ALABAMA RIVER, a river of Alabama, U.S.A., formed by the
Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about 6 m. above
Montgomery. It flows W. as far as Selma, then S.W. until,
about 45 m. from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee to form
the Mobile and Tensas rivers, which discharge into Mobile Bay.
The course of the Alabama is tortuous; its width varies from
200 to 300 yds., its depth from 3 to 7 ft.; its length by the
United States Survey is 312 m., by steamboat measurement, 420
m. The river crosses the richest agricultural and timber
districts of the state, and railways connect it with the
mineral regions of north central Alabama. The principal
tributary of the Alabama is the Canaba (about 200 m. long),
which enters it about 10 m. below Selma. Of the rivers which
form the Alabama, the Coosa crosses the mineral region of
Alabama, and is navigable for light-draft boats from Rome,
Georgia (where it is formed by the junction of the Oostenaula
and Etowah rivers), to about 117 m. above Wetumpka (about
102 m. below Rome and 26 m. below Greensport), and from
Wetumpka to its junction with the Tallapoosa; the channel
of the river has been considerably improved by the Federal
government. The navigation of the Lallapoosa river (which has
its source in Paulding county, Georgia, and is about 250 m.
long) is prevented by shoals and a 60-ft. fall at Tallassee,
a few miles N. of its junction with the Coosa. The Alabama is
navigable throughout the year. In 1878 the Federal government
undertook to make a channel tho length of the Alabama 200
ft. wide and 4 ft. deep; an amendment in 1891 provided for
a 6-ft. channel at low water, and in June 1907 this work was
reported as "10% completed" at an expenditure of $303,650.
The Mobile river is navigable for vessels of about 14 ft.
draft. The Alabama is an important carrier of cotton, cotton
seed, fertilizer, cereals, lumber, naval stores, &c.; and in
the fiscal year 1906-1907 the freight tonnage was 417,041 tons.
Category:EB1911:Rivers:North America|Alabama River Category: EB1911:Rivers:North America|Alabama River
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