs into these states, reaching well toward, and at
839—1
2
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
points even below, their centers, and giving to the streams hard enduring channels in which to flow, and rapid fall.
The southern boundary of this elevated section, geologically known in Alabama as the Middle region, and
geographically subdivided in Georgia into the Middle and Northern regions, may very well be shown by a curving
line passing from Fayette, in northwestern Alabama, southeasterly through Tuscaloosa, Centerville, Wetumpka,
Tallassee, and on to Columbus, Georgia, and thence in an approximately straight course northeasterly to Augusta.
In Alabama the line which should mark the boundary between this region and the cotton-belt, or Cretaceous
formation, already described, is covered by a belt of stratified drift material — gravels, sands, and clays — stretching in
an* east-and-west direction across the state, with a width, transversely, varying from 5 to 40 miles. This belt is well
supplied with springs, and contains numerous short streams, of which Autauga county furnishes notable examples,
that are finely suited to powers of moderate size.
The average elevation of the mountainous portions of Alabama and Georgia would be difficult to state with
much accuracy. What is described as the Middle region of Georgia, the southern boundary of which has been
defined, and the northern limit of which is roughly shown by an east-and-west line through Atlanta and Athens,
is estimated to have an average altitude above the sea of 750 feet, which is also given for northwest Georgia, lying
to the west of the Cohutta range. Northeastern Georgia, extending from the Cohutta range easterly to the
Savannah and Tugaloo rivers, has an estimated mean elevation of 1,500 feet, and includes peaks which attain heights
of nearly 5,000 feet. In the metamorphic region of eastern Alabama the general elevation is said to lie between
800 and 1,200 feet.
The natural resources of this section are wonderful in extent and variety, and are as yet but slightly developed.
The bituminous coal which is found is confined mainly to Alabama, where it covers a vast district in the northern
central part of the state, embracing, it is estimated, 5,500 square miles. Three principal fields are recognized — the
Warrior, Coosa, and Cahaba — the first including of itself about 5,000 square miles. The Coosa coal-field stretches
northeasterly along the river of the same name, and its prolongation in Georgia takes in the three counties of
Dade, Walker, and Chattooga ; otherwise Georgia is without deposits of coal. Magnificent beds of iron ore occur
throughout northeastern Alabama and northern Georgia, and in the former state there are at certain localities
combined the unusual advantages of ore, coal, and limestone within a short distance on either side of a single valley.
Gold is largely and profitably mined in the section drained by the upper Tallapoosa river in eastern Alabama and
the adjacent portion of Georgia, and in the upper basins of the Etowah and Chattahoochee rivers in northeastern
Georgia. Copper, lead, asbestos, and other minerals are also found.
In describing the elevated portions of these states it is especially important, with reference to their water-
power, to notice the boundaries of the metamorphic formation. In Alabama, it is confined within a line drawn as
follows: From Columbus on the Chattahoochee river, westerly through Tallassee to Wetumpka, thence northerly,
a little west of the Coosa river, nearly to Shelby ville ; the boundary line then turns to the northeast toward Georgia
again, and follows the general course of the Selma, Eome, and Dalton railroad, but distant from it from 5 to 10 miles
southward, until it reaches the state line. In Georgia, the metamorphic region includes every thing north of a line
running from Columbus to Augusta, excepting eight or ten counties in the extreme northwest corner of the state.
While the coal districts that have been noticed have a sandy and loamy soil, difficult to improve, easily washed,
and with little agricultural value, the metamorphic region has a large amount of fine farming land, the staple
productions of which are cotton in the less elevated sections, corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, clover, grasses, fruits,
and vegetables. The soils are red and gray, with clay subsoil. Building-materials, including granite and gneiss,
abound, and there is some marble. The hills are covered with splendid oak forests, besides which pine, ash, elm,
walnut, and hickory are common. Springs and clear running streams are everywhere plentiful, and the climate
is very healthful.
The southern boundary of the metamorphic formation is very clearly indicated by a series of shoals, rapids,
and falls, which fill the courses of the principal streams as they cross its borders and finally escape from its firm
grasp. These falls mark the head of navigation, and constitute some of the finest water-powers in the South. On
the streams to be considered they occur in the Coosa at Wetumpka, there being a descent of 80 feet in 12 or 15
miles above the city; on the Tallapoosa at Tallassee falls, where there is a fall of 52 feet in 300 feet, and a total of 84
feet in about 2 miles ; and on the Chattahoochee at Columbus, where within 4 or 5 miles the descent is 120 feet.
Generally speaking, the larger streams are free from abrupt falls of much magnitude, these being much less common
than on rivers of corresponding size in New England and New York, and their descent is accomplished, above the
fall-line, by rapids and occasional low pitches.
These rivers may be contrasted with those of the northeastern states, which elsewhere come within this report,
in three important respects — fall, volume, and accessibility. As just noticed, the fall is usually less concentrated,
and is, accordingly, less attractive for improvement than in the latter section. Excepting Tallassee and Columbus,
there are no falls on the main portions of the larger rivers under discussion to be compared with those occurring on
the Connecticut and Housatonic rivers in western New England, and on the Hudson, Black, and Genesee rivers in
New York state.
As regards the steadiness with which their volumes are maintained in the dry season, there are but few reliable
data to be found for the water-power streams of the eastern Gulf slope, and such as do exist indicate a considerable
840
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
3
range ill value among different ones; it appears probable, however, that as a class they are in this respect, also,
at some disadvantage as compared with the manufacturing rivers of the New England states and New York. There
are scarcely any records of long series of observations upon temperature and rainfall in northern Georgia and
Alabama within the limits of the region we are considering, but some idea as to those phenomena may perhaps be
gained from the following table, compiled from the (Smithsonian publications. For the sake of comparison, two
points on the immediate gulf coast are added, and several in the northeastern states:
Table of rainfall and temperature. •
Locality.
Eleva-
tion
above
sea.
RAINFALL.
TEMPERATURE.
Years of
obser-
vation.
Spring.
Summer.
Autumn.
Winter.
Year.
Years of
obser-
vation.
Spring.
Summer.
Autumn.
Winter.
Year.
Feet.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
o
o
o
o
o
1,050
9
14.69
12. 42
10. 56
15.13
52. 80
5
58.27
74.87
58.44
41.86
58.36
■Coosa basin above Wetumpka(a) .
14.50
14 00
10. 00
15. 50
54.00
60. 00
76.00
60. 00
41. 00
59.00
Tallapoosa basin above Tallas-
14. 00
13.50
10. 50
14. 50
52. 50
61. 00
75.00
66. 00
44.00
61.60
see.(a)
li. 50
13. 00
9.50
14. 00
49. 00
58. 00
74 00
58. 00
42. 00
58.00
Iambus, (a)
Mobile, Alabama
15
5
16.62
21. 21
11.42
13. 40
62. 65
10
66.87
79. 00
66. 27
52. 43
66.14
Cedar Keys, Florida
35
10
5.50
20.43
11. 76
8. 09
45.78
11
69.64
81.05
71.70
57.87
70.06
Springfield, Massachusetts
200
12
11. 09
12.52
11. 72
8. 85
44. 18
9
46. 46
71. 40
50.72
26.24
48. 71
Claremont, New Hampshire
539
8
11.92
12.11
10.44
9.08
43. 55
9
43. 09
67. 01
47.37
21.50
44.74
Albany, New York
130
36
9.69
12.34
10. 50
8. 03
40. 56
46
46. 54
70. 43
49. 56
25. 26
47.96
Rochester, New York
-
500
44
8. 05
9.12
9.27
7. 21
33.65
38
44 72
68.04
49. 02
26. 46
47.06
a Estimated.
The average temperature is greater in the water-power region of the gulf states than in New England and
•New York, being at Atlanta from 10 to 14 degrees more for the year than at the northern cities mentioned, and it
seems probable that the annual loss by evaporation is rather greater in the former section than in the latter. The
annual rainfall on the three basins of the Coosa, Tallapoosa, and Chattahoochee rivers exceeds that on most of the
New England streams, but its distribution through the year is less favorable. As may be seen from the table
below, the downfall on the interior region of the gulf slope is least in summer and autumn, when it ought to be
greatest in order to meet the draughts made by evaporation, while at the north the least precipitation is in winter
and spring.
Table showing relative distribution of rainfall during the year.
Locality.
Mean
annual
rainfall.
Rainfall,
winter and
spring.
Ratio to
mean
annual'
rainfall.
Rainfall,
summer
and
autumn.
Ratio to
mean
annual
rainfall.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
52.80
29.82
0. 56
22.98
0.44
Coosa basin above Wetumpka (a)
54. 00
30. 00
0.56
24. 00
0.44
Tallapoosa basin above Tallassee (a)
52. 50
28.50
0:54
24. 00
0.46
Chattahoochee basin above Columbus (a)
49. 00
26. 50
0.54
22. 50
0.46
62. 65
30. 02
0.48
32. 63
' 0.52
45.78
13. 59
0.30
32. 19
0. 70
Springfield, Massachusetts
44. 18
19.94
0. 45
24.24
0. 55
43. 55
21. 00
0.48
22.55
0. 52
Albany, New York
40. 56
17.72
0. 44
22.84
0. 56
Rochester, New York
33.65
15.26
0. 45
18. 39
0. 55
a Estimated.
The streams at the South are free, it is true, from the dangerous ice-freshets which sometimes occur farther
north, but they are subject during winter and spring to freshets caused by heavy rains, and in their less rapid
portions are at such times visited by rises which are almost unparalleled on the streams with which they are being
contrasted. The Coosa has reached a height of 54 feet above low water at the head of navigable waters at
Wetumpka ; the Chattahoochee has been known to rise 42 feet at Columbus below the falls, and at points on the
river above the extreme oscillations have ranged from 25 feet down, according to locality. In its upper course,
even, the Flint river is said to have risen 25 feet in the spring of 1881. On the other hand, the highest freshet-rise
ever known in the Connecticut river at Hartford, entirely below all the falls, and where the ordinary slope is
-extremely small, with a tributary drainage area above of over 10,000 square miles, did not exceed 30 feet.
The southern streams which we are discussing are at a disadvantage in another important condition, namely,
the opportunities for extensive storage in one season to meet the demands of another. There seems to be for this
841
4
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
purpose an entire absence of large natural lakes, ponds, and swamps, which are of such value as regulators of flow,
even when unimproved, and which acquire great additional importance when capable, as they usually are in New
England, of being raised and controlled by dams. Of course, the ordinary mill-dams along a stream hold back,
jn the aggregate, a large amount of water ; but as to facilities for storing extensive supplies in spring for use during
summer and autumn, such as exist throughout New England and northern and central New York, they appear to be
entirely lacking on the eastern gulf slope. It is, to be sure, conceivable that in the latter section dams should be
thrown across the valleys of the minor streams, and artificial storage reservoirs of the character mentioned thus be
formed ; but, unless by this means an unusual widening of a valley where there is an expanse of swampy or
otherwise worthless land can be overflowed, the expense and danger of improvements are usually out of proportion
to the storage obtained, and would not be attempted on an important scale.
In the third place, the streams tributary to the Gulf in Alabama and Georgia are by no means so conveniently
accessible as would in New England be considered essential to a suitable development of their water-power. The
head of navigation on the Alabama river is over 300, and on the Chattahoochee 400 miles from the Gulf. There
are numerous well-equipped lines of railroad, and many more will in the future be built, but the present lines do
not usually reach directly the streams m those portions where there is valuable power. Sometimes they follow the
water- sheds, and again they run. parallel to the rivers, but at distances of from 5 to 25 miles, near enough to discourage
the building of new roads, and yet far enough away to render necessary a vexatious amount of transfer by teams.
Spurs can be run to the streams, but they would accommodate only limited sections.
What has been said is not intended to detract in the least from the manifestly great value for power of the
streams of upper Georgia and Alabama. While perhaps wanting in certain advantages enjoyed by the rivers of
other sections, they offer many magnificent powers and are surrounded by almost unexampled agricultural and
mineral resources. Especially for the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods do the conditions seem favorable ; and
that the fact has become recognized is proved by the frequent construction of new mills and by the encouragement
given by the state of Georgia to such enterprises. By an act of the legislature passed in 1872, it w'as declared
that —
Any mill or mills within said state, for the manufacture of fabrics out of cotton or wool, or both, whether such investment be
applied in the establishment of a new factory or in the extension or enlargement of a now existing factory, shall be exempt from
taxation for state, county, and municipal purposes, on the capital so invested, and on any property purchased or erected therewith,
intended for and necessary to such manufacture, for the term of ten years from and after the laying of the foundation of the mills so to
be erected.
Without going into a discussion of the relative advantages for cotton-manufacturing of the South and of New
England, it is evident that a great, and possibly the most prominent, point in favor of the former is the fact that
the cotton factories and sources of supply of the raw material are brought very close together. The climate is
equable and mild, and on account of its humidity is favorable to certain of the processes of manufacture. While the
summer temperature is claimed not to be so great in northern Alabama and Georgia as to be enervating, the
absence of severe cold in the winter season materially reduces the cost of heating factories and the living expenses
of operatives. As a rule, the labor in the mills is now performed by native whites, who are said to work
contentedly long hours for low wages, without a thought of organizing strikes. As to whether this state of things
will continue unchanged after manufacturing has become more developed here, and even as to whether the hands
employed are as efficient as a similar class of labor at the North, there may be some question. The profits earned
in late years by the Georgia and Alabama mills, usually exceeding 20 per cent, per annum, are a very good
indication that cotton-manufacturing in those states is a successful industry.
THE ALABAMA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES.
THE ALABAMA RIVER.
This important river is formed a short distance above Montgomery, Alabama, and somewhat southeast of the
center of the state, by the union of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, its principal tributaries. It runs westerly and
then southwesterly, passing through or bordering upon the counties of Elmore, Montgomery, Autauga, Lowndes,
Dallas, Wilcox, Monroe, Clarke, and Baldwin ; about 50 miles by water from Mobile it joins the Tombigbee to make
up the Mobile river, which flows southerly into the bay of the same name.
The Alabama river comprises in its drainage basin 23,700 square miles, of which 17,970 lies in Alabama, 5,620 in
Georgia, and a little over 100 square miles in Tennessee. It is 150 miles long by general course, but is a very
tortuous stream, and taking into account the bends has a length by survey of 312 miles.(a) Along its borders are
rich alluvial lands, and large tracts of timber are also accessible from the river and its tributaries. Navigation
extends. throughout the year for boats of not over 3 feet draught, and during the high water of fall and winter is open
842
a According to Berney's Hand-book of Alabama.
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
5
to almost any draught. The principal obstructions are bars and snags, and to remove these and to provide a navigable
channel of 4 feet depth in low water, and a minimum width of 200 feet, plans have been developed under the
direction of Captain A. If. Damrell, Corps of Engineers, U. S. army. The improvement described is designed to
extend over the entire length of the river, to Wetumpka on the Coosa, and is estimated to cost $230,000. From,
1878 to 1881, inclusive, $100,000 was appropriated by Congress to this work, which has steadily been prosecuted.
The principal points on the river are Montgomery, population 17,000, and Selma, 7,500. Steamers ply regularly
between Montgomery and Mobile, and transport large amounts of cotton, lumber, and other products. Mobile has,
in round numbers, 30,000 inhabitants, and though the business at that point in cotton has declined from thfi
prominence once enjoyed, a tine trade in lumber is said to be growing up.
In 1875 the flow of the river was gauged at a point some 28 miles below Montgomery, by Mr. Gavin B. Yuille,
United States assistant engineer. The measurement was made at a stage about 1 foot above ordinary low water,
and gave a discharge of 3,711 cubic feet per second. The drainage area at the locality of gauging being about
16,G50 square miles, the above discharge corresponds to 0.22 cubic foot per second per square mile. The river is
subject to heavy oscillations from freshets, and there is reported to have been in 1871 a rise near the mouth of 20
feet above low- water mark, increasing farther up stream, and reaching between 50 and 60 feet on the Coosa river a
little way above the head of the Alabama.
TRIBUTARIES OF THE ALABAMA RIVER.
With the exception of the Coosa, Tallapoosa, and Cahaba, the Alabama river has no large tributaries; but
flowing into it at various points are creeks which appear unimportant on the map, but which really carry considerable
water and would prove reliable for powers of moderate size. At present they are used only in a small way by
occasional saw-mills, grist-mills, and cotton-gins. Very few of them are conveniently reached by railroad, and no
special information as to their fall or volume is at hand.
Those south of the latitude of Camden lie in the pine-belt, the country being covered with a splendid growth
of long-leafed pine. The surface is hilly, the soil is light and sandy and well suited to the production of fruit and
vegetables. The climate of the higher lands is healthful ; springs abound and the streams are well sustained.
Lowndes and Dallas counties are in the cotton-belt, and some idea may perhaps be formed of the streams draining
them from the nature of the country. The surface is comparatively level, with a rich black soil, a moderate
amount of timber, and but few springs. Cotton and corn are the main products, but the soil also does well with
wheat, rye, oats, tobacco, potatoes, barley, buckwheat, sugar-cane, millet, and grasses. Some limestone answering
fairly well for building and burning is said to be found. The streams are scarcely at all used for power, and are
probably unreliable.
In Autauga county there are several streams which are used to some extent by saw- and grist-mills, while at
Prattville and Autaugaville there are cotton factories. The streams here referred to would doubtless furnish
numerous good privileges ; Autauga and Swift creeks were especially mentioned as valuable, but the others are
close at hand and presumably possess the same general features. The main courses lie within the so-called cotton-
belt, but the Autauga County streams differ from the prairie streams of Montgomery, Lowndes, and Dallas counties
in that they are upon a strip of gravel, sands, and clays, which follows along the northern border of the cotton-belt,
and' which is well supplied with springs, thus contributing to their steadiness.
Autauga creek is perhaps a good representative of the streams just mentioned. It runs southerly through
Autauga county, and empties into the Alabama river 8 miles west of Montgomery. It is not over 25 miles long r
and drains 125 square miles, the country having a tolerably level surface, well timbered with pine. The creek has
a moderate current and flows between rather low banks; its bed is sandy and its water is very clear and pure.
At Prattville the average width is perhaps 40 feet. The volume is remarkably well maintained, owing to the
presence of many springs in the section drained, and scarcely any hinderance is experienced at Prattville, the
principal point where power is used, from either low or high water.
On the upper course of the creek there are small saw-mills, but the timber near at hand has largely been cut
away. Quite an important power, however, is in use at Prattville, a thriving place of 1,000 inhabitants, about 12
miles from Montgomery, with which it is connected by rail. Manufacturing was begun here about the year 1845,
and four establishments are now run by the water-power of the creek. The Prattville Cotton Manufacturing Company
makes coarse white ducks, and has made, and still has the facilities for making, sheetings and shirtings. The
company employs 140 hands, native whites mostly, and runs 128 looms and 5,600 spindles. The Daniel Pratt Cotton
Gin Company has quite extensive works, and there is also a sash-and-blind shop and a small grist-mill. All of these
concerns are run from the same privilege, using together about 250 horse-power with a fall of 17£ feet. The supply of
water is sufficient at all times of the year for running at full capacity, though there is not much surplus in a low stage.
The dam was built at least 30 years ago, and is of brick laid in cement. It rests on a bed of marl, is 150 feet
long, 12 or 15 feet high, 18 feet wide at the base and 3 feet wide at the top. A plank apron protects the stream-bed,
and the dam is surmounted for its whole length by a stout timber bulkhead containing waste-gates. The pondage
above the dam is estimated at 30 acres.
A short distance up stream there is an unoccupied fall of 8£ feet, formerly in use; the mill was burned, but
the dam remains. A little way below the Prattville factory a 3-set woolen-mill has a fall of 5 feet, but was not in
843
6
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
operation at the time it was visited. Swift creek, to the westward, in the same county, is reported to have a larger
volume than Autauga creek, which might be expected from the fact that its drainage area is a third greater.
Minor tributaries of the Alabama river.
Name of stream.
Autauga creek
Swift creek
Little Mulberry creek
Polecat creek
Mulberry creek at Callierville
Mulberry creek above Polecat creek
Mulberry creek at mouth
'Cotoma creek
Pintlala creek
Big Swamp creek
N»rth branch of Cedar creek
South branch of Cedar creek
Cedar creek at month
Bogue Chitte at Martin's
Bogue Chitte at mouth
Chilatchee creek
Pine Barren creek at Sekna and Gulf Bailroad crossing
Pine Barren creek at mouth
Dickinson's creek
Turkey creek
Parsley creek (including Gravelly creek)
Bear creek (including Duck creek)
Cane creek
Silver creek
Flat creek
Limestone creek
Pigeon creek
Lovet's creek
Little river
Major's creek
Drainage
area.
Sq.
miles.
125
163
109
58
141
229
288
383
308
264
147
235
497
259
377
140
236
360
55
245
HI
59
43
30
315
194
45
108
153
46
Bemarks.
These lie in Autauga county mainly, in a dis-
trict well supplied with springs, and are
good streams, with clear waters and well-
maintained volume.
These may be classed as prairie streams.
They lie in -the cotton-belt, in a district de-
ficient in springs, and with a flat open sur-
face. With the exception of Pine Barren
creek none are reported to be used for power,
and they are probably not favorable for
such use.
. Situated in the pine-belt, where the surface is
[ undulating and sandy, and springs abound.
THE CAHABA RIVER.
The source of the Cahaba river is near the boundary between Saint Clair and Jefferson counties, Alabama, 90
miles north of Montgomery. The stream takes a southwesterly and then southerly direction, passing through portions
of the counties of Saint Clair, Jefferson, Shelby, Bibb, Perry, and Dallas, and joins the Alabama river 15 or 20 miles
below Selma. In former years the river was navigable for 88 miles from its mouth, to Centre ville, which isaow
looked upon as the head of navigation, although in over 30 years no steamer has ascended to that point. This
portion of the river was surveyed in 1874, and the 24 miles up stream from Centreville, to Shades creek, in 1880.
From the report of Mr. C. B. Percy, United States assistant engineer, upon this latter survey,(a) most of the
information here presented is drawn. As a result of these surveys it was estimated that a 3-foot channel could be
secured from the mouth to Centreville at a cost of $195,000, and that the improvement could be extended by locks
and dams to the northern boundary of Bibb county at an additional expense of $381,000.
The Cahaba has a length of about 115 miles, measured in the general direction of its flow, and a drainage area
of 1,950 square miles. There are no places of importance directly upon its course. Cahaba, at the mouth, was
once the state capital, but is now a little village of 100 or 200 inhabitants. Centreville has a population of about
300, and Marion, 4 miles west of the river, in Perry county, 2,100. A few miles from the river in its upper course
is Birmingham, an important mining town. Although a considerable portion of the Cahaba valley is sparsely
settled, the resources of the country tributary to the river are of great value. In Dallas, Perry, and Bibb counties
the cotton production is large, being estimated at 50,000 bales annually. Farther up the river are magnificent
deposits of iron and coal, the former especially noticeable along the Little Cahaba, where is found brown hematite
ore in inexhaustible quantities, fuel and flux also lying close at hand.
In Berney's Hand book of Alabama (1878) the following account is given of the fine deposits in the vicinity of
Birmingham: "About 1 mile to the southeast of the corporation lies Bed mountain, said to be, both as to quantity
and accessibility, the most remarkable deposit of iron ore yet known. It extends in a northeasterly and
southwesterly direction, parallel with the Alabama Great Southern railroad, for about 30 miles below and the same
distance above the city, attaining its maximum depth of ore opposite the latter place, where it contains several
seams of ore averaging nearly 50 per cent, of metal and aggregating about 25 feet of vertical depth. The ores
844
a See Appendix K, Export of Chief of Engineeers, 1881.
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
are red and brown fossiliferous. Besides these there are magnetic and black-band ores within reach and of easy-
access. On either side of Jones' valley, in which Birmingham is located, and which is here about 5 miles in width,
lie to the southeast and northwest, respectively, the Cahaba and the Warrior coal-fields, both of which are traversed
by the South and North Alabama railroad. A dozen or more mines are operated near Birmingham, along the latter
road, to say nothing of others off the railroads, which are worked in a rather primitive way, the coal being hauled
in wagons to market."
Marble suited to building-purposes is found along the stream within 10 miles of Centreville, and over all the
upper basin there is a splendid growth of pine timber.
At present the only use of water-power on the Cahaba is by a few saw- and grist-mills in the extreme upper
waters. Above Centreville there are reported to be good opportunities for developing power; the bed and banks
are favorable, the volume is tolerably well sustained, the current is swift, and interrupted by numerous ripples and
rapids. The stream is at the disadvantage, however, of having poor railroad facilities; its lower course is crossed
by the Alabama Central railroad, and its upper portion by the South and North Alabama, but the intervening section
is without convenient means of access. The country above Centreville is rugged, but with fine lands and excellent
timber. For about 10 miles above the point mentioned the river is described by Mr. Percy as averaging 200 feet in
width. The bed is rock, covered here and there with gravel and sand. The surrounding country shows considerable
settlement and cultivation, which disappear in the main from the neighborhood of the river above. For the next
5 miles the rise averages nearly 11 feet per mile (53.8 feet of rise in 4.91 miles); the bed is rock, covered with
bowlders, and the stream is more turbulent than below, with long shoals and frequent falls. The banks rise steep
and high on both sides, and the adjacent country is heavily clothed with pine.
From Shades creek down to Centreville, 23. G7 miles, the fall is 121.4 feet, or an average of 5.13 feet per mile^
thence to the mouth, 88 miles, the fall is 127.4 feet, equal to 1.45 foot per mile. During Mr. Percy's survey the
discbarge of the stream was determined at two points, but the measurements seem to have been made at a stage
considerably above low water, and are not therefore of much value for the purposes of this work. There are no
records showing with accuracy the rainfall on the Cahaba basin, but at Greensborough, a little to the west, the
average of twelve years is 13 inches in spring, 12 in summer, 10 iu autumn, 16 in winter, and 51 for the year.
Concerning that part of the river above Shades creek no information has been secured, but thence to Centreville
there are several shoals of importance, the fall on which, as revealed by the government survey, is given in the
following table, together with a rough estimate of the available power :
Estimate of power at the principal shoals on the Cahaba river, from Shades creek to Centreville.
Name of shoal.
Drainage
area.
BALNFAIX ON BASIN. (6)
Length
of shoal.
Fall on
shoal.
THEORETICAL HORSE-POWEB. (C>
Spring.
Summer.
Autumn.
Winter.
Tear.
Low
water,
dry year.
Low
water,
average
year.
Available
10 months,
average
year.
«
Half 11 ile rapids
Big shoals
Sq. miles.
570
a 660
1,080
Inches.
13
Inches.
12
Inches.
10
Inches.
16
Inches.
51.
Feet.
2,050
1,820
3, 800
2, 300
5, 050
5, 000
Feet.
8.4
12.2
8.9
14. 5
22.3
8.4
80
110
80
150
230
130
110
150
120
210
330
190
150
220
170
SOO
480
290
a Above Little Cahaba river.
6 Record for twelve years at Greensborough. c Based on the average flow for the twenty-four hours.
Drainage areas of the Cahaba river and tributaries.
Name of stream.
East Cahaba river .
West Cahaba river
Shades creek
Little Cahaba river
Hill's creek
Sandy creek
Haysoppy creek . . .
Affiance creek
Drainage
area.
Sq. miles.
48
163
140
292
75
35
65
43
Name of stream.
Blue Gut creek
Legroon creek
Ockmulgee creek
Cahaba river at junction of East and West forks
Cahaba river at South and North Alabama Kail-
road crossing
Cahaba river below Shades creek
Cahaba river at mouth
Drainage
area.
Sq. miles.
39
40
251
211
331
563
1,950
THE TALLAPOOSA RIVER.
The main branch of this river rises in Paulding county, in northwestern Georgia; it flows through that and
Haralson counties into Alabama, and then continues in an irregular southwesterly direction, until it unites with
the Coosa to form the Alabama river. The main portion of its course lies in the region of metamorphic rocks, but
at Tallassee, 50 miles from its mouth, it leaves these and, descending a series of beautiful falls and rapids, enters
845
8 WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
upon the Cretaceous formation. The area drained by the Tallapoosa comprises 4,935 square miles, of which about
700 are in Georgia. This region is distinguished in the main by a healthful climate and by the possession of
valuable mineral and agricultural resources. The portion south of the latitude of Tallassee is in the cotton-belt ;
it is cultivated successfully for wheat, rye, oats, and a variety of other crops, but the great and staple productions
are cotton and corn. To the northward the soil is reddish or gray, with clay subsoil, and is especially suited to
the raising of grain, fruits, and vegetables, though cotton can be grown to advantage. The granite and gneiss of
this section afford good building-material, and the gneiss has been used for the Tallassee cotton factory. Soapstone,
asbestos, mica, and corundum are found. Gold is profitably obtained from the gravels and sands at Arbacoochee,
in Cleburne county, and at other points ; copper occurs in the same county. There are extensive beds of iron pyrites
in Clay county, and in Randolph and Chambers counties are met considerable quantities of magnetite. A limited
settlement and poor railroad facilities have prevented any great development of these resources.
The almost entire absence of suitable railroad communication throughout that portion of the river having value
for power is, of course, a hiuderance to its immediate use for that purpose, but will be remedied as the country
grows and new lines are built. The Savannah and Memphis railroad runs northwesterly from Opelika and crosses
the river in Tallapoosa county, but the main stream is not accessible by railroad at any other point above Tallassee;
below there, most of the way to the mouth, it is followed at a moderate distance by the Western Alabama railroad.
By map measurement the main Tallapoosa has an extreme length of about 225 miles. For nearly 50 miles
from the mouth it is susceptible of being made navigable at a moderate outlay. In 1880 a survey was made as far
as the Tallassee falls by Mr. Gavin B. Yuille, United States assistant engineer; (a) upon this were based estimates
that a low- water channel of 3 feet depth and 60 feet width could be secured for 48 miles from the mouth, to the foot
of the Tallassee reefs, for $40,000, and that at a total cost of $275,000 the channel could be made 80 feet wide, 4 feet
deep, and extended to the foot of the Great falls, 2 miles above.
At the time of this survey the discharge of the river was gauged at Fort Decatur bluffs, 41 miles from the
mouth, and found to be 1,420 cubic feet per second; the stage of the river was considered to be mean low water.
The drainage area above this point being 4,040 square miles, the above discharge corresponds to 0.35 cubic foot per
second per square mile.
The only important place directly on the main river is Tallassee, the town containing about 1,200 inhabitants.
Dadeville, county-seat of Tallapoosa county, is distant a few miles from its course, and has a population of 700,
and Carrol lton, Georgia, near the head-waters of the Little Tallapoosa, 900. The main portion of the district
drained by the Tallapoosa is elevated and quite hilly, heavily timbered with oak and yellow pine. In Paulding
and Haralson counties, Georgia, the upper waters are used for power by a few small grist- and saw-mills, but the
only important manufacturing place on the whole stream is at the Tallassee falls, 65 or 70 miles by river from
Montgomery and about 400 miles from Mobile. Here the river, which above is a rough and rapid stream, spreads
out to a width of a quarter of a mile or more and incloses several islands, some of them of considerable extent.
Through the "sloughs" thus formed it has a rocky bed more or less overlaid by gravel. As it approaches the falls
it narrows, and through two or three principal channels pours down a foaming torrent, descending 52 feet in about
300 feet. Immediately below the Great falls it decreases in width to from 200 to 400 feet and then passes on through
a deep pool with an average breadth of from 400 to 600 feet. The pool is a quarter of a mile long, and is succeeded
by rough water, which continues at intervals for perhaps a mile and a half down stream. In this distance the bed
appears to be mainly of solid rock, with many bowlders ; the stream pitches over numerous low ledges, and falls
10 feet at one point. In the 1J or 2 miles from the foot of the Great falls to the lower end of the rapids there is a
total descent of 32 feet, below which quiet water continues. All along this section the immediate banks are abrupt
and high, rising probably from 25 to 50 feet above low water. Near the falls they are very rocky, while at other
points they appear to be of loam, gravel, or sand. They are wooded with pine, oak, and other timber, and from
their summits the country stretches out, almost a dead level, largely covered with pine woods, but broken here
and there by extensive patches of cultivated ground devoted to the raising of corn and other grains.
At the Great falls the river descends, as has been said, through several sloughs or channels. Huge masses
of weather-worn rock form a sort of natural dam, almost closing the course; they are composed of gneiss, the
strata dipping about 25 degrees to the northward. It is supposed that this natural dam was at some time continuous
across the river, but having become honeycombed with pot-holes, many of which are to be seen, either entire in
the unbroken portion of the rock or in half-section on the side-walls of the channels, portions of it gave way and
left openings for the water as at present.
In 1845 two South Carolina planters started a cotton-mill at this place. They erected a low building, which
is still used, and in which fire-arms were manufactured during the civil war. In 1854 the main building was
constructed, 210 by 50 feet in size, with an |_ of 48 by 50 feet ; the structure is of stone and is five stories in height.
The site of the mills and the little village is in a vale which puts back on the west side of the river, the ground
rising rapidly to an elevated plateau which commands a charming view of the valley below.
The present company is known as the Tallassee Falls Manufacturing Company, and has a capital stock of
$400,000. Sheetings, shirtings, duck, cotton rope, and cotton yarn are made, and a ready sale is found for the
bulk of the goods at Montgomery. In the spring of 1881 there were run 18,000 spindles, and 500 hands were
a See Appendix K, Report of Chief of Engineers, 1881.
846
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
9
^employed. The latter are nearly all white people from the surrounding native population, w ho are said to learn
quite readily and to do their work well. The officers of the company state that they find labor cheap, employ mainly
girls, and are never troubled with strikes. The enterprise is of great advantage to the surrounding country, not
only giving employment to many people, but affording a convenient home market for agricultural products. At
the time these mills were visited the daily consumption of cotton was 21 bales, and was shortly to be increased to
32 bales. The shipping facilities at this point, however, are not good, there being but one railroad — the Western
Alabama — accessible, and in order to reach that, goods have to be carried 6 or 7 miles by team and to be ferried
across the river. The establishment of navigation from Montgomery to Tallassee would prove of great value to
the manufacturing interest there.
Only a portion of the flow of the river is controlled for power at the falls. One or two old dams, which did
not serve their purpose well, remain in the stream just above the present structure, which is simply a wing-dam
running from the west shore out to an island. It is built of stone in cement, rests upon solid rock, and is some
300 feet in length; in cross-section it is 9 or 10 feet wide at the base, 6 feet wide at the top, and varies in height
above foundation from 6 to 15 feet. An iron strap runs along the coping, and drift-bolts extend down to bed-rock.
The dam has a masonry abutment, and water is admitted through a timber bulkhead to the canal. This follows
along the side-hill, having a heavy retaining-wall on the river side, and ranges from 15 to 30 feet in width and from
5 to 7 feet in depth.
The extreme fall now in use is 32 feet, which may easily be increased to 40 feet. Uppermost on the line of the
canal are a saw-mill and carpenter-shop, using together perhaps 60 horse-power from old scroll wheels. Then follow,
in order, an overshot wheel running a pump which supplies the factory and village; a 3-run grist-mill taking power
from a 32-foot overshot; and the cotton-mills, where power is used as follows:
Horse-power.
Old mill, one 40-inch Leffel wheel, 24 feet head, rated at 118
Main mill, one 56-inch Leffel wheel, 24 feet head, rated at 290
Main mill, one 66-inch Leffel wheel, 24 feet head, rated at 433
New mill, one 48-inch Leffel wheel, 32 feet head, rated at 264
Total rated power of 4 wheels 1, 105
The superintendent of the factory estimates that about two-thirds of the rated power, or say from 700 to 750
horse-power, is actually in use. Last in order is a foundery and blacksmith-shop, with a small overshot wheel. It is
probable that altogether not far from 900 effective horse power is in use on the privilege, and the surplus volume of
the river always represents a large additional power which is wholly unemployed. The Tallasse Falls company owns
the land on the west side of the river, both above and below the falls, covering a distance of several miles. It
also owns a two-sixths interest in the power on the opposite side of the river at the falls. That site is capable of
being developed into a fine privilege, but it is considered that its improvement would be expensive on account
of the rock-cutting which would be necessary for a canal.
Below the main falls the principal disadvantage to the development of power lies in the exposure to a somewhat
heavy freshet-rise, and consequent trouble from backwater. The Tallapoosa is a stream subject to large, and
sometimes extremely sudden, oscillations, brought about by winter and early spring rains. At such times it
becomes a turbid and dangerous flood, though commonly a clear and beautiful stream. The rise in this vicinity
varies much at different points; at the head of the Great falls it is only 5 or 6 feet, at their foot 14 feet, and for a
mile and a half down stream about 20 feet, never reaching the top of the banks, however. Still below, the slope
of the river becomes much reduced, freshet-waters are less readily carried off, and the rise is great enough at times
to submerge the banks. It is generally considered that for at least a mile below the main falls the water-power
can be improved advantageously. With only one record of the discharge, and hardly any data concerning the rainfall
on its drainage basin, it is difficult to make a reliable estimate as to the power of the Tallapoosa in this vicinity,
nor can it here be stated with accuracy how much fall would be found practically available; but under various
assumptions as to the fall it is probable that the powers expressed in the following table could be realized :
Estimate of power at Tallassee falls and vicinity.
Stage of river.
KAINFALL ON BASIN, (a)
Drainage
area.
Flow per
second,
average
for the
24 hours.
THEORETICAL HOKSE-POWEB.
Spring.
Summer.
Autumn.
Winter.
Tear.
1 foot
fall.
32 feet
fall(ex-
treme
fall
now
in use).
40 feet
fall
(easily
available
at cotton
factory).
52 feet
fall (total
at Great
falls).
75 feet
fall.
84 feet
fall (total
from lAad
of falls to
foot of
reefs,
probably
not all
available).
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Sq. miles.
Cu. feet.
Low water, dry year
( 1. wo
129.5
4,140
5, 180
6,730
9,710
10, 880
Low wator, average year
} "
134
104
524
3, 520
I 1, 430
162.4
5,200
6,500
8,440
12, 180
13,640
Available 10 months, average year. .
{ 2, 000
227.2
7, 270
9,090
11, 810
17, 040
19, 080
a Koughly estimated from Smithsonian records.
847
10
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
Ascending from the Tallassee falls, the river is described as having a generally rough character. It flows with
rapid current over a rocky bed, and is frequently crossed by low ledges forming natural dams. The banks are
high, rocky, and wooded with pine and other timber. The surrounding country is very hilly, and cultivated qnly
to a limited extent. As previously remarked, there is no manufacturing above Tallassee except by a few saw-
and grist-mills, mainly in the extreme upper waters. There can be little question, however, that when the section
drained by the Tallapoosa shall have become more developed, the splendid water-powers furnished by the stream
will be made to support extensive industries.
The main river receives numerous tributary streams which are used by small saw- and grist-mills, and which
are said to offer many fine opportunities for manufacturing. The Songahatchee, emptying from the east a few
miles above Tallassee, was especially referred to as a good representative of these tributaries, which have generally
rocky or gravelly beds, high banks, and a very steady discharge.
Estimate of power of the Tallapoosa river at different points in its course.
Locality.
Tallapoosa, Haralson county, Georgia
Below Ketchepedrakee creek
Below Little Tallapoosa river
Below Hillabee Hatchee creek
Below Kiolijah creek
Tallassee falls
RAINFALL ON BASIN. (<*)
Spring.
Inches.
14
14
14
14
14
14
Summer.
Inches.
12
12
12
12J
13J
13J
Autumn.
Inches.
10
10
10
10
10J
101
Winter.
Inches.
15
15
15
15
141
141
Tear.
Inches.
51
51
51
511
521
521
Drainage
area,
Sq. miles.
205
725
1, 470
2,570
3.177
3,520
THEOBBT1C A L HOBBE-FOWBB
PER FOOT OF FALL. (6)
Low
water,
dry
year.
Low
water,
average
year.
Available
10 months,
average
year.
5.7
9.1
13. e
22.7
34.1
47.7
51.1
70.4
98.8
97.7
122.7
170.4
119.3
150.0
209.0
129.5
162.4
227.2
a Koughly estimated.
6 Based on the average flow for the 24 hours.
Principal tr ibutaries of the Tallapoosa river (in order from its source)
Name of stream.
Cane creek
Ketchepedrakee creek
Mad Indian creek
Little Tallapoosa river at Carrollton
Little Tallapoosa river at state line
Little Tallapoosa river below Cat Nese creek
Little Tallapoosa river at mouth
Cat Nese creek (tributary to Little Tallapoosa)
Piney creek (tributary to Little Tallapoosa)
Wedowee (?) creek (tributary to Little Tallapoosa)
Fox creek
Crooked creek
Chillisado creek
Cohensanersa creek
Hoolethloceo creek
Hillabee Hatchee creek at junction of East and West forks
Hillabee Hatchee creek at mouth
Drainage
area.
Sq.
miles.
65
56
36
75
346
480
650
23
26
49
50
82
99
69
124
167
287
Name of stream.
Elkehatchee creek
Sandy creek at Dadeville
Sandy creek at mouth
Blue creek at Savannah and Memphis Railroad crossing
Blue creek at mouth
Kiolyah creek
Songahatchee creek north of Notasulga
Songahatchee creek at month
Arapa creek at Chehaw
Arapa creek at mouth ■
Wallahatchee creek
Tomgahatchee creek
Caleebee creek(a)
Cupia Hatchee creek (a)
Oakfuskee creek (a)
Hatchee Chubbee creek
Drainage
area.
Sq. miles.
72
49
124
86
17ff
131
156
247
361
452
32
46
158
127
333
72
o Lie in the cotton-belt, and are not used for power.
THE COOSA RIVER.
This river, the most important tributary of the Alabama, is formed at Eome, in northwestern Georgia, by the
union of the Etowah and Oostenaula rivers. It passes westerly across Floyd county, and entering Alabama pursues a
southwesterly and then southerly direction, till it joins the Tallapoosa a few miles below Wetumpka. In its passage
through Alabama it either runs across or borders the counties of Cherokee, Etowah, Saint Clair, Calhoun, Talladega,
Shelby, Chilton, Coosa, and Elmore. Although, measured along its general course, this river is only about 165 miles
long, yet its actual length, following the many windings, is not far from 335 miles.
As described by Professor Tuomey, the Coosa, from its source to Greensport, Saint Clair county, runs along
the strike of the rocks, following a valley between the strata. It then turns more to the southward and crosses
the edges of the strata, forming rapids wbere the rock is hard and indestructible, alternating with quiet pools
where the softer limestone is met. The lower course, from the latitude of Shelbyville to Wetumpka, is along
the inner edge of the region of metamorphic rocks. These, with the accompanying rapids, are left at Wetumpka,
848
Fig. 3. — Tallesse Falls Manufacturing Company's mill.
\
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
li
and for the remaining short distance to the mouth there is deep and quiet water. The Coosa thuo 'Jomes to present
the unusual condition of a stream navigable at its head and foot, but for a long intervening distance filled with
impassable rapids. From the mouth navigation is shut off by the falls at Wetumpka, but from Greensport for
about 180 miles to Eome it is practicable and is availed of] half a dozen steamers ply over this portion for nine
months in the year, and three of them throughout the year. A great deal of lumbering is done along the stream,
and large amounts of timber are towed to Gadsden in rafts, transferred to the ailroad, and shipped north.
With a view to the improvement of the 145 miles, more or less, of river between Wetumpka and Greensport,
several surveys have been made by the general government. If navigation could be secured over this stretch,
then it would extend uninterrupted foi about 800 miles from Mobile to northwestern Georgia and the southern
boundary of Tennessee. In order to bring about this desirable result a series of locks and dams must be built, the
expense of the improvement from Wetumpka to the Selma, Eome, and Dalton Eailroad crossing being estimated
at $2,650,000,(«) and for the remaining portion above at $550,000,(Z>) or about $3,200,000 for the entire distance. Up
to the spring of 1881 the work actually undertaken had been confined to a streteh of about 35 miles below Greensport.
The improvement of this section, under charge of Major W. E. King, Corps of Engineers, comprises the construction
of three dams and accompanying locks, one of the former reaching across the river, 1.100 feet, a second closing a
chute, and a third extending 2,000 feet up stream as a wing-dam. (c) The completion of another dam, at what are
known as the Broken Arrow shoals, is to give navigable water to the coal-fields of Saint Clair county. TJp to March,
1881, inclusive, $285,000 had been appropriated to this part of the Coosa river.
Drainage areas.
Square miles.
Etowah river 1,940
Oostenaula river 2,190
Coosa river below junction of Etowah and Oostenaula rivers 4, 130
Coosa river at mouth 10, G10
The section of country lying within the Coosa basiu has rich resources which are as yet scarcely touched.
Bituminous coal, iron, and limestone abound, often in close proximity. The Coosa coal-field is one of the three great
coal-fields of Alabama, and along its southeastern border extends what is described by Prof. E. A. Smith as the
"wide limestone valley" of the river we are studying. As stated in Berney's Hand-book of Alabama, the main
deposits of brown Hematite ore in the state lie along the course of the Selma, Eome, and Dalton railroad (d) from
Brierfield across and to the east of the river, and along the line of the Alabama Great Southern railroad to the
westward of the river; while, stretching to the northeast from Tuscaloosa through Birmingham and into Georgia,
there is a wonderful mass of red hematite, the Eed Mountain deposit of which has already been described in speaking
of the Cahaba river. The principal iron mining in the Coosa basin in Alabama is at Shelbyville, in Shelby county,
and at various points in Cherokee county. Several other minerals are found in this section, including gold, copper,
lead, plumbago, and manganese. Slate of fine quality, pottery and fire-brick clay, and soapstone occur, while the
limestone, granite, and gneiss afford excellent building-materials. There are extensive forests of pine, oak, and
other varieties of timber. The agricultural resources are also valuable, the soil in the lower basiu being best
adapted to cotton, and in the upper portion to grain. The most important points along the river are Wetumpka,
some 10 miles from the mouth, with a population of 800; Gadsden, in Etowah county, with 1,700; and Eome,
Georgia, with 3,900.
From what has been said it may be seen that the only portion of the river to be considered with reference to
water-power is that lying between Greensport and Wetumpka, covering in the neighborhood of 145 miles. So far
as can be learned there is at present no power used in this distance except by a small flouring- and grist-mill in
Saint Clair county, obtaining a fall of 3J feet, probably by a wing-dam. In the report by Major Walter McFarland,
Corps of Engineers, TJ. S. army, embodied in the Chief of Engineers' Report for 1872, the fall from Greensport to
Wetumpka is stated as 360 feet; and the total fall upon rapids between the Selma, Eome, and Dalton Eailroad
crossing and Wetumpka as 260 feet. The superintendent of the East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia railroad
gives the elevation at its Eome crossing, at the head of the Coosa, as 652 feet above tide.
Although from lack of time the river was not personally examined, it is judged from government engineers'
descriptions of it that at many points on the rapids power might be developed to advantage ; and since it contains
numerous long islands forming chutes between themselves and the adjacent banks, it is not improbable that at
such points, as is the case on the Chattahoochee river, good powers might be obtained at slight expense. The
width of the river is large on the shoals, ranging from 650 to 2,000 feet above the Selma, Eome, and Dalton
Eailroad crossing, and from 1,000 to 3,000 feet on the section below. The control of the entire flow of the stream
would therefore in many' cases involve heavy expense for a dam, and certainly no such enterprise would be
undertaken without having regard to the possible improvement of the entire river by the United States government.
a Senate Ex. Doc. No. 42, Forty-sixth Congress, third session,
b See Report of Chief of Engineers, 77. S. army, 1881, p. 1873.
c See Appendix X9, Beport of Chief of Engineers, 1881.
d Alabama division of the East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia railroad.
• 1012 "W P— VOL 16 54 849
12
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
As has been said, the design is to extend the system of locks and dams so as ultimately to overcome all the rapids
by slack- water navigation. If that design should be carried out, the surplus water at the dams above the
requirements of lockage would probably be available, under proper restrictions, for power; and the opinion is
expressed by those engineers having charge of the river, that favorable sites for manufacturing would undoubtedly
thus be created.
Probably the principal disadvantage that would be experienced in the actual use of power would be an
occasional hinderance from backwater during freshets, which are sometimes very heavy and sudden. Eegarding
the rises in the river, Mr. Gavin B. Yuille, United States assistant engineer, in his report upon a survey of the 68J
miles above Wetumpka,(a) remarks as follows:
The oscillation of the river-surface during freshets was found to be very variable, being governed by width and inclination of the
channel. On the shoals where the river-channel is from 1,000 to 3,000 feet wide and there is an inclination of 10 or 12 feet in a mile, the
oscillation ranges from 6 to 8 feet, while at Wetumpka, where the river has a width of 700 feet between high banks, and situated at the
head of slack-water river below, we find an extreme oscillation of 53.71 feet, and at all points where the river is of contracted width and
deep slack-water channel the oscillation is from 20 to 40 feet.
On the section of river below and adjacent to Greensport, where a system of locks and dams is being completed,
the most favorable sites for power are mentioned as being Whistenant's Mill shoals, where there is a fall of 5£ feet
available; Ten-Island shoals, where the fall is 12 feet in a mile and a quarter; and Broken Arrow shoals, where it
is designed to erect a dam 12 feet high.
The upper Coosa is bordered by a considerable amount of bottom-land, beyond which rise high hills well
wooded with pine. The lower valley is more contracted, and shows only occasional narrow strips of bottom-land,
subject to overflow during extremely high freshets; in this section, where the banks are not of the character
described they are usually high and rocky, and even at times precipitous. The channel shows "a succession of
confined level pools of deep water, connected by sloping reaches of broad and shallow reefs and shoals, filled with
numerous islands and rocks, with narrow and shoal runs of water between". The pools are very deep, sometimes
from 40 to 60 feet, and the river-bed is almost entirely of bare solid rock, with scarcely any deposit covering it.
Undoubtedly the finest power to be obtained on the Coosa river is at Wetumpka^ within 10 miles or so of the
mouth. Ascending from the city, a succession of shoals and pools, ranging usually from 4,000 to 6,000 feet each in
length, is encountered, after which there is a continuous shoal stretching 7 miles up stream. The river-banks in
the section below are high and rocky. The head of the shoals mentioned is at a distance of nearly 15 miles by river
above the Wetumpka bridge, and is said to offer a favorable site for a dam. By bringing a canal from that point
down the east bank to Wetumpka, security from the reach of high water would be obtained, and a fall made
available at the city of not far from 80 feet in the most favorable stage of river. During freshets this fall would
be liable to be reduced one-half, and even more in extreme cases. The expense of constructing a canal of proper
capacity 12 or 15 miles in length, even if the cost of a dam could be avoided by taking advantage of one erected by
the government in case of the improvement of the stream for navigation, would be very great — sufficiently so,
perhaps, to forbid the undertaking. The power to be obtained, however, would be magnificent, and calculated to
build up an important manufacturing city.
Estimate of power available at Wetumpka.
Stage of river.
RAINFALL ON BASIN, (a)
Drainage
Flow per
second,
average for
the 24
hours, (c)
Theoretical horse-power.
Spring.
Summer.
Autumn.
Winter.
Year.
area.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Sq. miles.
Cubic feet.
1 footfall.
40 feet fall.
60 feet fall.
SOfeetfall.
(• 2, 130
242.0
9,680
14, 520
19, 360
Low water, average year
| m
14
10
15J
54
b 10, 235
J 2, 560
290.8
11, 630
17, 450
23, 260
Available 10 months, average year
( 3, 560
404.4
16, 180
24, 260
32, 350
a Roughly estimated.
6 At a point 15 miles by river above Wetumpka.
c In case of the improvement of the stream by locks and dams for navigation, Mr. Yuille estimates the demand for lockage at. an average of 56 oubic feet per
second, assuming a lock 210 X 40 X 8 feet to be emptied once in 20 minutes throughout the day; and estimates the total loss by lockage and waste at 124 cubic feet
per second, which is neglected in the above table.
Notwithstanding the large amount of undeveloped power presented by the Coosa, the limited extent to which
manufacturing is carried on in this section seems to have prevented any special demand for it, and even if
manufacturing enterprises were more common many would doubtless avail themselves of the opportunities for
obtaining coal cheaply and would use steam-power. For establishments to be located directly upon the main river
railroad facilities are poor. About midway between Greensport and Wetumpka is the crossing of the Selma, Eome,
and Dalton line; but, except in that vicinity, the course of the river between the two points mentioned is distant
from 5 to 15 miles from the nearest railroad.
a Senate Ex. Doc. No. 42, Fortij-sixih Congress, third session.
850
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
Estimate of power at the principal shoals on the Coosa river (in order beloiv Greensport[a]).
13
Name of shoal.
Whistenant's Mill shoals .
Ten- Island shoals
Broken Arrow shoals
Chocholoco shoals
Claunche's shoals.
Drake's Mill shoals
Turner's Mill shoals
Shoals down stream from head of
Wedaska shoals.
Drainage
area
(approxi-
mate).
Sq. miles.
6,870
7, 320
Length
of shoal.
Miles.
Tuck-a-league shoals
Dnncan's ripple
Fish-Trap reef. .
Hell's Gap reef
Reef below Huffman's ferry
Welonee Creek reef
Beef IJ mile below Grey's ferry
Staircase falls
Staircase falls (lower)
Reef above Closet reef
Closet reef
Sofkahatchee reef
Grey's Island shoals
Rose's reef
Corn Creek reef
Wetnmpka rapids
Total for above shoals, with falls as
assumed.
Total powerassumedtobeavailable !
at Wetnmpka by canal from first !
reef below Grey's ferry, a dis-
tance of nearly 15 miles.
8, 020
9,130
9,420
10, 050
1. 40 ±
1. 70 ±
1. 30 ±
0. 06
0. 95±
0.38
7.30 +
5.25
0. 66
0.57
Fall
on shoal.
10, 235
0.49
0. 57
0. 26
0. 95
0.70
Feet.
5.50
12. 00
12.00 +
5.00
12. 00
7. 00
4. 00
55.75
39. 00
8.38
10. 00 ±
10.00 +
9. 00
9.00±
8. 00±
8.06
8. 00
8. 00 ±
8. 00 ±
8.00+.
8.00±
4. 14
7. 63
12.60
277. 00 +
80. 00
THEORETICAL HORSE-POWER. (!))
Low water,
dry year.
Low water,
average
year.
Available
10 months,
average
year.
Remarks.
1, 020
1,220
1,710
Immediately below Greensport ; 5$ feet is the fall said to
be available for power.
2, 370
2, 850
3, 950
Eighteen or twenty miles below Greensport; 12 feet is
the fall said to be available for power.
2,370
2, 850
3, 950
Forty -eight miles above the Selma, Rome, and Dalton Rail-
road crossing. To be improved for navigation by a dam
with lock of 12 feet lift.
990
1, 190
•
1, DOU
Thirty-eight miles from the Selma. Rome, and Dalton Rail-
road crossing. Shoals occur between an island and the
mainland, the west channel being 1,200 and the east 150
feet wide.
2, 520
3, 010
4,200
One-half mile above Claunche's ferry. Shoals caused by
a reef of rock.
1, 470
1, 760
2, 450
Reef of rock crosses river midway of shoal.
840
1, 000
1, 400
River 800 feet wide at head of shoals.
12, 350
14, 820
20, 580
"Weduska shoals begin about 18 miles below the Selma,
Rome, and Dalton Railroad crossing. Thence down stream
the river is described as "one mass of shoals, rapids,
reefs, filled with rocks, islands, and willows growing in
the water, and varying in width from 1,000 to 1.800 feot .
8, 990
10, 760
14, 980
Head of shoals about 32 miles below the Selma, Rome, and
Dalton Railroad crossing.
2, 000
2,400
3, 330
Channel width, from 700 to 1,200 feet.
2, 400
2, 870
4,000
Dam proposed with lock of 10 feet lift; river about 1,600 feet
wide, and runs swiftly over rocky reefs.
2,400
2, 880
4, 010
Dam proposed with lock of 10 feet lift.
2,170
2, 600
3, 620
Dam proposed with lock of 9 feet lift.
2, 170
2, 610
3, 630
Do.
1,940
2, 330
3, 230
Dam proposed with lockof8 feet lift.
1,950
2,340
3, 260
River widens to 3,600 feet, is very shoal, and is filled with
reefs and masses of rock.
1,960
2, 350
3, 270
1,960
2, 350
3,270
Dam proposed with lock of 8 feet lift.
1, 960
2, 350
3, 270
Do.
1,960
2,360
3, 280
Do.
1,960
2, 360
3,280
Do.
1, 020
1, 220
1, 700
1,880
2,250
3, 130
3, 120
3,740
5, 180
61, 600
73, 870
1 102, 710
Tho only utilization of power reported is made-by a single
small grist-mill.
19, 360
23, 260
32, 350
a Data concerning shoals are taken from report by G. B. Yuille (Senate Ex. Doc. No. 42, Forty-sixth Oongress, third session), and from report of James C. Long
(Report of Chief of Engineers. 1872). The table is intended to show approximately the power corresponding to the natural fall, in the main, on various shoals; the
fall practically available at the different localities would doubtless vary much from the figures here employed, being governed by the height of dam and length of
canal. The real value of the shoals for manufacturing use is to be determined only by careful examination.
b Based upon average flow for the 24 hours. "With good wheels, from B0 to 80 per cent, of the theoretical power can be realized.
Note. — The rainfall on the basin may be taken roughly at 14J inches in spring, 14 in summer, 10 in autumn, 151 m winter, and 54 for the year.
Tributaries of the Goosa river. — Below the point of its formation by the Etowah and Oostenaula rivers
the Coosa receives many minor tributaries, ranging' in size of drainage area from about 500 square miles downward,
and to which the same general remarks wotild apply as to the corresponding tributaries of the Tallapoosa, which
have elsewhere been spoken of. Two of these were visited — the Chattooga river and Cedar creek, streams of
medium size— and a description of them may serve to give an idea as to the capabilities of the rest.
The Chattooga river rises 35 miles northerly from Rome, in northwestern Georgia. From its source in Walker
county it runs southwesterly across Chattooga county, into Alabama, joining the Coosa a short distance beyond
the state boundary, in Cherokee couuty. It drains the valley lying between Pigeon mountain, a spur of the Lookout
Mountain range, on the west, and Taylor's ridge on the east, and includes within its basin 375 square miles.
This river has the usual characteristics of a mountain stream; it receives its supplies from a rough, hilly, well-
wooded section, flows over a rocky bed and between banks that are usually high and rocky, though now and then
there occur stretches of productive bottom-land. It is subject to high freshets, with rapid rise and fall. Good sites
for power abound, and are generally improved by framed dams, and occupied by small saw-mills, grist-mills, and
cotton-gins. The Tryon factory, distant some 25 miles by carriage-road from Rome and 15 miles from any railroad,
is the only important manufacturing establishment on the stream. The mill is a fine structure of brick, and is
surrounded by a small village, where dwell the operatives, numbering 250 or more. The Tryon Manufacturing
Company has a capital stock of $225,000, and runs 9,000 spindles and 258 looms in the manufacture of sheetings,
851
14
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
shirtings, and drills, using 14 or 15 bales of cotton per day. At this locality the Chattooga river is 75 or 100 feet
wide, has a rapid current, and its waters are colored a greenish hue by the presence of lime. The site was a favorable
one for improvement; where the dam is situated one bank rises abruptly from the stream, rocky and very high,
while the other, composed of gravel and having a gentle slope, afforded a convenient course for the canal. The
present dam was built in 1 877, at a cost of from $1,200 to $1,500, and replaced one which, owing to faulty construction,
had been carried out in high water. It is a framed structure, about 250 feet long and 12 feet high, resting on a
bed of solid rock. One abutment is a natural ledge, and the other a timber crib-work filled with stone ballast.
The back-slope is longer than it was in the old dam, and the space underneath is filled in with loose rock, the
omission of which, and a too abrupt slope, are thought to have been responsible for the failure of the first
structure. The dam sets back the river for about 2J miles. A canal perhaps 1,500 feet long and 30 feet wide
runs to the factory, and on the way supplies power to a small saw mill, 3 cotton-gins, and a 2-run grist-mill. At
the cotton factory the fall is 16 feet ; three Eisdon turbines, with an aggregate of 300 rated horse-power, are
employed, and about 250 horse-power is estimated to be actually in use. For four months in the year the supply
of water runs short, and steam-power has then to be resorted to in part. The drainage area of the river above
the Tryon factory is 160 square miles.
Cedar creelc empties into the Coosa from the south a few miles above the Chattooga river, and drains an area of
225 square miles lying in Polk and Floyd counties, Georgia. It is a short mountain stream, with a length of only
22 miles, and at Cedartown, at which point its drainage area amounts to 80 square miles, averages about 70 feet in
width and 4 feet in depth, and has a good current. Like the Chattooga, it is very rapid in rise and fall. But a short
time before it was visited, in the spring of 1881, it had risen, overflowed its banks, damaged the hydraulic canal
at Cedartown, and receded within its channel again, all in the space of twelve hours. During the same season the
city of Eome was partially inundated by high water from the Etowah and Oostenaula rivers, at the junction of which
it is situated. Northwestern Georgia is an elevated region, having an estimated average altitude of 750 feet above
the sea. It is frequently visited by very heavy rains in winter and spring, and most of the streams are liable at
such times to overflow their banks extensively in those portions of their courses where they are not kept within
bounds by high banks or a large slope.
Cedar creek falls quite rapidly, is tolerably well sustained in the dry season, and offers good unimproved
sites for power. It is also considerably used by small mills, but the only manufacturing of importance is at
Cedartown, where are the extensive works of the Cherokee Iron and Railroad Company. This company was started
in 1872, and has now made an investment of over $600,000 at Cedartown and vicinity. It owns a very large
tract of land, and is also proprietor of a 3-foot narrow-gauge railroad running 35 miles to Cartersville, said to
be very profitable from the outside business obtained, as well as a great convenience to the company, since at
Cartersville it is brought into connection with the Western and Atlantic railroad. The narrow-gauge road
passes close by one of the company's ore-beds and extends 5 miles to another. The Cherokee company manufactures
pig-iron for market, and also makes the rolling-stock for its railroad. Iu its furnaces it had produced, previously
to the spring of 1881, 22 tons of pig-iron per day, under a pressure of from If to 2 pounds per square inch, and the
capacity was then increased to 35 tons, under a pressure of from 4 to 4£ pounds.
A fall of 4 feet, obtained by a dam across Cedar creek, is utilized for power at the company's shops. The dam is
substantially built. of limestone laid in hydraulic cement. It is about 70 feet long, 10 feet high, and 5 feet thick both
at base and top ; it was constructed in 1873 at a cost of $5,300. Water is conveyed from above the dam in a canal
500 or 600 feet long, and supplies two water-wheels, yielding together about 70 horse-power ; this is used in a 3-run
grist-mill, blacksmith-shop, wood-working shop, machine-shop, and foundery, wire cables being employed to
transmit a part of the power from one shop to another. The volume of water is always sufficient to furnish the
power required in these works, but in dry weather there is no surplus.
Minor tributaries of the Coosa river (in order below Borne).
Name of stream.
Cedar creek ,
Spring creek
Chattooga river
Little river
Terrapin creek
Ball Play creek
Big Wills creek
Canoe creek
Tallassee Hatchee creek (Calhoun county) . .
Cane creek
Broken Arrow creek
Cheekeleeke creek at Silver run
Cheekelecke creek helow Chehawhaw creek
Cheekeleeke creek at mouth
Drainage
area.
Sq. mile*.
225
115
375
310
276
73
413
281
217
114
85
225
421
486
Name of stream.
Kelley's creek ...
Talladega creek
Tallassee Hatchee creek (Talladega county) . .
Yellow Leaf creek (Shelby county)
Hatchet creek at Hanover <
Hatchet creek below Pinthlocco creek
Hatchet creek at mouth
Pinthlocco creek (tributary of Hatchet creek)
Weogufka creek (tributary of Hatchet creek)
Waxahatchee creek
Chestnut creek
Wewoka creek
Elmore (?) creek
Drainage
area.
Sq.
miles.
200
193
168
170
196
381
521
84
105
238
98
92
114
852
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
15
THE ETOWAH (a) RIVER.
Rising upon the southern slope of the Blue ridge, in northern Lumpkin county, Georgia, this river pursues a
westerly course to the Coosa at Rome, passing in the mean time over portions of the counties of Lumpkin. Dawson,
Forsyth, Cherokee, Bartow, and Floyd. The section drained comprises 1,940 square miles, and above Cartersville
it Is but thinly settled ; this upper portion, however, has valuable mineral resources, of which the most important are
iron, manganese, and gold. Baryta and kaolin are also found, as well as traces of silver, copper., and plumbago,
but there is no coal. The valleys are well stocked with timber, and below Cartersville the main valley, which above
is quite narrow except where at intervals a patch of a few hundred acres of bottom-land is found in a bend of the I
river, widens out and contains fine stretches of extremely productive land, which is largely cultivated in grain and )
cotton. The railroad facilities are good along the lower river, but in the portion farther up, which is best suited to
use for power, the stream is directly accessible by railroad at Canton only, to which point there extends a short road
from Marietta, to the southward. There is no navigation on the river. A government survey was made in the
summer of 1879 to determine upon the probable expense of establishing a navigable channel ; but it was found that
an improvement by locks and dams — the only practicable method — would cost $2,277,000 for the 63 miles from Rome
to the mouth of Little river, and an adverse report was therefore made, it being considered that a heavy outlay of
money was not at all warranted by the business likely to be furnished, (b) Above the mouth the largest towns are
Kingston and Cartersville, in Bartow county, having respectively about 500 and 2,000 inhabitants, and Canton, in
Cherokee county, with a population of 400.
In its lower course the fall of the river averages about 3.7 feet per mile, amounting to 232 feet in the 03 miles
below Little river. This descent is not uniform, however, being distributed among reefs and rapids, with short
intervening pools. From Cartersville up, the Etowah is quite closely hemmed in by mountains, which rise
rapidly from its banks, and which, being thickly covered with pines, except where an occasional precipitous crag
shows itself, bare of vegetation, give rise to very picturesque scenery. The water of the stream was once
remarkably clear, but cultivation of the soil and washing the hill-sides for gold have given it a generally turbid
appearance. The oscillations are very rapid and heavy after rains, owing to the steep drainage slopes, and the full
height of a freshet is often reached in a few hours. As reported in the government survey, the highest rises have
ranged from 12 feet in the upper course to 28 feet at Rome. The lower bottom-lands toward the mouth are liable
to overflow, but in the upper and more rapid portion of its course the river seldom rises at all above its immediate
banks.
In a list of gaugings of various of the Georgia streams,(c) the discharge of the Etowah at the mouth of
Allatoona creek, in Bartow county, is given as 1,308 cubic feet per second in minimum low water, corresponding to
1.08 cubic foot per second for each of the 1 ,213 square miles of drainage area above that point. This discharge certainly
appears too large for the stage mentioned, being more than half as great as the volume assumed, on good
authority, for average low water at the mouth of the Coosa, although the drainage area there is nearly nine times
as great as at the locality mentioned on the Etowah river. Lieutenant Marshall, Corps of Engineers, U. S. army,
in his report upon the survey of the river states that " at low water its discharge is slight".
In Lumpkin county the Dahlonega Gold Mining Company has constructed a ditch 3 feet deep, 3£ feet wide at
the bottom, and 30 miles in length, to serve the purposes of hydraulic mining. Water is taken from several small
creeks tributary to the upper Etowah, and will supply 5 mines with 25 miner's inches (d) each.
The fall of the river is rapid in its upper course, and those familiar with the valley consider that it there presents
numerous good sites for power, favorable for development and accessible. Between the point where the public
road from Dahlonega to Dawsonville crosses, and Simmons' mill-pond, a distance of some 12 miles by road, there
is stated to be a fall of 210 feet. Of this amount only 28 feet is utilized, part by a saw-mill, grist-mill, and tannery
combined, and part by a 10-stamp mill of the Dahlonega mine ; there are several other points, however, which are
available for use. The Franklin mine, in Cherokee county, takes power from the Etowah for a 20-stamp mill, usiug,
it is said, a fall of about 15 feet. A narrow-gauge line to run from Gainesville, on the Atlanta and Charlotte Air
Line railroad, to Dahlonega had been surveyed and partly graded in the spring of 1881, and if completed will be
of great advantage to the extreme upper part of the river. Efforts were about to be made also for the establishment
of a cotton factory in this section, it being claimed that the cheapness of water-power, land, fuel, and rents would
permit of more profitable manufacture, even with the expense of shipping by team to and from Gainesville, than at
Atlanta. Such an enterprise would be of much value in giving employment to the families of the men engaged at
the mines. Farther down stream, at High Tower, in Forsyth county, two mills, one of 10 and one of 20 stamps, were
reported to have been projected-; but, except at the points mentioned and at an occasional site elsewhere occupied
by a small saw mill or grist-mill, no actual use was found to be made of the power of the river.
a Indian pronunciation, E-to-wah', meaning in Cherokee "beautiful water".
b See Report of Chief of Engineers, 1880. /
c See The State of Georgia, by Francis Fontaine.
d A miner's inch is said to be taken as the discharge through a 1-inch aperture under a head of 6 inches, or about 17,000 gallons per
24 hours.
853
16 WATEE-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
The descent of the Etowah for a considerable distance below Little river, as determined by government survey,
is shown in the following table :
Table shoicing the fall in the Etowah river for 41.4 miles below the mouth of Little river.
-Locality-
Distance
below
Little river.
Distance
between
points.
Fall
between
points.
Fall per
mile
between
points.
Miles.
Miles.
Feet.
Feet.
0. 000
1 9. 091
19.0
2. 09
Boundary between Cherokee and Bartow counties .
9. 091
| 1. 136
2.5
2.20
Head of Maddox island
10. 227
| 1. 800
18.5
10. 28
Foot of Pugb's island
12. 027
| 1. 231
22.0
17. 87
6,500 feet below Pugb's island
13. 258
| 0. 624
10.5
16. 83
Stamp creek
13. 882
| 1. 270
27.5
21.65
15. 152
| 0.946
11.0
11. 63
11,700 feet below Stamp creek
16. 098
| 1. 781
1.5
0.84
Western and Atlantic Railroad bridge
17. 879
I 23. 541
a 67. 5
2.87
41.420
a Fall quite uniformly distributed .
It will be noticed that from the boundary between Cherokee and Bartow counties down to the Western and
Atlantic Railroad crossing there is a heavy fall, amounting to 92 feet in 7 miles of the distance. This portion of
the stream, lying but a few miles to the east of Cartersville, offers perhaps the most valuable power to be found
anywhere on the course, and before the war was largely utilized by extensive manufacturing works, which stretched
for half a mile along the river, and which represented an investment of $500,000 or more. There were three blast-
furnaces, a rolling-mill, a foundery, a nail factory, and a flouring-mill with a capacity of 300 barrels per day. The
flouring-mill and rolling-mill are said to have been the first of any importance established south of Richmond.
Previously New York flour, known here as " Canal flour", had monopolized the southern markets, and in this
section commanded $20 per barrel ; but with this the new product competed, with the greatest success, in all the
southern markets, and finally in New York city. Immediately preceding the war, arrangements had been completed
between Major M. E. Cooper, owner of the property on the Etowah, and still residing near by, and Colonel Samuel
Colt, of Hartford, Connecticut, to engage jointly in the manufacture of fire-arms at the locality here described,
but the breaking out of hostilities prevented the removal of any part of Colonel Colt's wotks, although it is stated
that the necessary papers had been signed, and that a month more of time would have seen the undertaking
carried out. In 1864, during Sherman's campaign, the buildings here were all burned, and only the ruins of what
were very substantial structures now remain.
The property embraces 15,000 (?) acres of land, extending more than 5 miles along the Etowah river, on both sides,
and probably covering a fall of at least 80 feet on that stream, though the exact amount could not be ascertained.
It also includes Allatoona and Stamp creeks, tributaries of the Etowah, each with large fall and abundant power-
Running from the old works down the river-bank to the line of the Western and Atlantic railroad was a branch
track, the graded line of which still remains in good condition, and which, though now without ties or rails, might
easily be put in condition for traffic. The property is owned by an incorporated company, the Etowah Manufacturing
& Mining Company, with offices in Savannah, and is offered for sale, in one piece only, at a nominal price of $100,000.
Estimate of power at the Etowah Mining & Manufacturing Company's privilege.
Stage of river.
RAINFALL ON BASIN.
Drainage
area.
Flow
per second,
average
for the 24
hours.
Theoretical horse-power.
Spring.
Summer.
Autumn.
Winter.
Year.
Low water, dry year
Low water, average year
Available 10 months, average year
Inches.
} *
.
Inches.
13
Inches.
10
Inches.
15J
Inches.
53i
Sq. miles.
1, 060
Cubic feet.
f 370
J 560
[ 750
1 footfall.
42.0
63. 6-
85.2
10 feet fall.
420
636
852
20 feet fall.
840
1, 272
1,704
80 feet fall.
3, 360
5, 088
6,816
The large fall in this section of the river occurs where the latter has cut its way through a spur of the Blue ridge.
The stream flows with rapid current and almost constant ripples, now and then pitching abruptly over a low ledge.
The bed is generally rock and contains numerous large bowlders, and here and there a small island appears. The
average width between banks is probably 200 or 300 feet, although in places it increases to 500 or GOO feet. As the
power was formerly developed there were two dams across the river, built of logs, each structure 10 feet high ; they
were about half a mile apart, the upper dam at the rolling-mill and the lower at the flouring-mill. The entire SO
feet or more of fall could perhaps best be improved in several successive privileges of say 20 feet each. The
abundance of timber and stone should render the expense for dams reasonable, and perfectly secure foundations
854
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
17
could be obtained without difficulty. The ground rises rather abruptly on the south side of the river ; the old
works were on the north side, where the immediate bank is succeeded by a level stretch, elevated from 8 to 20
feet above the water and extending back from 75 to 150 feet before reaching the abrupt ascent of the mountain.
The power to be obtained here is large, and the site well deserves attention.
Ho power was learned of as in use below Cartersville. There had been a dam and a small grist-mill a short
distance down from the Western and Atlantic Eailroad crossing, but they were in the main carried away during
the exceptionally high freshet in the spring of 1881. For the remainder of the distance to its mouth the river has a
quite uniform and moderate slope, with an average width of perhaps 250 feet. The bed is rocky, and the banks
are of tolerably good height. This part of the stream is more under the influence of backwater than that above,
but could probably be utilized for falls of from 5 to 8 feet.
The tributaries of the Etowah are small, no one draining more than 240 square miles. A list of the principal
ones is given below. The districts through which they run abound in large springs and brooks of fine " freestone
water", and are well adapted to the cultivation of cotton, corn, wheat, oats, barley, fruits, and vegetables. Although
the streams are not large, many of them have sufficient volume and fall to support manufacturing works of some
importance, at least during the greater part of the year. Stamp creek has one or two small furnaces, and there
is a small cotton factory on Shoal creek.
Drainage areas of the Etowah river and principal tributaries.
Name of stream.
Etowah river at Aurama, Lumpkin county
Etowah river at High Tower, Forsyth county
Etowah river at Canton, Cherokee county
Etowah river below Shoal creek
Etowah river at Etowah Iron Works
Etowah river below Allatoona creek
Etowah river near Cartersville (railroad crossing)
Etowah river at mouth
Armacolola creek
Drainage
area.
Sg. miles.
100
356
677
769
1,060
1,213
1, 226
1,940
116
Name of stream.
Mountain creek
Shoal creek
Little river
Allatoona creek
Pettis creek
Pumpkin Vine creek
Kaccoon creek •.
Euharlee creek
Two-Kun creek t
Drainage
area.
Sg. miles.
77
66
239
100
56
131
60
205
47
THE OOSTENAULA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES.
The Oostenaula river n which unites with the Etowah at Eome to form the Coosa, is in turn made up, near Eesaca,
in Gordon county, Georgia, by the junction of the Coosawattee and the Conasauga. It flows thence in a crooked
southwesterly course, having a length of about 60 miles. It is navigable, but is very little navigated. The area
drained above its head is 1,000, and above the junction at Eome 2,190 square miles.
The Coosawattee river heads in Gilmer county, Georgia, running southwesterly to Eesaca. For 45 miles above
its mouth, to Carter's Landing, the river is navigable during six months in the year, and some work has been done
by government engineers in improving the channel, but the actual amount of traffic carried on is slight. In this
45 miles the fall is moderate and the stream winds about among exceedingly rich bottom-lands, on which corn,
wheat, and cotton are raised. Just above Carter's Landing the meadows cease and the river issues from a narrow
valley in the mountains. Here is met the first dam, a log structure 400 feet, more or less, in length and 8 feet
high. A fall of 9 feet is obtained and power used for a 2-ruu grist-mill, a saw -mill, a tannery, and a cotton-gin.
There is a large surplus power here, even with the present head, and, except that the railroad facilities are poor
(the nearest railroad station is Calhoun, on the Western and Atlantic railroad, 18 miles distant by wagon-road), the
site is well suited to more 1 extensive improvement. On one side the mountain rises several hundred feet almost
vertically from the water, while on the other side, on which the mills are located, there is a gradual ascent at first,
favorable to carrying a canal, if desired. The hill's recede immediately below and leave abundant room for mills
of any size and a village.
Estimate of power near Carter's Landing.
Stage of river.
RAINFALL ON BASIN.
Drainage
area.
Flow
per second,
average
. for the 24
hours.
Theoretical horse-
power.
Spring.
Summer.
Autumn.
Winter.
Year.
Low water, dry year
Low water, average year
Available 10 months, average year. . .
Inches.
} "
Inches.
13
Inches.
10
Inches.
15J
Inches.
53£
Sg. miles.
r
550 1
Cubic feet.
190
290
390
1 footfall.
21. 6
32.9
44.3
$ feet fall.
190
300
400
Mr. Samuel Carter, of Dalton, is the proprietor of the privilege described, and also owns for some 2 miles along
the river in this vicinity. The dam sets the water back for half a mile, beyond which the stream becomes rapid, with
hardly a stretch of smooth water more than a few hundred feet in length. A railroad survey has been extended
855
18
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
some little way above, and the fall thus ascertained is said to range from 10 feet in 900 feet to 10 feet in half or three-
quarters of a mile. For some distance above Carter's Landing the width between banks is stated to be from 200 to
300 feet, and the fall to be sufficient to furnish, within 2 miles, several privileges of about 10 feet each. At the end
of 2 miles there are two abrupt falls, one of 18 and the other of 20 feet ; but the river is described as being there so
closely wedged between high and almost vertical cliffs that it would be very difficult to improve. Above this point
the river winds its way among the mountains, which rise steep, wooded, and high directly from its banks. The bed
is mostly freestone, the fall rapid and constant, but there are no mills, certainly up to the junction of the Ellijay and
Cartecay which are the principal branches of the Coosawattee. The wagon-road which leads to Carter's mill also
extends up to the falls, and there stops, the rocky obstructions being impassable ; and for any mills using power
for some distance above, a new road would have to be constructed up over the bordering mountains, although that
is not impracticable.
This stream holds its own very well in 'the dry season, but rises and falls rapidly after heavy storms, especially
in late winter, when the ground has become thoroughly soaked ; the height of a freshet is usually reached within 12
hours from the beginning of the rise, and the fall is nearly as rapid. At Carter's Landing the water has in an
extreme case reached a height of 15 or 20 feet above a low stage, but this was largely backwater from below, and
farther up stream the rise was much less. The Coosawattee drains 929 square miles.
The Conasauga river has its source in Fannin county, Georgia, a little below the Tennessee boundary ; it takes
a short turn into the latter state and then flows southerly into Georgia again, forming the division between Murray
and Whitfield counties, and in Gordon county uniting with the Coosawattee. It drains 677 square miles, but
appears to have little importance for power. It is in general a flat stream, with rather sluggish flow, running wide
and shallow, and in summer almost dry, at any rate scarcely more than 20 feet wide in places. Toward the
extreme head-waters it has more fall, and may be of slight value. It is used by only a few scattering saw- and
grist-mills. Being rather a long stream with slight fall, it runs out much more slowly than the Coosawattee, so
that after the latter has discharged its surplus water it is liable to be kept up for some time by backwater from
the Conasauga.
Drainage areas of the Oostenaula river and tributaries.
Name of stream .
Conasauga river below Cooyehuttee creek
Conasanga river at mouth
Cooyehuttee creek (tributary to Conasauga)
Rocky creek (tributary to Conasauga)
Coosawattee river at Ellijay (below junction)
Coosawattee river at Carter's Landing (below Talking
Rock creek) -.
Coosawattee river at mouth
Drainage
area.
Sq. miles.
485
677
174
88
233
550
929
Name of stream.
MonntainJTown creek (tributary to Coosawattee)
Talking Rock creek (tributary to Coosawattee) . . .
Tree Bridge (?) creek (tributary to Coosawattee) .
Oostenaula river at Resaca (below junction)
Oostenaula river at Rome (above junction)
Adairsville (?) creek (tributary to Oostenaula)
Armucha creek (tributary to Oostenaula)
Drainage
area.
Sq. miles.
79
165
262
1, 606
2,190
76
233
Table of utilized power on tributaries of the Alabama river.
Stream.
Alabama river
Sundry small trib-
utaries.
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Tributary to what.
Mobile river ...
Alabama river.
do
do
.do
do
.do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
.do
State.
Alabama
...do ....
do .
.do .
.do
do
do
do
do
do
.do
.do
.do
.do
do
do
.do
.do
Countv.
Kind of mill or manu-
facture.
Autauga .
.do .
.do
.do
do
do
do
856
.. do ....
Baldwin .
Butler . . .
Chilton . .
Clarke . . .
Elmore . .
...do ....
Lowndes.
Marengo .
Monroe . .
Cotton .
Cot ton-gins manufactured.
Flouring and grist
Sashes, doors, and blinds.
Cotton-gins
Flouring and grist
j Flouring and grist, and
cotton gins.
Saw
...do
Flouring and grist .
...do
...do '..
...do
Saw
Flouring and grist.
...do
...do
Feet.
174
34+
173+
67
37
12
7
8
32
10+
20
15
31+
H
H. P.
250
46
174
53
120
160
B. P.
Remarks.
River navigable.
Frattville.
THE EASTER^ GULF SLOPE.
Table of utilized power' on tributaries of the Alabama river — Continued.
19
Stream.
Sundry small trib-
utaries.
Do
Cahaba river and
tributaries.
Do
Do
Do
Do
Tallapoosa river .
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do...
Tributaries
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Coosa river
Sundry small trib-
utaries.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do
Tributary to what.
Alabama river .
.do
.do
.do
.do
do
.do
.do
do
.do
do.
.do
do
State.
Alabama
do
...do
...do
...do
...do
Tallapoosa river .
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
..do
...do
Alabama river . . .
.do
.do
.do .
do
.do .
do .
.do .
do
do .
do
do .
.do
...do ....
...do ....
Georgia. .
...do ....
... do ....
.. do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
Alabama .
... do ....
... do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
....do ....
... do ....
...do ....
...do ....
... do ....
... do ....
...do ....
...do ....
Coosa river do
..do .
..do .
..do .
. do .
..do .
..do .
.do
..do .
. do .
..do .
.do
..do
..do
..do
..do
..do
.do
..do
..do
..do
. do
.do
..do .
..do .
.do
..do .
..do .
..do .
. do .
..do .
..do .
. do .
.do
..do
.do
..do
..do
..do
.do
. do
..do
..do
..do
..do
..do
..do
County.
Monroe .
Wilcox .
Perry . . .
Bibb...
Sbelby.
...do ....
Jefferson.
Elmore . .
.. do ....
.'. .do ....
...do ....
...do ....
Kind of mill or manu-
facture.
Saw
Flouring and grist .
...do
.do .
.do
do
...do
Tallapoosa .
Haralson . .
...do
Paulding . .
Haralson . .
...do
Carroll
...do
...do ......
...do ......
...do
Macon
Bullock....
Elmore
...do
Tallapoosa.
Lee -
...do
Chambers .
Clay
...do
Cleburne . .
Randolph . .
...do
....do
Saint Clair.
Elmore
Saw
Flouring and grist
Cotton
Cotton gin
Carpenter-shop
Flouring and grist
Foundery and blacksmith
shop.
Pump for village water-
supply.
Saw
Flouring and grist
....do
Saw
Flouring and grist
....do
Saw
Cotton-gin
Flouring and grist
Saw
Tannery
Woolen
Flouring and grist
....do
....do
Cotton-gin
Flouring and grist
...do
Furniture works
Flouring and grist
....do
Saw
Flouring and grist
....do
Saw
Wheel wrighting
Flouring and grist
....do
- - -do Cotton-gins .
Coosa Flouring and grist.
— do Saw
Shelby I Flouring and grist.
...do
...do
Talladega
...do
...do
Clay
...do
Saint Clair. . .
...do
Calhoun
...do
... do
Cleburne
...do
Etowah
De Ejilb
...do
Cherokee
...do
Saw
Tannery
Flouring and grist.
Saw
Blacksmith-shop . . .
Flouring and grist.
Saw
... do
Flouring and grist.
...do
Saw
Tanneries
Flouring and grist.
Saw
Flouring and grist.
....do
Saw
....do
Tannery
Number of mills.
Total fall utilized.
Total water-power
utilized.
Feet.
H.P.
3
27
35
4
15+
65
7
51
48
•
4
374
59
7
. 62
144
1
10
8
3
30
39
1
1
1
1
1
'24-32
900 ±
1
1
1
9
10
3
16
67
•
1
7
12
1
10
10
7
711
92
1
6
5
1
6
10
142+
151
3
32
36
1
24
6
2
20
/ 9
3
36+
33
1
27
8
5
72
112
1
30
8
144
118
3
67J
74
1
8
6
8
103
98
14
128+
168
3
32
38
9
74
91
13
171
291
3
42
65
1
7
15
1
3J
15
4
32+
104
2
18
15
253
282
3
61
51
9
101
185
2
30
41
1
11
39
10
564
264
4
23
57
1
6
6
7
65
89
2
17
33
4
41
115
4
46
68
12
1164
261
2
18
25
2
11
18
4
36
67
1
8
5
8
924 +
180
5
45J
44
1
44
8
2
14
28
1
8
5
II
r
H.P.
25
35
Remarks.
Three of these are on the Ca-
haba and East branch.
East Cahaba.
Head-waters of main river.
Tallassee falls ; over 1,100 rated
horse-power of wheels in
place.
857
20
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
Table of utilized power on tributaries of the Alabama river — Continued.
Stream.
Sundry small trib-
utaries.
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Etowah river
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Tributaries
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Oostenaula river. . .
Coosawattee river
and tributaries.
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Conasauga river
and tributaries.
Do
Do
Do
Do
Other tributaries ..
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Chattooga river
and tributaries.
Do.
Do
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Tributary to what.
Coosa river .
...do
....do
...do
....do
....do
...do
....do
...do
...do
...do '.
...do
...do .'
...do
...do
...do
...do
Etowah river
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do :
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
Coosa river
Oostenaula river.
State.
Alabama
...do
...do .
..do
...do
...do .
...do .
...do .
...do .
...do .
...do .
Georgia.
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
... do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
..do ...
...do ...
...do ...
.. do ...
...do ....
...do ...
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ...
...do
— do f
...do
...do
...do
..do
...do
...do
.. do
...do
...do
Coosa river .
..do
..do
..do
..do
.do .
..do
.do .
.do
do
.do
.do .
do .
.do .
do .
do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
do .
do .
.do .
.do .
do .
.do .
.do .
do .
...do ....
..do ....
...do ....
...do ....
Alabama.
...do ....
County.
Kind of mill or manu-
facture.
Cherokee .
Floyd.
...do .
Flouring and grist.
...do
Saw . .
.do | Woolen.
... do ....
Polk
....do ....
....do ....
...do ....
....do ....
Dawson . .
....do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do
...do ....
...do
Polk
Floyd
Bartow . .
Paulding
...do
...do
Cobb
Cherokee
...do
...do
Pickens . .
...do
...do
Milton
...do
...do
Dawson. ..
...do
Bartow .
Gilmer. .
Gordon .
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
Pickens
...do ...
...do ...
. do ...
Murray .
Cotton-gins
Blacksmith-shop
Flouring and grist
Machine-shopandfoundery
Wood -working shop . . .
Flouring and grist
Carpenter-shop
Flouring and grist
Saw
Tannery
Stamp-mill
Flouring and grist
Saw
Flouring and grist
....do
...do
...do
Saw
Woolen
Flouring and grist
...do
Cotton
Saw
...do :
Furniture
Flouring and grist
...do
Wheel wrighting
Saw
Flouring and grist
Woolen
Flouring and grist .
.do
Flouring and grist
Cotton-gin *
Saw
Tannery
Cotton
Flouring and grist
Saw
Woolen
Flouring and grist
.. do
Whitfield
...do
...do
Bartow
...do
Chattooga
...do
...do
Floyd
Gordon
Chattooga
...do
...do
...do
...do
Cherokee .
...do
Saw
....do
Flouring and grist.
Boots and shoes . . .
Flouring and grist .
Woolen
Cotton-gin
Flouring and grist.
Saw
Flouring and grist
...do
Cotton
Cotton-gins
Flouring and grist.
Saw
Woolen
Flouring and grist.
Iron-works
Feet.
R.P.
149
196
183
204
37
43
15J
17
23
20
125
18
83
42
30
16
156
107
24
12
26
195
25*
78
54
15
179
28
12
68
38
It
18
141
12
18
93
28
20
161J
7
56
17
10
74
43
24
43
16
24 +
92
63
13$
21J
TO
138
58
50
27
40
47
318
79
34
4
26
187
66
64
50
20
129
16
6
74
40
74
48
160
&6
H. P.
432
116
10
20
105
30
22
151
6
52
13
7
112
50
141
24
300
40+
145
102
8
60
Remarks.
Cedartown.
River navigable.
858
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
21
THE APPALACHICOLA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES.
Being a navigable river, the Appalachicola is not itself to be considered with reference to water-power. It is
formed on the northern boundary between western Florida and Georgia by the union of the Chattahoochee and
Flint rivers. From their junction it runs in a southerly direction to the Gulf, having a length, by st»aight course,
of about 70 miles.
Drainage areas.
Square miles.
Chattahoochee river 9, 100
Flint river 8,420
Appalachicola river below j unction 1 .*. 17, 520
Appalachicola river at mouth 19, 580
THE CHATTAHOOCHEE EIVEE.
The sources of this river are in Habersham and White counties, in northern Georgia, whence it takes a very
direct southwesterly course across the state ; in Heard and Troup counties it turns southerly, and continues in that
direction until at the extreme southwest corner of the state it unites with the Flint river. From West Point down
it forms the boundary between Georgia on the one side, and Alabama and a portion of Florida on the other.
From the junction of the Soquee and Sautee rivers to its mouth the Chattahoochee has a length by general course
of about 315 miles, but the actual distance by water is probably twice as great. Eising and flowing as far as
Columbus upon the metainorphic rocks, the stream is frequently obstructed by shoals, rapids, and low falls, creating
valuable opportunities for the development of water-power. At Columbus the falls come to an end, 'and below that
point the river is navigable throughout the year to the Gulf, an estimated distance by water of about 400 miles,
for steamers of 2h or 3 feet draught, carrying as high as 750 bales of cotton. Immediately at the head of navigation
a fall of 25 feet is in use by large cottou-mills, and within 4£ miles there is a total descent of about 120 feet, mainly
unimproved. It is fortunate for manufacturing-purposes that the fall of the river is heaviest well down in its
course, where the volume is large and navigable waters are near at hand. Within 34 miles above Columbus,
measuring from the head of navigation, there is a fail of 362 feet, or as much as occurs in the entire 170 miles
succeeding, reaching nearly to the head-waters.
Table showing the fall in the Chattahoochee river.(a)
Locality.
Thompson's bridge, near Gainesville
Western and Atlantic Railroad crossing near Atlanta
Atlanta and West Point Railroad crossing at West Point.
fl '
('olumbus, head of navigation
Mouth of Appalachicola river
Approx-
imate dis-
tance from
Gulf.
Elevation
above
tide.(b)
Distance
between
points.
Fall
between
points.
Fall
per mile
between
points.
Miles.
C15
542
434
400
Feet.
989
762
000
238
Miles.
\ 73
] 108
] -
j 400
Feet.
227
162
3C2
.238
Feet.
3. 11
1. 50
10. 65
0.59J
a Data taken from report of survey made under direction of Major W. R. King, Corps of Engineers, U. S. army.
6 Elevations are for low-water surface of river.
Almost the entire course of the river in that portion having value for power is upon a bed of solid rock, with
scarcely any sand or gravel bars. For 30 miles above Thompson's bridge, in Hall county, there are said to be few
shoals, but farther up they appear more frequently and there is a rapid current. At Seven-Island ford, near
Beltou, the stream is wide, and there is a long shoal where it was proposed to take out water for a canal to secure
navigation by a cross route from the Mississippi to the Atlantic. A few miles from Mount Airy, in Habersham
county, there is stated to be a fall of some 75 feet in 3 miles, about 20 feet occurring in rapid pitches in a short
distance. The place is described, however, as being not especially favorable for improvement, since the river flows
between high and steep rocky bluffs; but it is said that by running a canal or a flume, at considerable expense, below
the narrows an open and very favorable site for buildings might be found.
The entire river between Thompson's bridge and Columbus, a distance of 215 miles, was surveyed in 1879 by
government engineers under the direction of Major W. E. King, and the results of their examinations are to be
found in the Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1880. The only practicable method of extendin g navigation over this
stretch was found to be by a system of locks and dams, the estimated expense of which— $4,870,000 for construction
alone— is so great that there is little probability of the work being undertaken. Over the portion of the river
surveyed the width in the narrower places gradually increases from 200 to 600 or 700 feet, while on the shoals the
width runs as high as 600 feet between Thompson's bridge and the Western and Atlantic Eailroad crossing, l,20O
859
22,
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
or 1,300 feet thence to West Point, and even reaches half a mile in places between West Point and Columbus. A
considerable portion of these extreme widths is usually taken up by islands, which are common at the shoals and are
an especially valuable feature of the river with reference to its water-power. The width and volume, anywhere
except in the extreme upper waters, are generally so great as to render the control of the entire stream too costly
except for enterprises of magnitude ; but by taking advantage of chutes or narrow channels occurring between
the islands and the main shores, or between the islands themselves, powers of much variety, both as regards fall
and volumeof water, may be secured at reasonable outlay, and sometimes at a ridiculously small expense. In the
vicinity of Columbus and West Point three powers have been obtained in the manner indicated, each serving to
run a cotton factory of 4,000 or 5,000 spindles, and farther up stream there are said to be grist-mills supplied in the
same manner.
As stated in the report of the engineers' survey, the Chattahoochee above Columbus has usually a gentle current
except where interrupted by shoals and* falls; these are frequent, however, especially in the section below West
Point. The banks are quite uniform and of good height, here and there varied by fertile bottoms, and occasionally
rising to precipitous rocky heights, as between Roswell and the Western and Atlantic Eailroad crossing. The
oscillations between low and high water are sudden and heavy, though varying, of course, according to the section
of river and the local slope. Assistant Engineer D. L. Sublett, of the government surveying party, mentions that
early in January, 1879, there was a rise of 14 feet in 12 hours at Thompson's bridge. The extreme oscillation at
that point is given as 24 feet; at Garner's bridge, 17 feet; at Eoswell bridge, 11 feet; at the Atlanta and West
Point Eailroad crossing, 25.6 feet; and at Columbus, below the falls, 42 feet.
Very little, comparatively, of the great power offered by the Chattahoochee has yet been put to employment.
At Columbus are the famous Eagle & Phoenix mills, and moderate powers are also in use in that city and the vicinity
by two other cotton-mills, and by an equal number near West Point, carrying a few thousand spindles each. Farther
up stream there are reported to be occasional grist-mills, but the entire aggregate of power utilized on the river
is insignificant in proportion to the amount available. The freedom from ice and drift is a favorable feature of
this stream. Its supplies are largely derived from springs, which give it a tolerably uniform flow. The very large
fall occurring within 30 miles or so of the head of navigation, and indeed even within 5 miles; the situation in the
midst of a cotton-growing section; the possession of an extremely healthful climate by the adjoining country, and
the impetus already gained by the establishment of successful enterprises, should combine to render that portion
of the river of great future importance in cotton-manufacturing. It is to be borne in mind also that the state of
Georgia exempts from taxation for 10 years all new mills devoted to that industry. One present disadvantage to
the development of power is the lack of suitable railroad facilities for the immediate river. The latter is crossed
by lines at Columbus, West Point, northwest of Newman, and a few miles from Atlanta, but is nowhere else directly
reached by railroad above the head of navigation; and though for 180 miles above West Point its general course is
followed by the Atlanta and West Point and the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line railroads, yet they are usually at
distances from it of from 4 to 10 miles.
The only places of special importance immediately upon the river are Fort Gaines and Eufaula, on the lower
course, with populations of 900 and 3,800, respectively; Columbus with 10,000, and West Point with 1,200. The
country drained is rich, and is fairly well settled along the railroads. It bears a large amount of timber, including
the long leafed .pine, white oak, hickory, chestnut, poplar, and in southwestern Georgia cedar and cypress also.
The bottom-lands along the river yield valuable crops of corn and cotton. In the upper basin, particularly in the
section drained by the Sautee and Chestatee branches, in the Nacoochee and Yahoola valleys, hydraulic gold-
mining is extensively and profitably conducted. Copper is said to be found to some extent in Carroll and Fulton
counties, and iron in Harris county.
Power at Columbus and vicinity. — The shoals and rapids which characterize all the upper river, and which
are formed by the hard metamorphic rocks belonging to this part of the Appalachian system, reach the southern
boundary of that extensive range and cease at Columbus. A few hundred feet below the Eagle & Phoenix dam
the last outcrop appears, and it is said that no rock is to be seen on the river below. The material over which the
stream takes its final plunges is granite and gneiss, claimed to be much harder than Quincy granite, and rendering
difficult and expensive the construction of hydraulic works. The immediate banks in this vicinity are in general
high, steep, and rocky, rising farther back to hills, beyond which stretches, on the Georgia side at least, a leyel
tract well cultivated in corn and cotton.
The fall which is usually classed as lying near Columbus begins at a point some 4 miles above the city, on
property owned by the Columbus Manufacturing Company. A fall of 48 feet 8 inches is covered by its possessions,
which extend for a mile along the stream. (a) The only improvement of this fall is by the company itself, which
manufactures sheetings and shirtings, utilizing 18 feet and about 150 horse-power. At the site of its factory the
river spreads out to a width of from a quarter- to a half-mile, is full of rapids, and is dotted by numerous rocky
islands. The banks are generally abrupt, and are perhaps from 75 to 150 feet high. Advantage has been taken of
an old slough of the river on the east side, and, by throwing a few logs across between a couple of islands, sufficient
a The ownership of property on the Georgia side also extends by law to high- water mark on the Alabama side.
860
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
23
■water has been diverted to the mill, below which the continuation of the channel of the slough serves as a tail-race.
The Columbus Manufacturing Company has a capital stock of $250,000, and runs 4,100 spindles and 134 looms. It
is considered that, by building a dam across the river farther up stream within the company's lines, water could
conveniently be brought down the Georgia side in a canal, and the greater part of the fall, if not the entire amount,
rendered available for manufacturing. The dam need not be more than 4 feet high, and would rest upon a
natural ledge which crosses the river.
The next below is known as the "Cooke privilege" and is entirely unimproved. It embraces a total fall of about
38 feet, which is naturally divided into two falls of 26 and 12 feet, respectively. The upper fall, of 26 feet, is formed
by a long shoal. At its foot a natural dam, perhaps 8 or 10 feet high, extends out from the Georgia side, opposite
a precipitous point called Lover's Leap, nearly to the Alabama shore. A channel is left on that side, through which
the whole ordinary flow of the stream rushes, afterward following along the lower face of the obstructing ledge,
nearly to the Georgia side, when it turns south again and passes on toward Columbus. If the Cooke privilege were
to be improved in two separate falls a dam would probably be built upon the upper shoal and a canal run down
the Georgia bank. To take advantage of the lower fall the channel on the Alabama side, opposite Lover's Lea]),
would naturally be closed or cut off from above, and water carried in a flume from the Georgia end of the natural
dam a short distance down the bank. It is thought that a fall of 20 feet could thus be secured, and the slough in
the river would serve as a tail-race. It is considered by good judges, however, that the best plan would be to
develop the privilege as a whole, by bringing water down from the upper shoal far enough to render available the
entire fall. In any case this power would probably prove an expensive one to develop thoroughly, and, on account
of the high, steep, and rocky banks, is not favorably situated for use. It has been suggested that power might be
transferred to the top of the banks from below by cable; but although this plan might answer for powers of moderate
size, say 100 horse-power or less, experience elsewhere seems to indicate that for those of as high as 200 or 300 horse-
power it is not well suited. As regards transportation, either of three courses is open; goods may be transferred
by team half a mile to and from the North and South Georgia narrow-gauge railroad, or a spur-track may be
carried that distance, or a track may be run a mile or two down the river-bank to Columbus. The privilege here
described is for sale, and is worthy of careful attention.
The third privilege in order is occupied by Phillips' grist-mill, carrying 8 runs of stones and using about 100 horse-
power. The dam was built in 1871, and cost about $4,000. It is a framed structure resting on a rock foundation,
and is probably 500 feet or more in length by an average of 8 feet in height. The fall obtained at the mill commonly
ranges from 6 to 8 feet, according to the stage of water. The rapid fall in the river above prevents much of a rise
in that section during freshets; but at Phillips' mill we come within the influence of backwater from the lower river,
though trouble from this source is not of long duration.
The remaining privilege to be noticed, and the one which brings us to the smooth water marking the head of
navigation, is owned by the Eagle & Phoenix Manufacturing Company, and embraces a fall of about 25 feet.
Cotton-manufacturing was begun here as early as 1850. The first dam was carried away, but the present one, built
in 1865, has stood securely. It is a framed structure of the usual pattern, with a back-slope of perhaps 35 degrees.
It is some 700 or 800 feet in length, and for the greater part of that distance ranges from 5 to 15 feet in height,
according to the contour of the river-bed ; but in one place the height above foundation is probably 30 or 40 feet.
It rests throughout upon rock and has heavy masonry abutments. It originally ran quite directly across the
river, but the washing of the bank on the Alabama side rendered it necessary to extend the dam with an offset
up stream. The main mill of the Eagle & Phoenix company is on the Georgia side just below the dam. Its
other mills, and the mill of the Muscogee Manufacturing Company, which leases power, are located at intervals along
the bank above, opposite the pool formed by the dam. Between the mills and the pool runs the tail-race, protected
on the river side by a splendid masonry wall perhaps 8 or 10 feet wide at the top. Spanning this race are heavy
timber flumes conveying water from the pool to the mills. As has been stated, the extreme hardness of the rock
at this point rendered work expensive, and the cost of the dam and the race-wall alone is estimated to have been
$125,000.
The Muscogee mill, the uppermost along the race, uses a fall of 11 or 12 feet, and 130 or 140 horse-power;
4,500 spindles are run in the manufacture of sheeting, shirting, duck, and cottonade. The remainder of the
privilege is occupied by the works of the Eagle & Phoenix company, comprising three principal mills and a large
dye-house. This concern started up since the war, and in the spring of 1881 had a capital stock of $1,250,000, a surplus
of $550,000, and a total investment of $1,925,000. There were at that time in employment 1,800 hands, and 53 bales
of cotton, of 450 pounds each, were used per week. The machinery in the mills includes 44,000 cotton-spindles, 1,530
looms, and 7 sets of cards. Colored cotton goods, woolens, and cordage are manufactured, the production of
cordage alone amounting to 3,000 pounds per day. The Eagle & Phoenix works use a total of about 1,700 horse-
power for the principal mills, under heads of 16 and 25 feet. For electric lighting a 70 horse-power wheel is
employed, and 100 horse-power is available for fire-pumps. Seven 80 horse-power boilers furnish steam, though
not for power. At the new or main mill there is a head of 26 feet, and power is taken from 4 water-wheels — Swain
turbines of 400 horse-power each. These wheels are in pairs, each pair geared upon a single shaft. Two wheels,
one of each pair, give sufficient power with a full head, but the others are for additional use during backwater.
24
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
The slope of the river is very small below this point, and freshets cause a heavy rise, commonly forcing a stoppage
of work at the mills for one or two days in the year. In the spring of 1881 there was a rise of 35 feet, and work
was suspended for 15 days.
It may be seen from what has been said that there is a large amount of undeveloped power in the vicinity of
Columbus. Its value is certainly great and the locality has important natural advantages. Considering, however,
the size of the river and the nature of its banks, the extensive improvement of the fall would demand a heavy
original outlay, and would probably be undertaken only by companies possessed of abundant capital. Hitherto
the lack of this necessary resource, and an absence of special interest in manufacturing among the people of this
section, have prevented, except in the notable instance of the Eagle & Phcenix company, the formation of such
enterprises as the splendid powers to be obtained would warrant. As nearly as can be ascertained, the fall in that
part of the river lying near Columbus is as follows:
Fall in the Chattahoochee river within about four miles of navigable water at Columbus.
Section of river.
Fall.
Remarks.
Feet.
Columbus Manufacturing Company's property
48. 67
Only 18 feet of fall and a small part of the flow of the
river utilized.
From Cooke's upper line to head of falls at Lover's Leap.
25.95
| Entirely unimproved.
Thence to Cooke's lower line
11.63
From Cooke's lower line to surface of Phillips' mill-pond.
1.19
From Phillips' mill-pond to city line
7. 86
Small power used by grist-mill.
.Eagle & Phcenix Manufacturing Company's privilege . - .
25. 00
Utilized.
Total fall, about
120. 30
With no continued series of gaugings, and with but few data regarding the rainfall, or the flow in neighboring
rivers, it is impossible to determine with much accuracy the power corresponding to this fall, but it may be
estimated as follows :(a)
Estimate ofpoiver in the vicinity of Columbus, Georgia.
Stage of river.
RAINFALL ON
BASIN.
Drainage
area.
Flow
per second,
average
for the 24
hours.
THEORETICAL HORSE-POWER, (o)
Spring.
Summer.
Autumn.
Winter.
Tear.
1 foot fall.
8 feet fall (Phillips'
grist-mill privilege).
38 feet fall (Cooke's
privilege).
49 feet fall (Columbus
ManufacturingOom-
pany's privilege).
95 feet fall (aggregate
of Phillips', Cooke's,
and Columbus com-
pany's privileges).
120 feet fall (aggregate
within say 5 miles
of navigable water).
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Inches.
Sq. miles.
Cubic feet.
Low water, dry year ,
2, 500
284.0
2, 270
10, 790
IS, 920
26, 9S0
34, 080
Low water, average year
| 121
13
9J
14
49
4, 800 1
3, 000
340.8
2,730
12, 950
16, 70C
32, 380
40, 900
Available 10 months, average year. .
I
8, 500
397.6
3, 180
15, 110
19, 480
37, 770
47, 710
a With good wheels, from 60 to 80 per cent, of this may be realized in ordinary practice.
Power near West Point. — Above the upper line of the Columbus Manufacturing Company's property there is
an " eddy ", or quiet water, for three-quarters of a mile, and shoals then succeed for 3 or 4 miles. The river is
said to preserve this general character all the way up to West Point, there being no abrupt falls of magnitude, but
frequent rapids, constituting a valuable section for power. In this distance the river is reported to be usually wide,
probably at least 1,000 feet, flowing through a district well covered with pine timber, amid hills similar to those at
Columbus, the banks how high and steep and again low and flat. The bed is generally rocky. What is known as
Jack Todd's shoal begins about 4 miles below West Point, and extends down stream 7£ mil$s, with a fall in that
distance of 51.31 feet. In his report upon the survey of this portion of the river,(&) Mr. B. W. Frobel, assistant
engineer, states that " the river varies here from 000 feet to half a mile in width, the channel being divided by
numerous islands. The banks are high and formed of rock, and so are the islands".
Power is used at two different points on this shoal, both on the Georgia side. At the lower, distant about 7
miles by road below West Point, is the cotton factory of the Alabama & Georgia Manufacturing Company, running
a It should be stated, however, that during the construction, in 1882, of a new dam to supplant the old structure belonging to the
Eagle &. Phcenix Manufacturing Company, the river was so controlled that its volume could approximately be determined; and from a
consideration of the data thus obtained, kindly furnished to the author by Mr. John Hill, engineer in charge of the work, it is believed
that the discharge of the river has not been overestimated.
6 See Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1880 (p. 1713).
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
25
3,500 spindles and 100 looms. Some little distance up stream a dam has been thrown across between two islands
to deflect the current to the east side; another dam runs from the mill to an island adjacent and secures sufficient
water for use, though there is not commonly much surplus. Both these dams are crib-work structures partially
filled with stone. The lower is several hundred feet long, and has an extreme height above foundation of 15 or 16
feet, averaging perhaps 11 feet; it was built in 1867. About 130 horse-power is in use under a head of 9 feet.
Slight trouble is experienced from backwater, and during the spring of 1881 the mill was stopped six days from
that cause. The company has a capital stock of, in round numbers, $260,000, and manufactures 8- and 10-ounce
duck, using 9 bales of cotton per diem.
Two miles farther up stream is the next power in use. There, as at the privilege just described, the river
•is wide, studded with islands, bordered by high hills, and runs over a rocky bed. A dam has been thrown out
from the Georgia side, controlling about one-third the width of the river. It was built in 1870-73, and is quite
long, running diagonally up stream, first to one island and then to another. In construction it is a dry-stone wall,
10 or 15 feet wide at the base, 6 feet wide at the top, and averaging about 5£ feet in height. Seven feet of fall and
50 horse-power are first used at Lanier's grist-mill. A separate short canal conveys water to the cotton factory of.
the West Point Manufacturing Company, where a fall of 8 feet and 160 horse-power are obtained. This company
runs 5,000 spindles and 100 looms in the manufacture of cotton duck. At the time it was visited the mill was not
running, but was being stocked with new machinery and was expected soon to be in operation again. Both the
mills near West Point ship goods and material to and from that town, and are sometimes seriously inconvenienced
by impassable roads. ^
Above this locality we come upon a section of the river where the fall is much less rapid than below. As far*
as Franklin it is described as having a good current, with occasional shoals, banks usually of but moderate height,
and frequently low. The only use of power is by two or three small grist-mills, but it is said there are available
unoccupied sites where falls of 7 or 8 feet may conveniently be obtained. The remainder of the river above has
already been described in a general way, and there will only be added a list of the principal shoals, with their length
and fall as determined by the. government survey, and an estimate of the available power.
Estimate of power at the principal shoals in the Chattahoochee river below Thompson's bridge, Mall county (in order
passing down stream).(a)
Name or location of shoal.
Shallow ford .
Johnson's shoal
Ovcrby's shoal
Brown's Mill shoal.
Windin g shoals and Garner's Bridge
shoals.
Island shoal
Rnswell shoal
From foot of Boswell upper shoal to
foot of Bull's sluice.
Devil's race-course
Dimpaey's ferry .
Pace's ferry
Mederis shoal
Approxi-
mate
.drainage
Sq. miles.
590
600
960
1, 060
1,280
1, 300
MeTntosh'a shoals . . .
Holliugsworth's mill.
Bush-head shoal
Jackson's mill, upper shoal .
nngulev's shoal
2, 230
2,620
2, 930
Length of
shoal.
Miles.
1.04
0.68
0.06
1. 61
2.24
0.95
1. 97
2.00
2.00-1
0.98
0. 81
1. 40
0.72
0.14
0.40
1.01
0.09
Fall on
shoal.
Feet.
6. 71
3. 17
6.92
(?)16. 92
16.90
9.00
13.28
40.00
19.95
10.00
6.50
8.42
7.24
3. 51
5.17
8.85
THEORETICAL HOESE-POWEB. (6)
Low water,
dry year.
160
70
170
690
770
490
770
2, 320
1, 270
660
430
930
930
450
Low water,
average
year.
280
130
300
1, 150
1,290
820
1,240
3, 730
2, 020
1,050
690
1,330
1,340
660
Available
10 months,
average
year.
6 miles or so above Franklin,
feet wide.
Daniul sMillsho.il 1.01 8.85 1,190 j 1,710 2,130 River 1,000 feet wide at head of shoal, and 300 feet
wide just below it.
4. 73 690 900 1, 200 River 830 feet wide. Fall measured from above dam.
8.00+ 1,520 2,000 2,440 River varies from 600 to 1,300 feet in width, and is
divided by several small islands.
a Owing to the lack of time and to the difficulty of reaching the stream directly by rail, the various falls not already described could not be examined in detail.
The, estimates of power here presented in connection with the different shoals pertain to the natural fall only ; in case of the actual development of power the fall
practically available would doubtless vary materially in individual cases from the figures here assumed, being dependent upon the location and height of dam and
the length of canal employed.
b Based upon average flow for the 24 hours. With wheels of gocd pattern, fiom CO to 80 per cent, of the theoretical power can be realized in practice.
803
370
170
390
1, 500
1, 650
1, 060
1, 580
4, 770
2,580
1,340
. 880
1, 660
1, 680
820
1,230
2,130
1,200
2, 440
Remarks.
3 miles below Thompson's bridge. River 300 feet wide,
and divided at the upper end of the shoal by an island
1,600 feet long.
Three-quarters of a mile below Shallow ford. River
200 feet wide ; minimum depth in channel, 3 feet.
Immediately above mouth of Chestatee river. Main
river 350 feet wide.
1 or 2 miles below Chestatee river. Stream widens to
600 feet.
12 miles below Jones' ferry. River from 400 to 800 feet
wide, and channel divided by two islands.
Average width of river about 600 feet.
River varies greatly in width, and channel is divided
by many small islands. Fall given as nearly 40 feet.
The "race-course" is 2 miles below Cochran's shoal,
and the fall given is measured from the head of the
latter. At the race-course the river is 450 feet wide.
River 300 feet wide.
River 300 feet wide and tilled with sunken reefs.
32 miles or more below Western and Atlantic Railroad
crossing. River from 500 to 600 feet wide. Shoal
consists of narrow reefs separated by deep pools.
River suddenly widens from 200 to 1,200 feet.
River from 700 to 1,000
26 WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
Estimate of power at the principal shoals in the Chattahoochee river beloic Thompson's bridge, etc. — Continued.
Name or location of shoal.
Pott's shoal
Jack Todd's shoals
Three miles below Houston's ferry.
Hargett's island, and down stream
to a small island 1,000 feet below
the foot of liound island.
From the loot, of the small island
to a j.oint 4,000 feet below.
Thence down stream
Thenee down stream
Tate's shoals
Approxi-
mate
drainage
area.
Sq. milfS.
3,580
3, 820
4, 300
lulberry Creek shoals
Shoals lioui a point 4J miles up
stream down to navigable water
at Columbus.
Total of above shoals
4,460
4,800
Length of
shoal.
Miles.
0.69
7. 50
0. 19
2. 00-3. 00
0. 76
0. 66
0. 98
1. 02
2. 00
4. 25
THEORETICAL HORSE-FOWEK.
Fall on
shoal.
Feet.
5. 06
51. 31
4.00
60. 00 ±
15. 00
16.00
10. 00
22.00
30. 00
120. 00
Low water,
dry year.
528. 64 ±
980
10, 720
1,000
15, 200
3, 820
4,110
2, 590
5,700
7, 800
34, 080
Low water,
average
year.
100, 190
1, 290
13, 700
1, 230
18,010
4,690
5, 040
3,170
7, 000
9,710
40, 900
127, 050
Available
10 months,
average
year.
1,580
16, 010
1,460
22, 090
5, 550
5,960
3, 750
8, 300
11, 350
47, 710
151,810
Remarks.
A few miles above "West Point.
.Extend from a point 4 miles below West Point to reef
below Houston's ferry. River varies from 600 feet
to half a mile in width, and channel is divided by
numerous islands. Banks high and rocky. Power
used at two points by cotton factories.
The length and fall as stated for this section may not
be exact, but are given as they appear from the esti-
mates of locks and dams necessary to secure naviga-
tion. The &hoals are 15 miles or more above Co-
lumbus.
River contracts in width from 1,300 to 600 feet.
River 1,100 feet wide.
From 11 to 12 miles above Columbus. River from 600
to 700 feet wide.
1 mile below Tate's shoals. River 1,000 feet wide.
18 feet fall and moderate power obtained by wing-dam-
on upper part of shoals ; 7 feet fall and small power
used by grist-mill at Columbus ; 25 feet fall and
entire river controlled by dam of Eagle & Phoenix
mills at Columbus. Fall is otherwise unimproved.
River is wide and contains numerous islands.
Total effective horse-power returned as in use on thei
entire main river in 1880, about 2,540.
Note — The rainfall on the river basin may be taken as approximately 12J inches in spring, 13 in summer, 9* in autumn, 14 in winter, and 49 for the year.
TRIBUTARIES OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIYER.
Although the drainage basin of the Chattahoochee has a length of over 300 miles, it is in comparison
extremely narrow; at West Point it reaches a width of 35 miles, and at Columbus about 55, but elsewhere seldom
exceeds 20 or 25 miles. From the upper waters down to Coweta county the southern watfer-shed is sharply defined,
and is frequently but a few miles from the river. It passes through the city of Atlanta, the drainage of which is
divided between the Chattahoochee river, running to the Gulf, and the Ocmulgee river, to the Atlantic. The
elevated, hilly, and rocky character of the country above Columbus gives rise to numerous tributary streams which
have considerable fall and furnish good opportunities for the use of power. The lower river, from Columbus to the
mouth, is bordered by a narrow district, comparatively low and sandy, to the east of which is a region of marls and
limestones. Where the small streams flow down from the latter formation to the first there are nearly always to
be found falls — sometimes of great height — available for power. No information was gained of any important
manufacturing in this section, although there are said to be one or two small cotton-mills in operation. Above
Columbus the Chattahoochee receives thirteen tributaries draining upward of 100 square miles each, and seven
below Columbus. Of the former, the Chestatee drains the largest area— 330 square miles; while among the latter,
and indeed among all the affluents of the main river, the TJpatoi, which empties from the east a few miles below
Columbus, ranks first, with a drainage area of 500 square miles. The limited time at command forbade direct
examination of more than a very few of the affluents of the main river, but a description of some of those that
have been developed by manufacturing enterprises of importance may be of value in conveying an idea of the
probable character and capabilities of the rest.
Nichajaclc creelc is a small stream, not more than 10 miles long, emptying from the north 8 miles to the west of
Atlanta, and draining an area of 40 square miles. Its upper course lies in a rather flat country, after which it cuts
through the hills and has a rapid descent. There are numerous small saw- and grist-mills on the creek, aud power
is also used by the Concord woolen-mill, running two sets of machinery on jeans and cassiirffcres. The dam is of
rubble, without cement, and was built some 15 years ago at an estimated cost of $1,200. It is about 80 feet long, 20
feet high, aud 21 feet wide at the base. A wooden flume conveys water 100 feet to the factory, where a 21-inch
Burnham wheel is run under a fall of 21 feet. At times there is a little scarcity of water.
Soap creek lies near Marietta, to the northward from Atlanta, and is a short mountain stream running '< wl
with rapid fall over a rocky bed. Toward the mouth it ranges from 25 to 100 feet in width, averaging perhaps.
50 feet. The banks are wooded, steep, and rocky. The stream itself is rapidly swollen by heavy rains, and quickly
subsides again. Power is used for sundry small grist- and saw-mills and cotton-gins, but the only important
manufacturing is about three-quarters of a mile from the mouth, where the Marietta Paper Manufacturing Company-
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
27
has a mill. This company has a capital stock of $25,000, and manufactures news, book, and manila wrapping paper,
turning out about 1,200 pounds per day. It does not make use of wood-pulp, and it is said that very little is
employed in this section. The company owns land on both sides of the creek, embracing a fall of G5 feet in a
quarter of a mile. The privilege at the mill is improved by a framed dam with stone abutments, the overflow about
100 feet long and 10 feet high. Water is carried 400 feet in a woodei* flume, and used under a head of 22 feet on
two breast-wheels, one 27 feet high and 18 feet wide, the other 22 feet by 5 feet. About 75 horse-power is estimated
to be used, and it is thought that for six or eight months in the year 200 horse-power could be realized. During a
protracted dry season, however, the creek runs very low, and the mill is sometimes more or less short of water for a
period of three months. Much of this trouble occurs, though, at night, when water is held back in the mill-ponds
farther up stream.
Neither this stream nor Willeo creelc, which is near at hand, is of sufficient size to be indicated by name upon
ordinary maps, and their drainage areas could not therefore be determined. Although they are small, it is evident
that the aggregate of manufacturing which could be sustained by several such streams would reach very respectable
dimensions. Willeo creek is of less importance than Soap creek, and is said to run nearly dry in summer. The
only power worthy of notice is used at the Willeo mill, where a fall of some 30 feet is obtained, and about 1,200
spindles are run in the manufacture of yarns.
Yickery's creelc enters the Chattahoochee from the right, 18 miles nearly due north of Atlanta. It drains an
area of 94 square miles, including portions of Milton and Forsyth counties. Its course is entirely through a
mountainous district, and it is hemmed in much of the way by high rocky banks, wooded and steep. The stream^
is a very rapid one, a succession of leaps and slides over ledges. As might be expected, sudden and violent freshets
occur at times. In March, 1881, the creek was swollen by heavy rains to a furious torrent, with a volume estimated
to have been twice as large as had ever before been observed, and swept away most of the dams and bridges along
its course. It supplies power to the usual small saw-mills, grist-mills, and cotton-gins, besides a cotton factory
and woolen factory. The latter are compelled to ship goods and material some 15 miles by team to and from
Marietta, but a narrow-gauge spur is projected to run from Eoswell southerly to the Atlanta and Charlotte Air
Line railroad.
The lowest mill on the stream is close by the mouth, and belongs to the Laurel Mills Manufacturing Company,
having a capital stock of $34,000, and running 2 sets of cards on woolen goods, jeans, tweeds, and linseys. Water
is brought several hundred feet in a canal and wooden flume to the factory, furnishing power on the way to a small
flouring-mill. At the woolen factory a 60 horse-power wheel is used, with a fall of 19 feet. No trouble is experienced
from either low or back w,ater. This privilege was formerly improved by a framed dam, but iu 1871 this was in a
manner replaced, at an expense of $5,000, by one of dry stone, cemented, however, on the face. The stone was
laid in and upon the old dam without removing that structure. The new dam is 200 feet long and 18 feet high,
with a width of 26 feet at the base. During the heavy March freshet already mentioned, water worked around one
abutment and carried it and the bulkhead away, though the main portion of the dam was not injured.
This dam sets the stream back to the privilege occupied by the Eoswell Manufacturing Company, about a mile
and a quarter from the mouth. The company has a capital stock of $260,000, and is a large owner of property
along the creek. Its business is carried on in a fine brick factory, in which are employed 225 hands, all native
whites, some of whom have been in the constant service of the company for twenty or thirty years. The manufacture
is largely in yarns, which are shipped to Philadelphia, but also includes some colored goods — checks and plaids — as
well as sheetings and shirtings; 124 looms, of which 30 are on colored goods, and 8,400 spindles are run, and 9£
bales of cotton are used per day. The Eoswell company formerly had three dams on the stream, but the lower, near
its mill, which had been depended upon mainly for auxiliary power in low water, was carried away in the freshet
which has been described as so disastrous along Vickery's creek. The upper dam, 3 miles above the mill, is a
framed structure, and forms a pond extending back 3 miles, thus giving a large storage and furnishing a fall of 12
feet and the necessary power to a 3 run grist-miU. The main dam is of dry stone, cased with wood at the top, and
was built about 1865. It is 120 feet long, 30 feet high, 30 feet wide at the base, and runs out to an edge at the top.
From the dam, water is carried about 300 feet to the factory in a wooden flume 5 by 8 feet in size. Power is
taken from a 60-inch American wheel running under a head of 27 feet. No trouble is encountered from backwater
and very little from drought.
At Eoswell the creek has a width, where running freely, of perhaps 50 feet. There is no other important
manufacturing on its course than has been described, but there are said to be good unimproved sites for power.
The Ghestatee river, the largest tributary of the Chattahoochee above Columbus, joins that river from the north,
6 miles west of Gainesville. It heads in the counties of Lumpkin and White, besides which it drains small portions of
Hall, Dawson, and Forsyth counties. Its basin includes 330 square miles. The stream carries a large volume of water,
has a rapid fall, and is valuable for power, although utilized for that purpose by only one or two small saw-mills.
Bull's shoal is especially mentioned as offering a fine site. The width between banks is 150 or 200 feet in the lower
course, and in the eddies there is an ordinary depth of 10 or 15 feet. As with all the other mountain streams, the
freshets are sudden and heavy, with a rise of 12 or 14 feet in places. Along the stream is considerable good farming- '
1012 w p— vol 16 55 865
28
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
land, but at many points the valley is narrow and the banks rise abruptly. In the upper basin the mining of gold
is an important industry, and on the bank of the Chestatee itself a mill has been erected, with apparatus designed
for sucking up the material of the river-bed and extracting the gold.
The Yahoola river and Cane creelc, tributaries of the Ghestatee, are both small mountain streams flowing
rapidly down over rocky beds, and used almost exclusively in the operations of gold-mining. In the vicinity of
Dahlonega neither of t hem is more than about 20 feet wide. They are fed by springs, and are. tolerably steady in
flow most of the year, yet they run quite low in summer. The fall in the Yahoola from the head of the Hand canal
to a point on the river some 16 or 17 miles by road farther down, lying a short distance south of Dahlonega, is 380
feet. In the remaining 1£ mile to the Chestatee there is a fall of 30 feet, with one or two good sites for power.
Descending the Yahoola, there is first a small grist-mill, and then at Dahlonega the Benning mill, of 10 stamps;
the Singleton mill, 10 stamps; the Hand Gold Mining Company's mill, 20 stamps, and the Findley mill, 40 stamps.
These mills take power directly from the river, have timber and stone crib-work dams, as indeed the stamp-mills in
this section generally do, and employ in most cases from 10 to 20 feet of fall. Two new mills had also been
projected in the spring of 1881, of 24 and 40 stamps, respectively.
Although the stream is thus rendered very useful, its most important service is in supplying the canal of the
Hand Gold Mining Company. Water is taken out from the Yahoola some 10 miles above Dahlonega and is brought
along the side of the valley to the mines, where it is employed in washing for gold, but not for power. The
main canal follows a sinuous course of 20 miles along the hill-sides, and then divides into two principal branches,
which extend enough farther to give a total of about 40 miles of canal. Water is not drawn from the main canal,
™ut only from the branches. The former is 6 feet wide, 3 feet deep, and has a grade of 4 feet to the mile. It was
originally constructed about the year 1858, but was rebuilt soon after the war. For the most part its course lies in
earth excavation, but there is also considerable rock-cutting. Until 1868 wooden trestles were used for crossing
depressions, but they were then replaced by wooden and iron tubes. Of wooden tubing there is now in use 12,000
feet, including a single stretch a mile in length; 3,000 feet of 18-inch iron tubing is also in service. For 16 miles
from its head the canal runs down the east side of the Yahoola, and then crosses. The transit is made in an iron
tube which follows down and up the steep inclines that form the side-slopes of the valley. Over the stream which
runs at the bottom the tube is supported, through a distance of about 160 feet, by wooden piers resting on stone
foundations. The vertical depression overcome is 250 feet, and there is a fall of 6 feet between the ends of the
pipe, which in a direct line are perhaps half a mile apart. The tube is of boiler-iron, 3,000 (?) feet long, 36 inches
in diameter, and three-eighths of an inch thick at the bottom of the valley, gradually decreasing to half that
thickness at the top. ,
Tributaries of the Chattahoochee river (in order from the source).
Name of stream.
Soquee river above junction with Sautee
Sautee river above junction with Soquee
Mud creek
Chestatee river at New Bridge
Chestatee river at mouth
Suwanee creek
Vickery's creek
Nancy's and Peachtree creeks
Nickajack creek
Sweetwater creek
Camp creek
Dog river
Snake creek
Cedar creek
Wahoo creek
Sundalhatchee creek
Hillabahatchee creek :
New river
Yellow Jacket creek
Wehatkee creek
Occluheo creek
Long Cane creek
Flat Shod creek
Drainage
area.
Sq.
miles.
149
151
41
247
330
70
94
123
40
205
76
86
67
46
34
59
123
157
185
166
107
78
225
Name of stream.
Osannippa creek
Mountain creek
Big Hallewockee creek
Wacoochee creek
Mulberry creek
Standing Bock creek. . .
Bull creek
TJpatoi creek
Uchee creek
Hitchetee creek
Hannabatchee creek
Hatcbeechubbee creek.
Nochefaloctee creek . . .
Cowikee river
Barbour creek
Oketeeochenee creek ..
Pataula(?) creek
Comochechubbee creek
Colomokee creek
Yuttayabba creek
Ommussee creek
Sowahatchee creek
Drainage
area.
Sq.
miles.
127
72
98
39
225
75
70
500
325
73
98
104
52
475
95
53
425
89
82
204
189
85
At Dahlonega the main canal divides, as has been said, into two branches. The larger of these supplies the
Findley, Pennsylvania Consolidated, Bast & Ivey, Griscomb, Fish Trap, and Barlow mines, in the vicinity of
Dahlonega, and the Chicago & Georgia mine at Auraria, 6 miles below. The other branch supplies the Benning,
Hand, Hamilton, and Lockhart mines, the three former of which were not in operation at the time this locality was
8GG
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
29
visited. The total expenditure ou account of the Haud canal is estimated to have reached $300,000, although such
a canal could now be built for a very much smaller sum. The Hand Gold Mining Company sells the water to the
various users at the rate of 12 cents per day per miner's inch, taken as the flow through a 1-inch aperture under a
head of 1 inches. The operations of hydraulic mining are familiar, and a description would be out of place here.
Although the proportion of gold in the ore of this section is commonly small, the cheapness with which the latter
is treated, not exceeding from 25 to 35 cents per ton, renders mining a profitable industry.
Cane creek is similar to the Yahoola river. It has a rapid fall, which at one point becomes almost vertical
through 50 feet. It is utilized by a small flouring-inill, and also by the Barlow stamp-mill, at which 16 feet of fall
and about 60 horse-power are obtained.
THE FLINT RIVER.
Eising in western Georgia, within a dozen miles to the southward of Atlanta, this river takes a southerly course,
bending well to the eastward toward Macon, and joins the Chattahoochee near the village of that name. The
only important towns on its banks are Albany, in Dougherty county, with 3,200, and Bainbriclge, Decatur county,
with 1,100 inhabitants. From the mouth to Montezuma, a distance of 182 miles by water, the stream has been
examined by government engineers with a view to rendering it navigable, and for several years more or less work
has been performed along the lower course. The design is to secure a channel of the minimum dimensions of 100
feet width and 3 feet depth as far as Albany at least, and in 1880 the sum of $10,000 was appropriated by Congress
for improvements between Albany and Montezuma. Up to June, 18S0, inclusive, the entire appropriations to thi^
river had amounted to $37,000, and the channel had been opened to a point about 10 miles above Bainbridge.(a)
Above Albany the obstructions are snags and shallows, and, in particular, a series of rocky shoals stretching at
intervals for some 18 miles up stream from the town.
The Flint river has a length by general course of about 230 miles and drains 8,420 square miles. But of this area
not more tban 1,200 square miles, or that part lying north of Talbot count}', should be considered as contributing
to available water-power on the main river. The interests of navigation would appear to forbid the damming of
the stream below Montezuma, and above that point, as far up as Upson county, no important shoals were reported.
According to the profiles of the Central Kailroad of Georgia, between its crossings in southern Macon county
and at Montezuma, a distance by water of not less than 22 miles, there is a fall in the stream of 41 feet. (6) From
Montezuma to Albany the fall is given as, approximately, 125 feet for the 77 miles. (c) With a small average slope,
and draining a section subject to heavy winter and spring rains, the river is visited by a large freshet-rise, ordinarily
amounting to 10 or 15 feet as far north as the vicinity of Tbomaston, in Upson county, but which was stated to
have reached 25 feet in the spring of 1881. The river was visited at but one point, 8 or 10 miles from Tbomaston.
It was there found to be from 200 to 250 feet wide, flowing with a rapid current, being at the time somewhat above
a mean stage. The banks were of sand and loam, with no appearance of rock ; on one side they rose quite rapidly
to a height of 50 or 75 feet, while on the opposite side they were not more than from 10 to 20 feet high, and were
succeeded by a short stretch of bottom-laud. It was said that this description would apply to many localities
along the river in this section and below. But from the latitude of Tbomaston up stream the slope becomes greater,
the freshet-rise is less, the bed and banks display more or less rock, and there are frequent shoals with smooth water
intervening. The upper river is not directly accessible by railroad, and is utilized only in a limited way for power
by a few flouring- and grist-mills.
Drainage areas of the Flint river.
Square miles.
At Erin, southwest corner of Spalding county, below junction with Lime and Whitewater creeks 560
Above Pigeon creek, northern boundary of Talbot county 1, 190
Below Big Potato creek 1,690
At Montezuma, below Buck's creek 2, 945
At Albany 5,430
At mouth of river 8, 420
TRIBUTARIES OF THE FLINT RIVER.
As will be seen from a subsequent table, the Flint river receives two tributaries with a little over 1,000 square
miles each of drainage area, one of between 600 and 700, while the remainder range from 260 square miles down.
No special information has been obtained regarding any of these streams, excepting one or two in Upson county,
but they do not appear to be used for important manufacturing. Above Thomaston they lie in the region of
metamorphic rocks, and below mainly among the limestones and marls.
In a letter to the assistant engineer in charge of the Flint River survey (d) the secretary of the Albany board
a Report of the Chief of Engineers, lfc80.
6 Elevations above tide, 306 and 265 feet, respectively.
c Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1879 (p. 820).
d Report of the Chief of Engineers, 1873.
867
30
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
of trade mentioned that 2 miles north of that city, on Kinahatooehee creek, there was a fine unimproved water-
power capable of running 100,000 spindles. This stream has a drainage basin of 1,075 square miles, and with
sufficient fall ought to furnish an important power.
Tobler creelc is a short stream confined entirely to Upson county. It runs through a hilly district, has a sandy
bed, and near the mouth is from 50 to 75 feet wide, with a good current. Owing to the clearing and cultivation of
the laud the channel has become somewhat filled up by the soil which is washed in. A mile or two from the mouth
the Flint River Manufacturing Company uses a fall of 14 feet, and about 25 horse-power, in the manufacture of cotton
yarns, consuming GO bales of cotton per mouth. There is one other cotton factory on the stream, making sheetings
and shirtings, besides several small grist-mills and cotton-gius.
Big Potato creelc heads to the eastward of Flint river in Spaldiug county, flows southerly, passing through Pike
and Upson counties, and joins the main river 7 or 8 miles south of Thomaston, its drainage basin containing 246
square miles. This stream has its sources in the mountains, receives supplies from many springs, and is well
sustained in volume. Flowing among high hills, with a rapid fall over a rocky bed, and between high rocky banks
which only occasionally give way to patches of bottom-land, the conditions are favorable for power. The stream
drains considerable cultivated land, but also runs through much pine timber. There are numerous small flouring-
and grist-mills along its course, and also good unimproved privileges. The most important of these brought to
notice was one owned by Dr. C. Rogers, of Thomaston, and located some 3 miles from that town. The creek is
there 200 or 300 feet wide, contains several small islands, and tumbles over two or three successive ledges in small
.falls of from 3 to 5 feet each. Within perhaps a quarter of a mile there is asserted to be a total fall of 60 feet
available in two shoals of 30 feet each. Before the war Dr. Rogers had here a cotton factory of 1,800 spindles, and
claims that each shoal will carry 5,000 spindles the year around.
Estimate of power at Rogers' privilege, near Thomaston.
Stage of water.
Spring.
RAINFALL ON B
Summer.] Autun.n.
ASIN.
Winter.
Tear.
Drainage
area.
! Flow per
second,
average
for the 24
hours.
Theoretical horse-power.
Low water, dry year
Low water, average year
Available 10 months, average year
Inches.
i
Inches.
13
Inches.-
7*
Inches.
15
Inches.
50i
Sq. miles.
170 j
i
' Cubicfeet.
30
50
75
1 foot fall.
3.4
5.7
8.5
30 feetfall.
100
170
255
60 feet fall.
200
340
510
Tributaries of the Flint river (in order from the source).
Name of stream.
Whitewater and Line creeks .
Texas (?) creek
Red Oak creek
Elkins creek
Cane creek
Laxer creek
Big Potato creek
Little Potato creek
Hootensville (?) creek
Parchelagee creek
Spring creek
Whitewater creek
Buck's creek
Camp creek
Sweetwater creek
Drainage
area.
Sq. miles.
246
184
150
87
76
155
246
104
109
135
85
260
205
64
Xame of stream.
Drainage
area.
Hog-craw creek
Lampkin's creek
Line creek
Gum creek
Cedar creek
Swift creek
Chateefichickee creek
Jones' creek
Abram's creek
Pinewoods creek
Kinahatooehee creek
Pond creek
Cooleewahee creek
Ichawaynocha and Kiokee creeks
Spring creek
Sq. miles.
97
185
73
74
48
58
76
55
140
57
1,075
102
105
1,083
685
868
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
Table of utilized power on tributaries of the Appalachicola river. {a)
31
Stream
Chattahoochee river (6) .
Do <.
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Sundry tributaries
Do
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Eo.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Tributary to -what.
Appalachicola river . .
...do
...do
...do
.. do
..do
...do
,.. do
State.
Georgia.
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
.do Alabama
Chattahoochee river do
..do
do
do
do
.do
.do
do
do
.do
do
do
.do
.do
do
.do
do
do
.do
.do
.do
.do
do
do
do
do
.do
do
do
do
do
.do
do
do
.do
do
do
do
do .
.do
.do
do
.do .
do
do .
.do
do .
do .
do .
.do .
.do .
do
.do
.do
.do
do
do
.do
.do
.do
do | Randolph .
County.
Kind of mill or manufacture.
Muscogee i Cotton
... do i Flouring and grist .
Harris do
do | Cotton
Troup I do .
Hall Building
.. do ....
Cobb ....
Henry . . .
.. do ....
.. do ....
Barbour
...do ....
...do ....
Russell .
... do ....
Lee
...do ....
.. do ....
j-materials...
Flouring and grist. . .
...do
...do
...do
Saw
...do
Cotton-gins
Flouring and grist...
...do
Cotton-gin
...do
Flouring and grist...
Saw
...do •-
..do
..do
..do
..do
do I Flouring and grist.
.do
do
.do
- - .do i Chambers
Georgia I Early
do do
...do Clay
— do — do
... do — do
— do J Quitman .
do do
. .. do Randolph
. . . do I Stowart .
... do
...do
... do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
Stone and earthen ware.
Cotton
Woolen
Flouring and grist
...do
Saw
...do .......-T.
Cotton-gin
Flouri-ng and grist
...do
Saw
Flourirg and grist
...do
Saw
..do
Flouring and grist
..do
..do
Cotton gin
Saw
...do
and grist
...Ao
Chattahoochee
. . do
Muscogee
Marion
...do
.. do
Harris
.. -do j Flouriu
.do ; Talbot do
do I do Saw
do I Troup
.do I do
.do do
.dc ' do
do \ Meriwether . .
do j Heard
do do
do Carroll
do ' do
.do do
do Coweta
.do do ■ Flouring and grist
.do CampbeD j... do
do Douglas | Cotton-gin
do do i Flouring and grist
...do
Tannery
Flouring and grist.
Cotton
Flouring and grist.
...do
Saw
Cotton
Flouring and grist.
Saw
Cotton
Feet.
H.P.
c3
43
2, 000
dl
8
100
el
50
\ 7-8*
el
s i
160
el
9
130
fl
\ 9*
30
/I
5 a l
60
1
n
10
3
21
32
16
129
148
4
15
56
1
60
30
3
12+
75
7
47+
81
5
45+
121
1
7J
20
2
28
36
14
231+
319
1
16
8
1
12
20
2
40
38
1
18
4
1
32$
100
1
35
60
10
180
191
6
56*
72
1
25
3
29
60
1
8
6
6
58+
77
4
49
96
2
24
63
1
9
8
8
83
192
o
20
22
1
10
15
6
57
75
4
73
213
1
6
12
1
8
21
8
30
1
12
10
13
235
398
2
36
47
2
36
43
4
57
65
1
22
8
22
223J
506
1
20
60
1
30
11
8
91
101
3
124
125
1
30
120
12
277+
160
3
58
26
1
60
14
275+
226
7
124
130
1
11
20
13
202
119
a Not including power employed in mining-operations in northern Georgia.
b About a dozen small flouring- and grist-mills are included in the census enumerators' returns as taking power from the main river in Carroll, Forsyth, and
Heard counties, but it is probable that they are really located on small tributaries of the Chattahoochee, and they have been so classified here.
c At and near Columbus.
d At Columbus.
e Near West Point.
/ Possibly not on main stream.
869
32
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
Table of utilized power on tributaries of the Appalachicola river — Continued.
Stream .
Sundry tributaries Chattahoochee river..
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
, Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Flint river.
Do
Do
Tributaries
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do ....
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Tributary to what.
.do
.do
.do
do
do
do
.do
-do
.do
do
.do
do
.do
.do
do
do
do
.do
:i:
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
Appalachicola river
...do
...do
Flint river
....do
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
do
.do
do
.do
.do
.do
.do .
.do
.do
.do
.do
State.
Georgia.
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
.. do
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
'...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
County.
Douglas
...do
....do
...do
Paulding . . .
...do
Cobb
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
Fulton
....do
...do
De Kalb ...
...do
do
...do
Gwinnett . . .
...do
Forsyth
...dp
Hall
...do
...do
Milton
...do
Lumpkin . . .
...do
...do
Habersham
...do
L..do
"White
Campbell . . .
Clayton
Fayette
.do j Campbell . . .
.do j Clayton
.do do
.do j Henry
.do j Spalding
.do Fayette
.do Coweta
.do do
.do do
.do Meriwether.
.do do
-do Pike
.do do
.do j Crawford . . .
.do I TJpson
.do .
do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do .
.do
.do .
.do
.do
.do .
.do
.do
. . .do
... do ...
...do ...
Talbot..
Taylor.
Marion .
...do ...
Taylor .
....do ...
Schley . .
Macon . .
...do ...
Dooly...
Kind of mill or manufacture.
Saw
Tannery
Cotton
Woolen
Flouring and grist ... .
Saw
Cotton
Woolen
Cotton-gins
Flouring and grist
Paper
Saw
Cotton-gins
Flouring and grist
Saw
Flouring and grist
Furniture
Saw
Tannery
Flouring and grist
Saw
Flouring and grist
Saw
...do
Carriages and wagons .
Flouring and grist
...do
Saw
...do
Flouring and grist
Tannery
Flouring and grist
Leather, curried
Woolen
Flouring and grist
...do
. . do
...do
...do :
...do
Saw
Flouring and grist
... do
...do
...do
Saw
Tannery
Flouring and grist
Saw
"Wheelwrighting
Flouring and grist
....do
Cotton
Flouring and grist
Saw
Tannery
Flouring and grist
Cotton
Flouring and grist
Saw
....do
Flouring and grist
....do
....do
Saw
....do
Feet.
H.P.
6
136
82
1
CO
10
I
60
1
14
9
2
13
CO
1
20
8
3
67
375
2
40
85
9
135
111
23
368
454
1
22
75
5
45
69
3
20 +
22
8
156
106
3
30
31
7
120
119
2
47
25
2
24
40
1
15 .
10
9
116+
98
4
47
44
8
154
137
4
54.
36
4
45
90'
I
22
15
11
151
175
4
68
82
2
28
32
7
141
75
10
183
134
1
20
4
1
14
10
1
16
6
1
20
12
1
10
. 15
1
14
28
5
90
44
1
13
12
3
70
50
8
148
136
1
22
15
1
18
15
2
13
40
5
464
109
4
71
88
1
5
12
1
30
16
11
171
138
1
16
15
1
8
12
11
1541
276
3
25
43
2
29
115
15
1911
373
5
72
102
1
10
5
9
214
169
1
12
40
4
33
52
1
12
20
6
58
95
10
84+
129
6
53
70
5
51
102
1
8
30
2
14
15
870
THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
Table of utilised power on tributaries of the Appalachicola river — Continued.
33
Stream.
Tributary to what.
State.
County.
Kind of mill or manufacture.
Tributaries .
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Flint river .
...do
...do
... do
...do
...do
...do
... do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
Georgia.
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
... do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
..do ...
...do ...
...do ...
...do ...
.. do ...
Dooly
Sumter
Lee
Webster . . .
.. do
Randolph . .
Terrell
...do
Calhoun ...
...do
Dougherty.
... do
Worth
...do
Early
..do
...do
Miller
...do
Baker
Decatur ...
Flouring and grist.
...do
...do
... do
Saw
Flouring and grist .
Saw
Flouring and grist .
...do
Saw
Flouring and grist .
Saw
....do
Flouring and grist .
Cotton
Flouring and grist .
Saw -.
...do
Flouring an'd grist .
— do
...do
Feet.
8+
51+
22J
66+
28
69
11+
14
10
10
25
40
57
14}
5
II. P.
30
Table of utilised power on sundry streams tributary to tJie eastern Gulf.
Stream.
Escambia river .
Tributaries
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Yellow river
Do
Choctawhatchee river
Do
Tributaries
Do
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do
Do.
Do.
Do.
Ocklockonee river and tributaries
Do
Tributary to what.
Gulf of Mexico
Escambia river
—do
...do
...do
...do
....do
...do
.. do
...do
...do
...do ....^
<j'm. dO i.
... do
...do
Gulf of Mexico
...do
...do
....do
Choctawhatchee river.
...do
....do
....do
....do
....do '..
....do
....do '.
....do
....do
....do
Gulf of Mexico
...do
State.
Alabama.
...do ....
... do ....
...do ....
...do ....
..do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
.. do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
...do ....
... do . ...
...do ....
... do ....
... do ....
...do ....
....do ....
. . . do ... .
... do ....
...do ....
...do ....
Georgia . .
....do ....
County.
Kind of mill or manufacture,
Bullock....
Butler
...do ......
...do
Conecuh
...do
...do
Covington .
. ^do
Crenshaw..
Escambia..
Pike
...do
...do
Covington .
...do
Geneva
...do
Barbour ...
...do
Bullock....
Coffee
. . . .do
Dale
Geneva
.. do
Henry
... do
Pike
Colquitt ...
Decatur ...
Flouring and grist .
...do
Cotton-gins
Saw
...do
Cotton-gin
Flouring and grist.
...do
Saw
Flouring and grist.
Saw
...do
Flouring and grist .
Cotton-gins
Flouring and grist.
Saw
....do
Flouring and grist.
...do
Saw
Flouring and grist.
...do
Saw
Flouring and grist .
...do
Saw
....do
Flouring and griat.
...do
....do
...do
Feet.
10
131
30+
10
65
8
53
40
*i
237+
64
6
45
17
10
8
10
41+
10
22
104
22
50+
41 +
42
3
20
45
16
64
H.P.
34
WATER-POWER OF THE UNITED STATES.
Table of utilized power on sundry streams tributary to the eastern Gulf — Continued.
Stream.
Tributary to what.
Ocklockonce river and tributaries ... Gulf of Mexico.
Do.
.do
Ocilla river and tributaries \ do
Suwannee river do
Tributaries Suwannee river .
State.
Georgia .
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do
Other streams
Do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
...do
....do
....do
Gulf of Mexico .
....do
do .
do .
do .
do .
do .
do .
.do .
do
do
do
do
do
do
.do
do
County.
Thomas .
do
Berrien . .
...do ....
...do ....
Brooks
... do ....
...do
Clinch ...
Echols . . .
...do ....
Lowndes
... do ....
Wilcox . .
Alabama Baldwin .
do Mobile . . .
Kind of mill or manufacture.
Decatur Saw
Flouring and grist .
- GO
Woolen
Flouring and grist .
Saw
Woolen
Saw
Flouring and grist.
do
...do
Cotton-gin
Saw
Flouring and grist.
...do
Saw
Flouring and grist.
Feet.
6
32
60J
12
82
9
10
43+
7
6
12
10
10
15
H.P.
12
34
50
12
145
10
12
10
54
15
6
10
77
4
40
40
Summary of power utilizes, on streams tributary to the eastern Gulf (not including any returns for Florida).
Stream.
COTTON-MILLS.
WOOLEN-MILLS.
FLOURING- AND
GRIST-MILLS.
SAW-MILLS.
SUNDRY OTHER ES-
TABLISHMENTS.
TOTAL.
Number of mills.
Water-power util-
ized.
Auxiliary steam-
power.
a
O
U
Q
a
1
10
5
Water-power util-
ized.
Auxiliary steam-
power.
Number of mills.
Water-power util-
ized.
Auxiliary steam-
power.
Number of mills.
Water-power util-
ized.
Auxiliary steam-
power.
to
o
a
s
Water-power util-
ized.
Auxiliary steam-
power.
O
u
CS
.=
a
ft
Water-power util-
ized.
Auxiliary steam-
power.
Tributaries of the Alabama river
6 1,658
13 3,065
4 200
H.P.
H. P.
79
166
H. P.
408*
270
151
142
H.P.
6, 515
4,951
2, 530
1,684
H. P.
60
84
68
28
32
H. P.
I, 470
1, 105
441
686
H.P.
44
32
3
8
H.P.
447
498
33
. 86
H.P.
552
388
186
184
H.P.
10, 160
'9, 785
3, 204
2,480
H.P.
60
6
27
Chattahoochee river and tributaries . .
Flint river and tributaries
6
7
20
2
24
Total
23 j 4, 923
17
269
971
15, 680
80
212
3, 702
13
i 87
1.-064
1, 310
25, 638
93
Note. — "Sundry other establishments >' include cotton-gins (48), tanneries (14), paper-mills (1) ; blacksmithing, carpentering, machine, sash-, door-, and blind-,
wheelwrighting, and general wood- working shops j founderies, iron-works, and pumping-works for water- supply (1 each) ; and establishments for the manufacture of
cotton-gins, building-materials, furniture, carriages and wagons, stone- and earthen- ware.
872
■
*
INDEX TO REPORT ON WATER-POWER OF THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
Accessibility of streams tributary to eastern Gulf 4
Alabama riv^i —
Discharge of 5
Minor tributaries of, and drainage areas 6
Navigation of 4, 5
Tributaries of 5-20
Utilized power on tributaries of 18-20
Appalachicola river 21
Utilized power on tributaries of 31-33
Autauga creek, Alabama, power at Prattville on 5
B.
Bayou Minette, Alabama, power on 1
Big Potato creek, Georgia, estimate of unimproved power on, near
Thomaston 30
Birmingham, Alabama, deposits of iron ore near 6,7
C.
Cahaba river—
And tributaries, drainage areas of 7
Cost of improving navigation of 6
Estimate of power at principal shoals in 7
Fall in, as shown by survey 7
Valuable resources of basin of 6, 7*
Cane creek, Georgia 28, 29
Carter's Landing, Georgia, estimate of power on Coosawattee river near. 17
Cedar creek, Georgia —
Cherokee Iron and Railroad Company's water-privilege on 14
Bapid fluctuations in volume of 14
Chattahoochee river —
Advantages offered by, for development of power 22
Estimate of power at principal shoals in 25, 26
Fall in 21
Freshet-rises in 22
Government survey of 21
Important shoals in 21
Mineral and other resources of basin of 22
Tributaries of 26-26
Tributaries of, drainage areas of 28
Tributaries of, general features of 26
Water-powers on 22-25
Chattooga river 13, 14
Chcstatee river 27, 28
Columbus, Georgia —
Estimate of power in vicinity of 24
Fall within 4 miles of navigable water at 24
Power on Chattahoochee river at and in vicinity of 22-24
Columbus Manufacturing Company's water-privilege on Chattahoochee
river 22,23
Conasauga river 18
Coosa river —
Character of, as regards water-power 11, 12
Drainage areas of minor tributaries of 14
Estimate of power at principal shoals on 13
Fall in 11
Heavy freshet-rises in 12
Natural resources of basin of 11
Proposed improvement of navigation of 11
Tributaries of 13-18
Coosawattee river — Page.
Freshet-rise in 18
Power near Carter's Landing on 17, 18
Cost of hydraulic works at Columbus, Georgia 23
Cotton and woolen goods, advantages offered for the manufacture of 4
E.
Eagle and Phoenix Manufacturing Company's works at Columbus,
Georgia 23, 24
Elevation, general, of mountainous portions of Alabama and Georgia ... 2
Etowah river—
And principal tributaries, drainage areas of 17
Discharge of 15
Etowah Manufacturing arid Mining Company's undeveloped water-
privilege on 16, 17
Fall in y. 16
Improvement of navigation of, unlikely 15
Where utilized for power 15
F.
Fall, undeveloped, in —
Big Potato creek near Thomaston, Georgia 30
Cahaba river at principal shoals 7
Chattahoochee river at or mear Columbus, Georgia 22-24
Chattahoochee river at principal shoals 25, 26
Coosa river at principal shoals 13
Coosa river at Wetumpka, Alabama 12
Coosawattee river near Carter's Landing, Georgia 18
Etowah river near Cartersville, Georgia 16, 17
Kinahatoochee creek, Georgia 30
Tallapoosa river at Tallassee 9
Flint river —
Drainage areas of i.9
G eneral features of 20
Proposed improvement of navigation of 29
Tributaries of 29, 30
Freshets, heights of, in the larger streams 3, 9, 12, 15, 18, 22, 29
G. •
Gailogical features of eastern Gulf slope 1,2
H.
Hand Gold Mining Company's canal 28
K.
Kinabatoochee creek 30
HI.
Metamorphic formation —
Boundary of, in Georgia and Alabama 2
Falls at southern limit of 2
Mineral resources of region tributary to the eastern Gulf 2
K.
Nickajack creek, Georgia -
O.
Oostenaula river and tributaries, drainage areas of 17, 1
P
Prattville, Alabama, power on Autauga creek at
B.
Rainfall, records of
Eoswell Manufacturing Company's works on Vickery's creek, Georgia..
873-35
36 INDEX TO WATER-POWER OF THE EASTERN GULF SLOPE.
s.
Page.
Soap creek. Georgia 26,27
Storage reservoirs generally impracticable on eastern Gulf slope 4
T.
Tallapoosa river-
Estimate of power at points in course of 10
Measurement of discharge of 8
Power on, at Tallassee falls 8, 1
Principal tributaries of 10
Resources of country drained by 8
Survey of, witb reference to improvement of navigation 8
Tallassee falls —
Character of Tallapoosa river above 10
Estimate of power at 9
Power on Tallapoosa river at •- 8, 9
Temperature, records of 3
Tobler creek, Georgia 30
Tryon Manufacturing Company's water-power on Chattooga river 13, 14
, v.
Vickery's creek, Georgia 27
W.
Water-power —
Afforded by short streams near Gulf coast l
Table of utilized, on sundry streams tributary to eastern Gulf 33, 34
Table of utilized, on tributaries of Alabama river 18-20
Table of utilized, on tributaries of Appalachicola river 31-33
Table of utilized, summary for streams tributary to eastern Gulf . . 34
West Point, Georgia, power on Chattahoochee river near 24, 25
"Wetumpka, Alabama-
Estimate of power at 12
Power on Coosa river at 12
Willeo creek, Georgia 27
X.
Tahoola river, gold-mining on course of 28, 29