The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-08-12
Abandonment of Original
Intention to Erect One
Big Plant Is Evident
VARIOUS SMALL UNITS
THOUGHT TO BE BEST
Assurance Given That All Locations
Now Being Urged Will Be Thor
oughly Investigated Before
Final Decision Is Made
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS

Washington August 11-(Speciai)
From a statement of Newton d. Baker,
Secretary of War. it is obvious that the
government has abandoned its original
plan of constructing a gigantic plant
for the manufacture of explosives and
fertilizers.
From the remarks of the Secretary, 1t
IS gathered that the governmnet, should
the $4,000 experimental station to be
be located on Salt river prove success
full, will proceed to construct other
plants, probably four. by the expenditure
of the remaining sl5.SOo,oco of the original
s20, 100000 appropriation.
The corporations engaged in the manu-
facture of gunpowder and fertilizer. and
in the generation of water power either
on their own responsibility or in coop
GRAFTON with the government which,
since the passage of the air-nitrate sec
ton have bitterly fought the idea OF
centralized plant, have scored what now
appears to be a complete victory.
REBUFF FOR FARMERS
In the opinion of southern members
of Congress who, acting for the south
enactment of the law appropriating s2o,-
100000 the statement of the Secretary
of War indicates the defeat of the
original purposes of the statute.
l. is their contention that four or five
small plants, scattered throughout the
United States, could not furnish the in
exhaustible supply either of cheap explo-
sives or cheap Fertilizer that a central
lied plant, operated by water power on
government money at per cent, could
easily furnish. The farmer, they con.
tinue, who was responsible for the 500
100000 appropriation, will be deprived
practically entirely. OF the benefits which
in abundance would otherwise have ac-
crued to him.
IL the plan to construct several plants
is adhered to. either of four Alabama
| rivers could offer an available site.
MR.. BAKERS ADDRESS
The statement of the Secretary OF War,
addressed to local correspondents, fol-
lows in full:
In view of the general interest
in the matter of the proposed fed
eral nitrate plant and of the num-
erous inquiries concerning the
progress made and the possibility
of establishing plants at different
localities. the following statement
is issued to furnish such informa-
ton as 1t is thought permissible
to make public under the present
circumstances.
Extensive studies by federal
scientists have been made both in
the United States and abroad of
all known practicable processes
for the fixation of nitrogen, to-
gether with Investigations and ex-
plorations of different deposits
which appeared to offer promise
OF unusual value for the produce
ton of explosives and fertilizers.
IDEA OF WATER POWER
The earlier view concerning the
plant was that large amount of
water power would be an indispen-
sible requirement and that the To-
cation should therefore be re-
stricted to sites offering such pos
sibility. In accordance with this
view the President appointed a
board consisting of the Secretaries
of war, Interior and Agriculture
to consider. through actual ex-
animation or otherwise water
power sites in different parts of
the United States This board en-
tered upon its duties and held
hearings and examined localities
in one section of the country, when
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