The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-17
WHY MUSCLE SHOALS WANTS
 GOVERNMENT NITRATE PLANT

and that it be established, preferably, be- tween the Alleghany and Rocky noun tains. There is also the need of finding location where an enormous amount of power can be produced at low cost.
 One site where sufficient amount or power can be obtained is at Muscle Shoals, in northern Alabama, on the Ten nessee river which was the subject of five years of investigation by a special board of army engineers, of which Brig. Gen. Dan C. Kingman, the present chief of engineers, was member This board reported to Congress that there was minimum of 10000 horse power always available, and that for 10 months a year the power amounted to 680O00 horse power This could be developed at a cost of $9 per horse power, or two mills per l1ilowatt hour, making it one of the most economical power sites in the coun- try. After the report was rendered, Con gress was asked to provide for the de- velopment of this power under a plant that would also result in opening the Tennessee river for navigation the year around, from Knoxville to the Ohio river thereby giving water traffic to a section that contains wonderful natural resources This request was denied at the time.
 NEEDED PRODUCTS NEARBY
 Included in the resolutions of the two farming organizations named above was a clause that is expected to be factor in the question of location. It Is as follows: "We insist that the location of this air-nitrate industry be determined with reference to the agri- cultural interests of the country and that a site be selected which has near it a source of limestone. coke and mended by the department of agri- culture, and that. furthermore. if pos sible. it be selected closest to the great est consumption of fertilizer" Lime stone and coke are two important ma teria1s used in making fertilizer from air nitrogen, and phosphate is desired because nitrogen and phosphate can be combined to form ammonia phos- phate. another valuable fertilizing product.
 Muscle Shoals is located in a re- zion of limestone rock which is 99 per cent pure carbonate of lime, while the place is within 130 miles of the Birmingham coke district. the coun- trys second greatest source of coke. It Is also within 40 miles of the phos- phate field of middle Tennessee. With this combination. according to the advocates of Muscle Shoals, plant can be established to supply fertilizer to the cotton growing states, which use 50 per cent of the fertilizer now sold, and. because of it's location and transportation facilities. it can deliver fertilizer through the middle west at low rates
 From the military standpoint the re- zion Is well provided with raw mate rials The Birmingham district has grown rapidly in steel andairon produc- tion, while copper mines with large output are to be found at the head waters of one of the Tennessee tributa- ries. at a distance of about 400 miles. Aluminium Is another metal widely used in military manufactures. All of the aluminium ore in the country is obtained from mines in Arkansas, Georgia and Tennessee. within dis tances not exceeding 300 miles. Cot ton, of course. Is required in making gunpowder and the advantages of hav- ing the nitrate plant located in the cotton growing region is being urged by those who favor this site. Also the largest deposit of fluorspar, which Is used in fluxing iron and aluminium, is near Muscle Shoals.