The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-09-01
WONDER GREW"

"AND STILL The
WONDER GREW"
The marvellous tables Of the mar
>yelous abroad operated blythe mar
velous Henry Ford are causing ON
cial Washington to stop and ponder
as the need of all his railroad fund
ing that Congress has been doing
The legislation appears to be IN
tended to take care OF railroads de-
ficits-nothing else. In the read
iustment of railroad affairs the up
shot of the whole proposition is that
the railroads of the country finally
consented to the insistance OF the
Government for its plan OF coptroi,
providing that the Government would
guarantee substantial profits to
security-holders. The railroad bust
ness didn't pay, and now Uncle Sam
is footing the losses Ford and his
railroad are promising revolutionary
ideas which, if entirely saccessfull,
will make great history in transpor-
talon methods. His 75-ton locomo-
tive has already beer. dubbed
"steam FLYER" but Ford is perfect
ly willing to let folks laugh, because
he asserts positively that the eco
ton locomotive is a monstrosity, and
that it breaks down the railroad beds
and destroys rail that would other
wise last hundred years. That
Mr.. Ford intends to land his railroad
experiment. on the main desk OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission is
indicated by his statement that the
Commission "must be won over to the
new era of railroading." He holds
that the train" is entirely
feasible providing the weights of
railroad trucks can be- cut down.
PRESUMABLY in the interest of safe
tyr they demand construction OF
trucks, etc., of unwieldly weight,
says Mr. Ford, in commenting on
standards in equipment provided for
in the regulations Of the Commerce
Commission. To this comment, nc
addeds: Nothing was ever further
wrong, as We will show them in the
lighter and still stronger steel" BY
cutting down the weight of the trains
he confidently predicts. that he vii
gain fuel advantages that will make
gasoline far more cheap and advan
tagous than coal.
The country is watching the ex
pertinent of the Detroit, Toledo and
Ironton railroad under the manage
ment of Mr.. Ford, whose engineer
ing methods give fair promises OF
fine results. Among the onlookers
the case is quite like that which
Goldsmith described in the Deserted
VILLAGE"
"And still they gaz'd, and still the
wonder grew
That one small head shou:d carry
all he knew"
Mr.. FORDS GREEDY SCHEME
People no longer scof at Henry
Ford's "Lizzie"-they admire an.
praise it, as well they should. The.
Ford tractor is another marvel that
operates for the public good. Las
Winter the financial world thought
it had Ford on his back, and just as
they were preparing to pluck Out
his feathers, he uparld flew away
towards safe heights Thus, one
after another have the successes OF
Henry Ford made 70. him reputa-
ton that stands him well in hard in
view Of his proposition to the United
States Government for taking over
OF the hydro-electric, steam and nj
.trate plants at Muscle Shoals,
Alabama. A man with lesser re-
putation tn an Henry Ford would
hardly have any reputation left at all,
after submitting so purely selfish
offer to his government. Hery Ford
played fair on his war contracts
and that helped his reputation most
wonderfully. A few of the bald
facts in connection with the Muscle
Shoals offer are published in the Elec
tlical World. Mr.. Ford proposes
that the government must complete
the installation Of the two great
water dams in the Alabama project,
so that they will produce $4,000
horsepower. This involves total cost
to the government for the Wilson dam
alonA which will;produce SOC, 900 horse
power, Of $4,000, or $33,OO0,OOO in
addition to what has already been
spent. For the use of this property
Mr.. Ford proposes to pay six per
cent on $40, 900, 900 or $83 pei horse
power installed-less than halt the
total cost-lesying the taxpayera to
pay the interest on the remainder.
lfr. Ford's proposed interest payment
amounts to 81 per horsepower OF
installed capacity per year. On the