MUSSEL SHOALS.
By Erister Ashcraft.
In the future development of the resources of Florence and her surrounding territory, a new and powerful factor must be taken into consideration. It is only a matter of a short time when the hitherto wasted energy of Mussel Shoals will be harnessed into a power, second only to that of Niagara.
MUSSEL SHOALS CANAL.
Aqueduct. 900 feet long.
Aqueduct spanning Shoals Creek.
Lock 9, where Mussel Shoals Canal opens into Tennessee River.
Much has been written concerning these immense falls, but it is the purpose of this article to give only such facts as will be of interest and practical use to prospective developers of this great power, and to those who are to help build up this beautiful valley into one of the busiest manufacturing centers in the United States.
In a general way the value and importance of this great power is expressed by one of the ablest American engineers who has examined and surveyed these shoals: “There is no place in the world where greater advantages are to be found for the harnessing of water power for the uses of industry, or where there is greater power awaiting development within reach of the seaboard by water and by rail transportation than Mussel Shoals.”
The following, from the report of Chief Engineer F. H. Newell, and incorporated by Senator Morgan in his recent report to the Senate on the “Navigation of the Tennessee River,” is reproduced here as being the most accurate and authentic account of the various important features of the Mussel Shoals with reference to their capacity for developing power:
“In the Tennessee river, in the vicinity of Florence, Ala., are several shoals capable of the development of power.
“The shoals are a succession of cascades, amid many islands, in a river bed varying in width from a half-mile to three miles. The difference between high and low water is only five or six feet, corresponding to a rise of fifty feet at Chattanooga. Beginning at Brown’s Ferry, twelve miles below Decatur, Ala., the river has the following falls:
Fig. 9—Map showing shoals in Tennessee River near Florence.
“From Brown’s Ferry to the mouth of Elk river the fall is twenty-six feet in eleven miles. This is known as ‘Elk River Shoals.’ Its most precipitous part is at the lower end, where there is a fall of 16.5 feet in about four miles.
“From the mouth of Elk river to the head of Mussel Shoals, a distance of five miles, there is a fall of only two feet.
“From the head of Mussel Shoals to Bainbridge the fall is eighty-five feet in seventeen miles, and is known as ‘Mussel Shoals.’
“From Bainbridge to Florence the fall is twenty-three feet in seven miles, and is known as ‘Little Mussel Shoals.’
“From Florence to the head of Colbert Shoals the fall is three feet in eleven miles.
“From the head of Colbert Shoals to Waterloo is, therefore, 160 feet in a distance of fifty-seven miles. Sixteen miles of the distance, however, has a fall of only five feet, leaving a fall of 155 feet in forty-one miles that cover the four shoals mentioned. The shoals are really more precipitous than the foregoing figures would indicate. For instance, 84.6 feet of the fall at Mussel Shoals is in a distance of fourteen miles.”
The general surface of the water on these shoals is comparatively smooth and of even depth in its levels across the river, with no deep fissures to interfere with the building of dams at any location that may be selected. The islets and projecting rocks can be taken into the structure of the dams at a considerable advantage in the cost of such works.
The bed and banks of the river are only subject to slight changes, and improvements, when made, are therefore practically permanent.
MUSSEL SHOALS CANAL.
Lock 7, looking down Canal.
Arch Bridge at Lock 6.
Lock 4.
This section of the Tennessee river runs through a fertile and beautiful upland, presenting on both shores bluffs or rock of strong texture that afford very extensive and excellent quarries for all structural purposes, while the rocks for the rougher work of dam construction are abundantly supplied in the bed of the river. These bluffs break away into beautiful farm lands, and the high lands and salubrious climate insure healthful homes.
Directly tributary are all the elements necessary for a great manufacturing center.
The nearby iron, coal and phosphate fields are among the richest in the world, and the supply of lime- and sandstone for manufacturing and building purposes is inexhaustible. Forests of timber of both hard and soft woods of every description are near at hand, and bordering the river banks from Chattanooga to Johnsonville are the most productive cotton fields of the South. Labor is skilled and plentiful.
It has been impossible to develop this great power heretofore, as the government has refused to allow the construction of dams across the river, but by the recent Act of Congress such permission has been granted.
With the immense supply of raw material of every kind in this section, sufficient manufacturing industries may be added here to consume the power generated from these shoals, making us the most important manufacturers of wood, iron, cotton, etc., in the United States.
Estimated minimum net horsepower of Tennessee river in Alabama on turbines realizing eighty per cent. of the theoretical power:
| LOCALITY | Fall Ft. | Minimum net power in driest years | Minimum net power in average years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elk River Shoals | 26 | 15,600 | 30,550 |
| Mussel Shoals | 85 | 51,000 | 99,875 |
| Little Mussel Shoals | 23 | 13,800 | 27,025 |
| Colbert Shoals | 21 | 12,600 | 24,675 |
| Total | 155 | 93,000 | 182,125 |
When the present general manager of the Tennessee Valley Fertilizer Company started in business some seven years ago, his stock in trade consisted of plenty of pluck and a hoe. With the assistance of one man, he mixed his fertilizer with a hoe, and the first day’s output was eleven bags of fertilizer. The first week showed up a total of 55 bags. Without telling of the seven years of hard and persistent work, will say that any of the eight mills in this plant to-day can mix as much fertilizer in twenty minutes as they did the first week. There is probably no brand of fertilizer sold to-day in any market that gives more satisfaction than their famous “Tiger” brand, for in this formula is represented the very best work of the general manager, who has given practically every hour of his time to the upbuilding of the business, and his motto is: “The Very Best That Can be Produced.”
The company own their own phosphate fields in Maury and Hickman counties, Tennessee, and daily receive shipments of the raw material, where it is quickly converted into their forty different brands. “King Cotton Grower” is probably their most popular seller, as it is especially adapted to the growing of cotton, and no expense has been spared to make it perfect, and as imitation is a sure sign of superiority, the company have been compelled upon several occasions to fight for their rights to use this name for their product. No better recommendation for their goods could be given than the fact that their very best customers and friends are the ones that started to buy their goods when the company was first organized, and who have continued to stand by them in their fight to give the people the very best. They make a special study of the needs of the farmer, and make their formulas accordingly, and while it is safe to say that it would be hard to improve on their different brands, which are all made with scientific accuracy, yet they are always ready to make any special formulas, and will take such orders and deliver them promptly.
Growing to such proportions in such few years and fighting the trust at the same time is certainly a record that could not be built on anything but honest principles and meritorious goods.
The Florence Wagon Works was established in 1882 in Atlanta, Ga. Was reorganized and moved to Florence, Ala., in 1889, and has been in constant operation since that time.
During the twelve years ending with 1905, this company has manufactured and distributed over 89,000 farm wagons, paying to its employees for labor and salary something over $797,000. The volume of business has been considerably more than $3,000,000. During that time it has paid to the railroads more than $200,000 for freight. These figures will give an approximate idea of the extent of business done by this institution.
It is in the heart of the very best supply of hard wood for wagon purposes. Being situated only across the river from the large furnaces and rolling mills of Sheffield it is enabled to secure its supply of iron under the most favorable conditions.
FLORENCE WAGON WORKS.
Fellow Shed, Florence Wagon Works.
View from top of paint shop.
Lane in box board yard.
The entire factory is equipped with the most modern machinery for manufacturing and handling its large output, which is growing in popularity every year and the territory covered is being extended annually, now reaching from Virginia to Mexico, and from the Atlantic coast to the far West.
One of the most interesting features of Florence, is the Cypress Creek dam, on the land of Mr. F. M. Perry. There is a great opportunity for the development of sufficient electric power to supply the needs of Florence, and taking the figures of a prominent surveyor at Florence, it is estimated that this dam will furnish something like 12,000 horse power daily. The owner is reluctant to make any statement as to the possibilities, but prefers to let those interested investigate. We print herein a picture of the old dam that was in use before the war, and the present owner started to rebuild it some time ago, but before it was completed, a heavy rise washed away a part of it and he has made no further progress. The creek makes a big bend, and while it is some three miles around, by tunnelling through some 600 feet, it will give a fall of thirty feet, and by building a dam at the site of the present dam, or rather by finishing the one partly constructed, elevating it ten feet, it will back the water of Cypress Creek to a point where a tunnel of 300 feet will give a forty foot fall, and will discharge at the point shown in the second picture of the old cotton factory that was destroyed during the war, and which was never rebuilt. There is something like 1,000 acres of land with this privilege and to sum the whole thing up, taking the estimate made by City Engineer Major A. G. Negley, as a basis, an expenditure of $2,000 to finish the dam, $6,000 for the tunnel and $2,000 for the turbine would give electricity to furnish power enough to meet all the demands of Florence and the surrounding country.
Before the war there were three dams practically in sight of each other that furnished the power for a grist mill and two cotton factories.
For further information, address the owner, F. M. Perry, Florence, Alabama.
The Manual Training Department of the Alabama State Normal under the supervision of Prof. F. T. Nisbet, is one of the most interesting parts of Florence. Mr. Nisbet is a graduate of Atheneum and Mechanics Institute, Rochester, N. Y., and was at the head of manual training in the city schools of Yonkers, N. Y. He introduced manual training in the University of Alabama where he taught for two years at the summer school for teachers. It enables a pupil to demonstrate their ideas, and tends to develop the ability to express their thoughts in many ways. The Manual Training Department in Florence ranks with the very best in the country.