For early navigation on the Tennessee River, a barrier of waterfalls, rapids, sinks, sandbars, and islands made passage between the upper and lower river almost impossible, especially through the Muscle Shoals between Florence and Brown’s Ferry. Surveying and mapping began in 1830 to bypass this hazardous stretch, and the U.S. Government relinquished 400,000 acres to Alabama to finance a canal, though land sales failed to fund the full project. The plan was reduced to a lateral canal from Florence to Lamb’s Ferry along the north side of the river. Construction began in early 1831, and the first canal opened in 1836 at a cost of $644,594. It was 14.5 miles long, 60 feet wide, and 6 feet deep, with 17 locks, each 120 feet long and 32 feet wide, each with a lift of almost five feet. Alabama had difficulty maintaining it, could not secure additional federal funding, and abandoned the system in 1838. Planning for a second canal began in 1871 under the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and construction began in 1875 under federal direction. The original canal was widened, its 17 locks over 14.5 miles reduced to nine with a total lift of 85 feet, and three more locks were added at Colbert Shoals and near the mouth of Elk River. An 845-foot aqueduct crossed Shoals Creek, a rail track ran beside the canal, and a locomotive towed boats through it. Lock Six at Killen served as headquarters. Lieutenant George W. Goethals worked on the project to speed its completion. The canal opened for navigation on November 10, 1890. After service at Florence and responsibility for Tennessee River improvements from Decatur to Waterloo, Goethals in early 1907 became chief engineer for construction of the Panama Canal. The Muscle Shoals Canal continued operating until work on Wilson Dam began in April 1918, ending more than 27 years of service.