The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-19
NITRATE PLANT AND
CHEAP MONEY NEEDS
Mrs. Mathis Says These Two
Things Are Vital
ALABAMA NOT ALERT
To Win Muscle Shoals Development
the State Must Get Busy,
She Says
NOT ALERT
BY JOHN C. MOSES

Mrs. G. H. Mathis, who is just back
from an extended trip in the interest of
the nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals, and
cheaper money, passed through Birming
ham yesterday. Mrs. Mathis has spoken
before bankers, commercial clubs and
other bodies in half dozen states, and
reports encoura cement from every point,
and promises of cooperation.
Towns near the shoals have worked
hard on the proposition. Tuscumbia Shelf
field, Florence and Huntsville have do
mated literally toward defraying expenses
for data about the site, making maps
and getting the project through Con-
gress. The citizens of these cities think
Alabama as whole should now come
to their aid and raise some money Nash
vile donated $4,000, the Nashville Chat
tanooga and St Louis railroad $1,000 and
Knoxville and other outside cities in pro-
portion.
Muscle Shoals Is the logical location for
this government plant 1t will provide
ample power for manufacturing both ex-
plosixes and fertilizers Mineral deposits
of coal, iron, copper, zinc and lead also
abound. The development will serve a
twofold purpose-t can serve the largest
agricultural section by making fertilizer
during times of peace and is far enough
inland to make it safe during war times
SOUTHERN STATES NOT ACTIVE
Southern states are not alive to the
importance of the proposition of boost
ing Muscle Shoals said Mrs. Mathis
"Other states outside of Alabama seem
to see the Importance of this gigantic
nitrate plant even more than our own.
Our people seem to put too much conf
dence in the fact that we have the logical
location and surroundings. But If we are
outdone and the plant goes to either of
our most formidable compettors-Priest
Falls, Ore, or Keokuk, lave will have
ourselves to blame. Not a minute is to
be lost These other prospective sites
have string of speakers busy all the
time, spreading their claims to all sec
tions. and Alabamas seeming neglect of
TINS matter may prove costly.
This development at Muscle Shoals will
be the greatest achievement possible for
the southern and central states as they
consume 60 per cent of all fertilizers used
in the United States. 1t is the salvation
Ct the tenant farmer. If this govern
ment plant goes to Iowa the farmers of
the south will have IS ton tackled on
to the price of fertilizers; if it goes to
Oregon it will mean SIS ton freight
whereas, If Alabama secures the prize
the average freight charge will be a
trifle. There are certain foreign elements
that are fighting the Alabama site for
tGre personal gain. 1t will be a crime
to let this plant go elsewhere. BY the
government helping to build the enor-
nous dam, the price of fertilizer will be
cut in two. Our strongest competition
according to data have secured, is Keo-
kuk, Ia. That place has the site but
lacks many advantages that the Ala
bama location boosts of. A string of
speakers should honeycomb the south
and central states and boost Muscle
Shoals, and the money should be in hand
at once. We should not rest on our
laurels, but fight to the last ditch.
WAR COLLEGE REPORT
THE war college report on the nitrate
plant clearly points to Alabama as the
place 1t states the plant for the manu-
facture of fertilizer in times OF peace
and explosives in time of war should
not be located east of the Allegheny
mountain nor west of the Sierra range;
nor closer than 200 miles from the Can
adam or Mexican borders. This elm
mates streams on the Atlantic and Pa
cific coasts and at Niagara Falls, and
narrows the location down to q few
streams within the central part Of the