The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-07-27
GOOD REASONS WHY TEE 10000
900 GOVERNMENT NITRATE
PLANT SHOULD BE L0-
GATED AT MUSCLE
SHOALS
By Col. A. n. Shook

| ~ bttt't tfoh MY Othth 'ftC ''s@s
has been proposed or suggested;
IL is as nearly as immune from at
tack OF an invading foe as any site
that could be selected in the United
States; IL is far enough south TO es-
cape the rigors OF a northern winter;
IL is lar enough north 10 escape the
heat of q southern summer; IL is far
enough east TO be easily accessible
TO all Atlantic and gulf ports; IL is
far enough west TO be as accessible
TO the Pacific ports as any site To-
Gated east Of the Rocky Mountains.
II is the largest undeveloped water
power Of any inland river in the
United States; IL possesses both OF
the essential attributes for the gen.
Grafton Of large units OF hydro
electric power, having both the vol
ume and the fall, as there is more
water passing over the Muscle
Shoals than there is in the Ohio
river. Within distance of twenty
eight miles between the foot Of the
shoals at Florence, Ala, and the
head OF the shoals near Decatur.
Ala, the fall is ii0 feet. A large
volume Of cheap power is the most
essential factor TO be considered in
the, location OF a plant for the pur-
pose OF making nitrates from the
atmosphere. A large majority OF
the other essential elements that en-
ter into the operation Of q nitrate
plant for the purpose OF making war
munitions are in closer proximity to
Muscle Shoals than 10 any other
point that can be selected. The cot
ton fields are all around. The acids
used in the manufacture Of war mu-
nitions are more largely produced
at Birmingham. Ala, today than at
any other point in the Union. The
copper, sulphuric acid, zinc and
aluminium are being produced in
East Tennessee along the upper
tributaries OF the Tennessee river.
The transportation facilities are all
that could be desired. The Memphis
and Charleston branch OF the South
ern railway practically parallels
Muscle Shoals from Decatur to Flor
ence, furnishing adequate rail trans
portation facilities for all the east
ern and western business. The
main line OF the Louisville & Nash
willie railway system between Cincin-
natl and New Orleans crosses the
Tennessee river at Decatur. q few
} miles above the head OF the shoals.
The Florence branch Of the Louis
willie & Nashville railway system
crosses the Tennessee river at
Florence, within two miles OF the
shoals, furnishing adequate rail
transportation for both north and
south. The Tennessee river, navig-
able all the year round from Flor
ence, will furnish water transpor-
tation TO the mouth Of the Missis-
sippi river, all downstream.
All the claims referred TO above
are based upon the location at Muscle
Shoals only from military stand
point, or as war preparedness
measure. Certainly the greatest
value that will result from this plant
TO this country will not be the
manufacture Of munitions of war,
but will be the value OF the products
Of this plant in times Of peace. No
one thing can do as much for tho
wealth and prosperity OF this ma
ton as doubling, TRIPPING, or ven
auadrupling, the products OF the
sell. This can only be done by fer
tilization. In times Of peace the en-
tire output OF this plant could be
used in the manufacture Of high
grade cheap fertilizers. The fact
that the great phosphate beds OF
Middle Tennessee are almost with
i'm a stones throw of Muscle Shoals
gives the plant value in times OF
peace that no other location will
question or claim. To-day the phos'
phate rock from Middle Tennessee
is being shipped all over the United
States TO the different fertilizer
plants as raw material to be con-
verted into the finished fertilizer.
When this plant has been completed
and is not engaged in the making
OF war munitions the entire pro-
duct will be used in making COM
mercial fertilizers, practically where
the raw material is produced, saw
ing largely the cost of transporta-
ton, both of raw material and OF
the product.
With all these elements OF value,
whether viewed from a war stand
point, " peace standpoint, certain
ly Muscle Shoals has the right OF
claim for the location.
Economy.