CHAPTER III. 



COOSA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES. 



The Regular Stations that will be used in the folowing dis- 

 cussion are : Riverside, Ala., and Rome, Ga., on the Coosa 

 River ; and Nottingham, Ala., on Talladega Creek. Numerous 

 miscellaneous discharge measurements at other points will also 

 be used. 



I'mler the heading of each station all the investigations made 

 at the station are given, together with the facts deduced there- 

 from. 



1. RIVERSIDE STATION ON COOSA RIVER. 



This station is at Riverside, Ala., in the Springville quad- 

 rangle of the United States Geological Survey map, in latitude 

 33 37' an d longitude 85 12', at the bridge of the Southern 

 Railway, Georgia Pacific Division, across the Coosa River. The 

 river here flows in a southerly direction, the railroad running 

 from east to west. The town of Riverside is on the right or 

 west bank of the river, and the railroad depot is about 1,000 

 feet west of the bridge, which is of iron and abou^p feet above 

 low water. Beginning at the left bank, there aVe two spans 

 of 1 54 feet each ; then a drawbridge 220 feet, revolving on a 

 large center pier ; then a stationery span, 80 feet in length, to 

 west or right bank abutment. There is no running water at 

 low stages under the last-named span. 



At low water the flowing river is 480 feet wide, including 

 three piers, and is from 4 to 10 feet deep. Very little of the cur- 

 rent is too slow to turn any meter. It is somewhat irregular, 

 as there are shoals and some old cribs just above the bridge, 

 but for all stages it is probably the best station that can be 

 found on the river at a bridge and easy of access. 



On September 8, 1896, a discharge measurement was made by 

 B. M. Hall, and two bench marks were established. On Sep- 

 tember 22, 1896, another discharge measurement was made, a 

 wire gage was put in, and Mr. J. W. Foster, sawyer at a large 

 sawmill about 300 feet distant, on right bank of river, below the 

 bridge, was employed as observer. 



