Title
Barge No. 3 "Tuscaloosa"
Subject
Black Warrior River (Ala.)
Warrior River
Barges
Description
This Alabama and New Orleans Transportation Company Barge No. 3 was the first barge to travel up the Warrior River to Tuscaloosa from New Orleans, arriving in Tuscaloosa on October 30, 1913.
A ceremony to celebrate its arrival was planned for October 28, 1913, but due to the delay, the ceremony postponed.
The barge was different from any seen in the area before, designed after the barges used in Holland. Built largely of steel, the barge could run into any number of sand bars and mud banks with no serious damage. It had a maximum capacity of 1,000 tons and, with a maximum load, drew six feet of water.
The barge was said to have come up the river with little difficulty. Several times the barge ran on sand bars, but was able to get off without assistance. At Lock 3, a line from a government boat got tangled up in the barge’s propeller and divers had to cut the rope with knives.
The exercises took place at Lock 10 where a platform had been erected for speakers and the christening of the barge by Miss Eleanore Blair and Miss Cherokee Van de Graaff. Barge No. 3 was given the name “Tuscaloosa.” Speakers were S.H. Sprott, Probate Judge W.W. Brandon, and U.S. Sen. John H. Bankhead.
After Friday’s celebrations, loading the pig iron on Saturday was a laborious task because of the lack of wharfing at Holt.
The “Tuscaloosa” took its leave at daybreak on Sunday morning, leaving officials talking about ways to erect wharves in the city in the quickest manner. All agreed that the Warrior River had been put to its severest test since the water level was at its lowest point of the year. It surpassed all expectations.
A ceremony to celebrate its arrival was planned for October 28, 1913, but due to the delay, the ceremony postponed.
The barge was different from any seen in the area before, designed after the barges used in Holland. Built largely of steel, the barge could run into any number of sand bars and mud banks with no serious damage. It had a maximum capacity of 1,000 tons and, with a maximum load, drew six feet of water.
The barge was said to have come up the river with little difficulty. Several times the barge ran on sand bars, but was able to get off without assistance. At Lock 3, a line from a government boat got tangled up in the barge’s propeller and divers had to cut the rope with knives.
The exercises took place at Lock 10 where a platform had been erected for speakers and the christening of the barge by Miss Eleanore Blair and Miss Cherokee Van de Graaff. Barge No. 3 was given the name “Tuscaloosa.” Speakers were S.H. Sprott, Probate Judge W.W. Brandon, and U.S. Sen. John H. Bankhead.
After Friday’s celebrations, loading the pig iron on Saturday was a laborious task because of the lack of wharfing at Holt.
The “Tuscaloosa” took its leave at daybreak on Sunday morning, leaving officials talking about ways to erect wharves in the city in the quickest manner. All agreed that the Warrior River had been put to its severest test since the water level was at its lowest point of the year. It surpassed all expectations.
Source
Personal Collection of Victor Morris Friedman
Date
October 31, 1913
Contributor
Betty Slowe (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
1258
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph
Physical Dimensions
3 inches by 5 inches