The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-25
Muscle Shoals Can Be Made to Produce Explosives,
 1t Is Believed
CAUSE OF INTEREST IN DEVELOPMENT
If Company Secured Contracts to Light All of Alabama Would Not Net Return on Investment.
 Fertilizer and Powder

If the United States were engaged in war. 1t could not furnish of Its own re- sources more than enough gunpowder to keep 100000 soldiers steadily engaged for eight hours.
 In that fact Is found one reason, 1t Is generally said in Birmingham, for the fine display of interest in water power development shown at the present time by the national government. In that fact is also found the reason-certainly one reason-well posted people of Birmingham believe, for the coming to Alabama May 10 of Lindley M. Garrison, Secretary of War, and members of the Senate and House committees on commerce and rivers and harbors
 The distinguished visitors will make a careful inspection of Muscle Shoals and the Tennessee river from Hale bar at Chattanooga to Sheffield in Colbert coun- ty. The government has taken cognizance of the latent potentiality of Muscle Shoals, and the fact thnt' because of it's lack of harness, 1t is natural impedi- ment to navigation. It is said that among other reasons why the government would develop Muscle Shoals Is that it might be made to produce not only fertilizer, not only light and electric current, but gun powder. While there is no fear of inter- national complications 1t is said that the government, having been taught les son from the European death-to-death grapple of nations, is preparing to be prepared.
 Possibility of Shoals
 In this connection, Birminghams lnius- trial circles have begun a systematic con- sidcration of why north Alabama Is so deeply interested in the development of Muscle Shoals. It is certainly not based in the possibility of the shoals a fu- ture source of electric current for light ing purposes, for it is generally under stood that were the company which will manufacture current on the banks or the Tennessee to secure contracts for light ing all of Alabama. those contracts would not net return on the investment. There seems to be no doubt, in the opinion of local industrial captains, but that in the end Muscle Shoals will be furnishing the power for the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen for the manufacture of fertilizer and gunpowder, for the conversion Of pig iron into steel for lighting and heating, and turning the wheels Of industry throughout this section.
 On account of the fact that man has permitted Muscle Shoals to remain unde- velcped. an actual impeachment. nine locNs are essential to steamboat navigation. It requires 40 minutes for boat to pass one of these locks. or six hours to pass the nine. This fact has been frequently put before the government, and there Is no question but that, as a result Of the report of government engineers. an open Tennessee is now regarded not only as a possibility, feasible and practical. but a certainty.
 Preparing for Coming The people of the counties touched by the Tennessee are anxiously awaiting the coming of the members of Congress and the Secretary of War and they are con fident that they will be ble to show the lawmakers just how essentisl adequate governmental support is to their future welfare, and the welfare of the country. The visitors will reach Sheffield May l0. The following day. Muscle Shoals will be inspected. On May F, the party will move up the Tennessee to Hale's bar in Chattanooga. The night of May F., the party will come to Birmingham over the Alabama Great Southern. May 1S, the party will move to Cordova in the hours of early morn, and atJO o'clock, will Wit ness the formal opening of Lock 17 in | the Warrior river, that which will make | the Warrom a navigable stream the year round from its source to Mobile bay. | While In Birmingham, the distinguished visitors. according to embryonic plans re- gently put afoot. will be entertained.