The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-09
ASHCRAFT SPEAKS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF POWER BY
 MUSCLE SHOALS PROJECT

of minerals has outstripped agricultural pursuits. The extensive findings of high grade phosphate deposits in the valley has added immense wealth, and much of these phosphate deposits is located upon the very banks of the river. The prospec- tive opening ofs the Panama canal has greatly increased activity in coal fields, and 1t will now be impossible to get ade- quate navigation on the river at Muscle shoals ready In time for the demand that will certainly be made on account of the great increase in business occasioned by the opening of the Panama canal
 "The 20 miles of shoals in the Tennessee river stands as a great barrier between the wonderful wealth in the basin of the upper Tennessee and the balance of the world. The timber, iron, coal, marble, building stone, phosphate and many of the agricultural products of this section are vastly needed in the districts of the west where water transportation can be had by the Tennessee and the Mississippi with it's western tributaries. The ade- quate navigation of the Tennessee river. to the thoughtful man. becomes a ques- ton of national importance that cannot longer be overlooked
 Senator Morgan shows in his report that the wealth of this region is beyond estimate and equal in volume and value to that of any other district of similar size within the borders of this nation. The reports of engineers show that the vol ume of water in the Tennessee river Is | equal to the combined waters of the Cumberland and the Ohio. Engineers re- ports also show that, unlike any other in land waterway, the improvements on the | Tennessee are practically everlasting, on account of the permanent character of the river bed and banks. In view of l the vast wealth shut off from the entire | world by only 5o miles of shoal in the | river in view of the permanency of all the work done there, In view of the amazing rapidity of development in all mining, timber, agricultural and industrial | lines in the territory tributary to the | waters of the Tennessee, in view of the immediate demand to be made upon these vast resources, coincident with the open 1 ing of the Panama canal-this govern ment must immediately awaken and ac- | knowledge that the time is at hand for the general improvement of the Ten | nessee river on a scale commensurate with the future possible through traffic. referred to by the acting chief of engi- | neers. The consumers of this wealth are the people of this nation, and thence all the world. With the breaking down of this short barrier, it is within their reach on easy freight charges and the world comes knocking at your doors pleading , that you open to them this vast store house. But the producers of the wealth are the inhabitants on more than 10000 square miles of territory in the Tennessee basin. They have wares to sell and see themselves bottled up from their mar
 xets. They have waited long and pa tiently. They have, without complaint, borne their part in nearly s40000,000 im- provements on the Ohio, with less than $, ,O000O0 on the Tennessee But your countrymen from these 4o.oo0 square miles are now aroused and when this appoint ment with you was announced they rose up to send with us a delegation of 300 or more citizens. They had a special train arranged for and I assure you 1t was with some difficulty they were persuaded that you would press this matter with all possible speed without their appearing before you. You gentlemen owe Us some
 thing for saving you the reception of such an ovation. however much you may condemn us for coming.
 "If the necessity for adequate naviga- ton of the Tennessee were the only ques- ton involved, the reasons hinted at are amply sufficient why the government should take immediate steps along the broadest lines for developing such naviga- ton. Lieutenant Caples was unquestion- ably correct in stating that the policy adopted at this time for the development of navigation over Muscle Shoals will determine the character of navigation for | all tune 10 come. mat IS a broad ana patriotic view of the whole subject and stands for the protection and convenience of his fellowmen for all generations suc- ceeding him. Tt is true that the project outlined by him will render useless the government canal built at cost of sev
 eral million dollars. but such improve ment is In line with the progress of his people. It Is no reflection on his prede- cessors that his people have outgrown plans made for them. It is no reflection on ones business career that quarters ample today are wholly inadequate to- morrow It is no reflection on the man agement of the New York Central rail- road that it's old terminal in New York city had to be razed to the ground to make room for far greater requirements and facilities It is no reflection on Full toms steamboat that commerce today de- mands a Mauretania or a Lusitania. It is no reflection upon our forefathers that our progress should require us to con demn scores or hundreds of buildings here In this, our capital city, to make room for avenues and parks to more adequate ly serve the needs of a mighty people in the administration of the nations affairs. Contemporaneous with the first work on Muscle Shoals canal was the building of the South and North railroad between Decatur and Birmingham. This is now the most important division of the Louis vile and Nashville system. It's construc- ton through the mountains and rocks of north Alabama was most difficult piece of engineering and has for almost half a century been considered adequate for the requirements of commerce. But q complete new survey has recently been completed, the right of way has been secured, and upon the advice of the able engineers of this great railroad system. work is to begin immediately building q double track from Decatur to Birmng- ham. abandoning the old road bed alto gether. The obligation of those engineers is coincident with yours. In obedience to their broad duty to the commerce of the country they recommended and put through so radical a change. You are faced with conditions identical in the I very same territory. They are making ready to transport the wealth of the Tennessee valley to the gulf In the direc- ton Of Panama canal. Your obligation
 is from the same territory in the same direction. You are convinced that the day for this through commerce will some time arise. The Louisville and Nashville rail- road sees the day now bright upon them and they are rushing their preparations
 Can this government afford to be less = alert and progressive than private indl- viduals? I repeat If the question of nav Iigation were the only one involved, its demand is of sufficient importance to Justify the entire expenditure estimated