The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-22
Muscle Seals Ahdherents
 Hold # Is Logical Site
 For Experiment Plant
Coal Can Be Secured From Nearby Mines Cheap Any Where in America Transportation Facilities Are
 Good and All Building Material Near at Hand
By J. ". PAIGE Secretary-Manager Flor ence Chm
hnmber of Cnmmerce

AAhueF or commerce tlon ic given as to why Muscle Shoals snouid now have the best chance of se- curing the proposed $4,00O0oO plant to be operated by steam Cor coaD:
 ruei-Coal from nearby mines may be nad at as low price as from any mine III america and without interfering with iaoor conditions and without interfer- Ing with mines that are already over taxed in producing coal for war mate rial industries, as they are in the north ana east. Railroad tracks direct from tEese mines are already within about one mile of Muscle Shoals and this one mile has already been graded, and the rails may be laid quickly.
 construction Material-There are great piuns of limestone at Muscle Shoals , , ready to be used at once in making sub stant1al concrete buildings, or in stone construction work, and no hauling to be done, and actual construction could be started at once
 There are great blast furnaces making pis Iron at the foot of Muscle Shoals Tn Florence and Sheffield and foundries ready to make castings on short notice. Every demand for timber or wood can be supplied by nearby sawmills and at timber section prices.
 sportation-Railroads extend from Muscle Shoals (by building about one mile of connecting track, the grading of which has already been done). to the north, south, east and west. and steam- boat lines operate from the foot of Mus cle ohoals to the north, and to points on the Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, thus giving unexceled river and water transportation.
 Labor-An abundance of labor is avail able and the overtaxed labor conditions of the sections that are already favored With the bulk of the war business will not be encountered here
 Climate-Climatic conditions are mex celled at Muscle Shoals and there would De no delay in construction work oc- caslohed by severe and continued blasts of winter.
 Moral Reasons Why the Proposed s4, GOO. : C0' Steam Nitrate Plant Should Be at Mus GIG Shoals-As the public knows, Muscle Shoals nils all requirements better than any location in America The American
 
 tEe demands of the world for food, that We may win the war, have unanimously ana With Just reasons requested that any government nitrate plant be placed at Muscle Shoals, where it will be close to phosphate, that it may eventually fur nish fertilizer to the depleted farms which are placing so many southern farm CTS in critical condition
 The whole country realizes that cer- tain sections Of the hay favored with the bulk of all war orders and all war business, and that those sec tons are already overtaxed for fueL la Dor, and transportation, beyond all eff ticient production.
 Practically the whole American pub lie is familiar with the unexcelled ad- .yantages offered by Muscle Shoals for a nitrate plant, be the plant large or small, ol operated by steam (coaD, or water- rower and has repeatedly requested that its merits be recognized and the SUD- porters of Muscle Shoals in presentlll; It's just claims Cwith it's low priced coal. its great waterpower, it's phosphate it's building materials on the spot, its blast furnaces and foundries at it's foot, it's splendid transportation facilities by rail and water, it's excellent and unburdened labor conditions and it's advantageous climatic conditions), as the location for the proposed $4,O00000 coal or steam op- erated plant realize that it is patriotical- ly supported by practically every section that is familiar with it's unapproachable 
 Muscle Shoals-The place where the plant can be rapidly constructed and where great waterpower may eventual ly be developed, and waterpower used instead of steam or coal in operating the plant after the war is over thus insuring it's further usefulness-the place where the cheapest coal may be had and without overtaxing tEe overburdened mines of the sections already having the bulk ot all war business