A coal barge on the Tombigbee Waterway is really eight barges tied together. It is pushed by a tug and makes about five knots. The tug captains are a very nice bunch of people who have risen to the top of their trade by being extremely responsible. They can’t understand a word I say over the CB Radio because I don’t speak southern. The cargo they carry is worth at least half a million dollars and most of them never went to college. I have no idea how much money they make but I’d guess they are near the top of the food chain in the transportation business.I learned all this because I went boating with Gene and Carole from Tampa, FL to Columbus, Mississippi and we saw a lot of barges. One other interesting fact. The waterways were built by the Corp of Engineers and are available to all boats at no charge. It is like not charging railroads property tax.