The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-31
Ashcraft Serious About Plan
 to Consolidate Counties and Cities
NEED GREATER STRENGTH
 10 PUSH THE CAMPAIGN
others Are in sympathy With the
 Object But do Not Believe the Consolidation Plan Is Practicable
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Florence, December 3O-(Special) )-C. W. Ashcraft. mayor of Florence. and the originator of the Muscle Shoals City prop osition, is in dead earnest.
 The suggestion to consolidate Colbert and Lauderdale counties and the cities of Florence Sheffield and Tuscumbia, came so suddenly that a great many peo- pie here in the tri-cites took the matter as a joke. But as they look deeper into the matter and study the logic that Is being put into 1t so earnestly by Mayor Ashcraft, they are thinking more sober ly and are beginning to recognize the wisdom of his scheme.
 Mayor Ashcraft is almost religiously enthusiastic. He has the development of this great section at heart and believes that closer union of community in terest is necessary and practicable.
 Discussing the matter today Mayor Ashcraft said: 'trhe idea of combining the three towns in one and the two coun- ties in one county came to me few days ago while attending a meeting of the rivers and harbors committee at Wash ngton.
 lllle we nave dl NuSCle CnOdlS Ine second largest waterpower in the United States we do not get the hearing that Is desired because of lack of strong home backing. The three towns near the pro- posed improvements are small when taken separately and do not command the re- spect that larger cities enjoy. Other projects of smaller merit have the back ing of large and influential cities and can more easily get what they want.
 Now, Florence, Sheffield and Tuscum- bia are of one mind in the desire for the development of the Muscle Shoals waterpower. but separately we are weak.
 "A unity of these cities would make the fourth city In size in Alabama and Muscle Shoals City would be able to command respect.
 ''I realize that the suggestion was re- ceived as a joke by many people here at home but I find that it is looked upon with much seriousness by thoughtful men in other sections of the country It Is a broad business proposition and it is grow ing in favor as 1t is bound to when the people understand just what it means in accomplishing that great end of which we have all dreamed of for years.
 worthington's Idea
 J. w Worthington of Sheffield. head of q nunlDer or the iedulIlS lIuuStrlal enter prises in this section, accepted Mayor Ashcraft's suggestion with enthusiasm
 He said 'The proposition to combine these three cities and make a common fight for the development of the Tennes- see river is the one great thing to force immediate success. It is a wonderful idea and thoroughly practicable
 The various committees on arrange ment for the monster banquet tonight include the leading business and profes- sional, men of the three cities who have become deeply interested in the Muscle Shoals city idea. They are talking 1t day and night.
 The banquet was the climax to the storm of sentiment that has grown from a mild eddy started less than week ago.
 The earnestness that has marked the movements and the conversation of these people today and that eliminated in a riot of Enthusiasm tonight is unmis- takabie.
 Many people who have been doubtful and slow to take the matter seriously are falling in line and getting ready for the steady, relentless campaign for the de- velopment of Muscle Shoals that had it's real beginning tonight.
 While the people of Ttscumba gener- ally fall readily into the humor and spirit oe Mayor Ashcraft's proposition to consolidate the counties of Colbert and
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