The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-11-21
Speakers Find It Only Necessary to Tell What Plant Will Mean for
 Alabama NOW ASSURED IS BELIEF OF THOSE
 BEST INFORMED Bankhead Especially Confi- dent, But Says People of State Must Do
 Their Part

Birmingham contributed her $3OO0 toward the fund to be used in prepar- ing the claims of Muscle Shoals for the government nitrate plant and the plant Is practically assured to Ala bama, according to prominent speakers at the Muscle Shoals dinner last night at the Hotel TutwiIer.
 Birmingham added her spoke to the con- tribution wheel which is expected to do the final work in bringing the government nitrate plant to Muscle Shoals, when the 5000 was raised in few minutes at the conclusion of the dinner
 Following a number of speeches, in which the value of the Muscle Shoals To- cation was expounded, President James H. Finder of the Board of Trade, who presided over the meeting, called for sub scriptions. Immediately there was a chorus of responses ranging from $25 to $500 and in very few minutes the neces- sary 5000 had been pledged.
 PLEDGES READILY MADE
 The statement of practically all the speakers that the people only needed to have the matter explained to them to be willing to contribute was exemplified when the taking of pledges started. It was pointed out by the speakers that Nashville and other cities had done their part toward the expense of having the claims of Muscle Shoals properly pre- scented to the war department.
 The possibilities of the Muscle Shoals development, which will be started by the expenditure of $20,000,O0O by the govern ment were set forth by Prof. w. c. Waldo of Vanderbilt university, and other men known to be students of the pfopo- sition.
 The Chamber of Commerce, through it's president Morris w. Bush, donated $500, the Business Mems league, through President R. A. Brown, s10o, and the Rotary club, through J. w. Donnelly, $25O.
 Among the other pledges given to make the $3000 were John B. Shelby, $25; H. c. Maynard, $25; Senator John H. Bank head, $50; J. w. Donnelly $100; Pascha1 G. Shook, $100; M. V. Joseph, $100; w. V. M. Robertson, $100; J. D. Moore, $50; Paul ChalifouX, $50; Morris Bush, $50; H. U. Sims, $50; J. A. Vann, $50; Moore & Hand- ley, $50; Mutual Life agency, Birmingham branch, through Herbert J. Baum, $50; l. M. Jackson, Perfection Mattress com-
  Musgrove, $2O0; Robert Jemison, Jr,, $50; Birmingham Slag company, $50; Emmet O'Neal, $100; Collins & Co.,, $50; Yolande Coal and Coke company, $50: Rev George Stuart, $50; A. J. Arrant, $25.
 VERY ENTHUSIASTIC N
 The Muscle Shoals dinner, held under the auspices of the Board of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce, was very en- thusiastic. The taking of pledges for the nitrate plant campangn fund was only one of the features and followed a pro- gramme of speeches by prominent men, practically all of whom agreed that Mus cle Shoals has the nitrate plant ''cinched'' if the proper effort is made to put the claim properly before the war department
 Former Gov. Emmet O'Neal expressed the belief that the plant will be brought to Muscle Shoals, inasmuch as at that point can be developed twice the power that can be produced at Niagara Falls and a power that will be cheaper to the state of Alabama than power to any other state in the union.
 FINDER FIRST SPEAKER
 In opening the meeting, Dr. James IT. Finder, president of the Board of Trade, who presided over the meeting, explained that the banquet was held in order that the people of this section might become cuuSdtSN dS lO Wlldl IHS SpeuulnS or SSU,- 000,000 at Muscle Shoals by the govern ment meant to Birmingham and Ala bama.
 Judge Thomas M. Rogers read a num- Der of telegrams and letters from sym pathizers who were unable to attend the dinner, indorsing the proposition and pledging their support
 w. F. G. Harding, in a letter read by Judge Rogers, congratulated the Board of Trade on the interest they have taken in the matter, and urged the people oA this section to realize that there are competitors for the plant, and to give their moral and financial support toward advancing the Muscle Shoals location. Prof. w. G. Waldo of Vanderbilt uni versty was the first speaker called upon by MT. Finder. Professor Waldo explained by the use of illustrated maps brought by him from Nashville, the great advantages that will accrue to Birmingham and this district by the location of the nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals. Among the other speakers were: Con- gressman E.~B. Almon, pr. J. w. Aber- crombie, Morris w. Bush, former Gov. Emmet O'Neal, Senator John H. Bank head, and others. "The claims of Muscle Shoals are indis- putable," said MT. Waldo. He declared that there are two ways of looking at the
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