Putting "Loafing Streams" to Work: The Building of Lay, Mitchell, Martin, and Jordan Dams, 1910-1929

Rating:
Summary: Highly valuable
Review: Following upon the success of his "Rivers Of History", Dr. Harvey Jackson has produced a work which concentrates on the construction of several of the leading hyrdo-electric power generating plants in Alabama. Spanning a thirty year period, these ambitious projects, launched by the Alabama Power Company, were the natural consequence of a state experiencing its first significant industrial growth, with all the attendant power demands inherent in such transformations. As in "Rivers Of History", Dr. Jackson underscores the geographic importance of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, in particular, the confluence of which - just above Montgomery - results in the formation of the Alabama River, navigable to the Mobile River then on into Mobile Bay. These two "parent" rivers of the Alabama, with their abundant and steady flow, and their strategic location in central Alabama, provided ideal hosts for the dams and hydro-electric generating facilities highlighted in "Loafing Streams". The growth of the textile industry in central and east Alabama, along with the steady expansion of electric power to small residential areas, were major factors in this 20th Century Alabama hydro-electric revolution. It is worth noting, to those otherwise unaware, that all of these facilities continue to generate power to this day, helping make Alabama wholly self-sustaining in electrical power usage. Like "Rivers Of History", Dr. Jackson utilizes his natural gifts as a writer, along with his proclivity to conduct exhaustive research, to produce yet another highly valuable book for students of Alabama history. While not an official sequel, per se, to "Rivers Of History", "Loafing Streams" could be likened to the literary equivalent of a tributary of the mother book, as the hydro-electric power revolution in Alabama marked a significant milestone in the role of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers in Alabama history. The only criticism from this reviewer, is the slightly misleading subtitle: "The Building Of Lay, Mitchell, Martin And Jordan Dams, 1910-1929". The problem here is that the construction of Martin Dam (which created Lake Martin) was not a single-dam construction project, but only one of three dams/facilities in a carefully planned and executed omnibus project. The two missing dams here are Thurlow Dam (at Tallassee, Alabama) and Yates Dam (between Martin and Thurlow), each of which is of equal importance to the whole project. Each of these facilities still produces power through hydro-electric facilities, and the dams at each were so calculated as to allow for the orderly flow of the Tallapoosa, to-wit: Martin Dam, which contains Lake Martin, serves as the catalyst in the river flow. Its gates are lowered and raised as dictated by weather and other circumstances. Downstream, Yates Dam serves as a "check dam", a massive concrete spillway with no gates, containing what is known as the "middle pond". Further downstream, at Tallassee, is Thurlow Dam, whose gates are "tripped" by marked increases in water pressure/levels. Much like Wernher von Braun carefully constructed the various stages of the Saturn V, the engineers of the Alabama Power Company likewise carefully integrated the three facilities of Martin, Yates and Thurlow into one project, each facility serving a vital role in the overall project such that the failure of any one would have severe consequences extending beyond the Tallapoosa, to the Coosa and Alabama. The bond between these three dams cannot be understated, though it is often misunderstood. Accordingly, this reviewer was disappointed with the exclusion of Yates and Thurlow from the subtitle of "Loafing Streams" and strongly feels their inclusion necessary for the sake of accuracy. Nonetheless, the book is an excellent study of this facet of Alabama history and recommends this book. Once again, Dr. Jackson has put forth a work of great and enduring value. We can only look forward to what may, in the future, be forthcoming from this valued historian.

Rating:
Summary: Highly valuable
Review: Following upon the success of his "Rivers Of History", Dr. Harvey Jackson has produced a work which concentrates on the construction of several of the leading hyrdo-electric power generating plants in Alabama. Spanning a thirty year period, these ambitious projects, launched by the Alabama Power Company, were the natural consequence of a state experiencing its first significant industrial growth, with all the attendant power demands inherent in such transformations. As in "Rivers Of History", Dr. Jackson underscores the geographic importance of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, in particular, the confluence of which - just above Montgomery - results in the formation of the Alabama River, navigable to the Mobile River then on into Mobile Bay. These two "parent" rivers of the Alabama, with their abundant and steady flow, and their strategic location in central Alabama, provided ideal hosts for the dams and hydro-electric generating facilities highlighted in "Loafing Streams". The growth of the textile industry in central and east Alabama, along with the steady expansion of electric power to small residential areas, were major factors in this 20th Century Alabama hydro-electric revolution. It is worth noting, to those otherwise unaware, that all of these facilities continue to generate power to this day, helping make Alabama wholly self-sustaining in electrical power usage. Like "Rivers Of History", Dr. Jackson utilizes his natural gifts as a writer, along with his proclivity to conduct exhaustive research, to produce yet another highly valuable book for students of Alabama history. While not an official sequel, per se, to "Rivers Of History", "Loafing Streams" could be likened to the literary equivalent of a tributary of the mother book, as the hydro-electric power revolution in Alabama marked a significant milestone in the role of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers in Alabama history. The only criticism from this reviewer, is the slightly misleading subtitle: "The Building Of Lay, Mitchell, Martin And Jordan Dams, 1910-1929". The problem here is that the construction of Martin Dam (which created Lake Martin) was not a single-dam construction project, but only one of three dams/facilities in a carefully planned and executed omnibus project. The two missing dams here are Thurlow Dam (at Tallassee, Alabama) and Yates Dam (between Martin and Thurlow), each of which is of equal importance to the whole project. Each of these facilities still produces power through hydro-electric facilities, and the dams at each were so calculated as to allow for the orderly flow of the Tallapoosa, to-wit: Martin Dam, which contains Lake Martin, serves as the catalyst in the river flow. Its gates are lowered and raised as dictated by weather and other circumstances. Downstream, Yates Dam serves as a "check dam", a massive concrete spillway with no gates, containing what is known as the "middle pond". Further downstream, at Tallassee, is Thurlow Dam, whose gates are "tripped" by marked increases in water pressure/levels. Much like Wernher von Braun carefully constructed the various stages of the Saturn V, the engineers of the Alabama Power Company likewise carefully integrated the three facilities of Martin, Yates and Thurlow into one project, each facility serving a vital role in the overall project such that the failure of any one would have severe consequences extending beyond the Tallapoosa, to the Coosa and Alabama. The bond between these three dams cannot be understated, though it is often misunderstood. Accordingly, this reviewer was disappointed with the exclusion of Yates and Thurlow from the subtitle of "Loafing Streams" and strongly feels their inclusion necessary for the sake of accuracy. Nonetheless, the book is an excellent study of this facet of Alabama history and recommends this book. Once again, Dr. Jackson has put forth a work of great and enduring value. We can only look forward to what may, in the future, be forthcoming from this valued historian.

Rating:
Summary: Great historical book for any Alabamian
Review: I have lived in central AL all of my life and this book shed a lot of light onto the dams I have benefitted from all of these years. I grew up near Jordan Dam and now work near Thurlow and, I found this book to be very educational. Although it doesn't go into much detail about Thurlow it does cover Jordan extensively. One problem I had with the book is how the author will jump around in time in some sections. It can sometimes be confusing. I had also hoped the book would go into more detail about the building of the dams, but this book is more of the humanitarian side of things such as living conditions, health, entertainment, etc. My dad worked over 30 years for the Alabama Power Company before he retired with them and one thing I really enjoyed about this book was how it covered the rise of the Power Co. and its struggles. I recommend this book for any Alabamian.

Rating:
Summary: Great historical book for any Alabamian
Review: I have lived in central AL all of my life and this book shed a lot of light onto the dams I have benefitted from all of these years. I grew up near Jordan Dam and now work near Thurlow and, I found this book to be very educational. Although it doesn't go into much detail about Thurlow it does cover Jordan extensively. One problem I had with the book is how the author will jump around in time in some sections. It can sometimes be confusing. I had also hoped the book would go into more detail about the building of the dams, but this book is more of the humanitarian side of things such as living conditions, health, entertainment, etc. My dad worked over 30 years for the Alabama Power Company before he retired with them and one thing I really enjoyed about this book was how it covered the rise of the Power Co. and its struggles. I recommend this book for any Alabamian.