The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-12-29
FERTILIZER PLANT
VS.. NITRATE PLANT
determined Effort to DESTROY
Great Government Work at
Muscle Shoals

"" VI 'hc .houSe tnlS AFTERNOON re-
Jected the petition Of the board of
engineers that $10,OOO,OOO be appro-
priated for the completion of the
$lOO,OOO,0O project at Muscle shoals
In northern Alabama. Last night
the subcommittee tentatively agreed
to recommend the appropriation. but
during the day Republican leaders
interfered with the result that the
tentative agreement was hurled into
the discard. Unless the house acts
favorably despie the action of the
subcommittee, it is feared that the
nitrate bill in charge of Senator
smith OF South Carolina, under the
provisions of which the Muscle
shoals plants would be operated for
the production of fertilizer, VIII be
seriously jeopardized.
The fertilizer trust has entered
actively on the warpath against the
nitrate bill with the plea that its en-
|actment would destroy it's business
Senators and representatives from all
states were inundated today by tele-
grams from constituents engaged in
retailing fertilizer urging that they
vote against the bill. The tide was
especially strong from Georgia and
south Carolina. the four s.nators
from which states are committed in
favor of the bill.
Senator Dial of South Carolina
promptly answered his telegram
with the explanation that while he
objected as a rule to the government
engaging in any business, the Muscle
shoals proposition meant such per-
manent benefits to the agricultural
classes of the country that he felt
impelled to support necessary legis-
lation in it's favor
The Republicans, in desiring that
the stupendous construction be stop
ped before completion and after a
sum as great as $S0,0O0,OOO has been
spent, entertain the idea that the
government should dispose of the
plants TO private corporations. In
asmuch, however, as consumers would
not profit from fertilizer sold by pri-
vate corporations, farmers oppose the
Republican suggestions. The plight
of the project is indicated by alb
sentees being recalled to Washington
prior to the conclusion Of the holi-
day period.
AT Muscle shoals. on the Tennessee
river the government, during the
war, undertook to construct plants
For the filtration of atmospheric nj
troSen to form the basis OK explo-
sivcs and thus make this country in
dependent, in the event OF another
war, OF the Chilean nitrate beds 1t
was part OF the general scheme to
construct dam across the shoals
capable of generating more water
power than can be generated at any
other point wholly within the United
states. That which put the necessary
legislation through congress was the
knowledge that in time of peace
these plans would be capable of pro-
ducing the highest grade OF fertilizer
which could be obtained by farmers
at most reasonable charges.
The plants are constructed. The
dam Is nearing completion. The cost
has approximated 100000, 900. And
now the Republicans would abandon
the project because it's completion
will entail additional expenditure of
money
The board Of engineers asked for
an appropriation of $10,OOO.OOO with
which to complete the dam. The de-
partment of agriculture has asked
for authority to operate the nitrate
plants The secretary of war has
asked for the enactment OF legisla-
ton forming corporation with the
government holding all shares of
Stock) for the manufacture of fer
tilizer. Experts have presented fig
ures tn prove that this corporation
after reasonable time would be
self-sustaininG. The farmers of the
country, whose assistance secured the
original legislation. are up in arms.
Eut the Republicans are adamant
They have considered closing down
the plants permanently and stopping
the work on the dam, their argument
being that by protecting the machin-
cry it could be put to work quickly
il ever war developed. But to guard
and otherwise protect the property
would cost $4,000 per month or q
third sum of $250,OOO per annum.
The Republicans, it is indicated.
would lease the property to private
enterprise or dispose of ii perma-
ncntly. This plan is keenly resented
by the farmers and the consumers
generally because of the knowledge
that any saving in the production of
fertilizer would beneat the private
corporation rather than the farmers.
and electric current would scarcely
be sold cheaper than current is sold
In the south by other private cor
porating. 1t Is computed that the
Wilson dam could be made to pro-
ducc enough current to light Jtte
entire south.
big business has constantly been
at the throat OF Muscle shoals. 1t
has been charged repeatedly on the
iloors of the houses Of congress that
the gunpowder trust, the fertilizer
trust. the water power trust and
others Of the predatory, class have
ever been on the alert to prevent the
development.
ON the other hand, majority in
preceding congresses. the Democratic