The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-24
WEEKS HOLDS TWO CONFERENCES OVER
 SHOALS QUESTION
Attempt Made to Reconcile Differences in Cost ESti- mateS-WiII Ask Ford
 For More Information
By HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age Herald,
 300 Davidson Buildin


 800 Davidson Building
 Washington. December 23.-(Spe- ciat)-The secretary of war declined this afternon to indicate the nature of the important letter in the writing of which he has consumed three days and which tomorrow he promises to make public.
 It is letter to Henry Ford. the Detroit manufacturer. who has evinced an anxiety to acquire the government properties at Muscle Shoals. It will be an answer to the letter from Ford delivered Mon day to the secretary by Ford.s agents, w B. Mayo and J. W. Worthington. It is believed that the secretary will ask Ford to agree to amortize what ever sum the government will be re- quired to expend in completing VII son dam and constructing Dam No 8 Between the cost estimates of the government and Ford, there is a discrepancy of approximately $l5,- GOO, 900. The governments figures may be reduced bit because of the decrease in the cost of material. The Ford figures may be increased a bit to take care of upkeep. At the same time, the difference in estimates con stitutes a gulf in the bridging of which negotiations to date have proved unavailing.
 The secretary this afternoon was asked to indicate the nature of his reply to Ford. He declined. Il is thought. however, that he will sug- gest that Ford agree to amortlze whatever cost is sustained by the government. It is said by Ford Congressional packers that there is no reasons why the manufacturer should not agree. In the preparation of his letter, the secretary has called repeatedly on goverf ment engineers It is deduced that his answer will be thorough in the treatment of detalls' and that it will be final
 It Is thought in Washington that the climax in the long drawn out controversy rapidly approaches.
 By Associated Press
 Washington, December 23-Two conferences were held today by Sec retary Weeks of the war department at which Henry Ford's offer to lease and purchase the governments ni- trate and water power projects at Muscle Shoals was QlSCuSSeu. ne first was attended by Major General Beach and Brigadler General Taylor, chief and assistant chief or army en- gineers, while the second held late this afternoon included J. w. Worth ington and W. B. Mayo, representing MT. Ford
 At both meetings 1t was said, the secretary attempted to reconcile diff ferences in cost estimates prepared by the two groups of engineers, army and civil on construction work nee essary to complete dams and 2. The difference between the estimates war understood to be about s15,000,0O0 the Ford estimates being represented as being s30 900. 900 and those of the army S45, GOO, 900 and up to S55,000, 900, depending upon the amount of work to be done in improving naVi gation above the dams on the Ten nessee river.
 When the second meeting ad- journed. Secretary Weeks announced that no agreement had been reached and that he would continue work on i his letter to Mir Ford in which he would ask the Detroit manufacturer for additional information respecting the construction of the two dams. Ii was believed probable that the com munication would net be in final shape until next week, probably not before Tuesday