The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-03

larged four times the anticipated capacity and, there was expended about s1O5,O00.o0G in the government nitrate programme.
 "Once more the association comes to Birmingham to help us to secure the acceptance of proposal thst will start programme of contrac- ton calling for the ultimate invest ment conservatively estimated at s1oO,0OO 900.
 Unique m History
 "'rhe Ford proposal is unique and unparalleled in the history of water power development in this country. Here is courageous man. who offers to pay 6 per cent on the estimated cost of comple ting the Wilson Dam, taken at S20,0e1,060, and on the en- tire estimated cost of dam No $. taken at Ss,00OOO0 In addition he proposes to amortize the govern ments entire estimated investment in both dams taken at s4S.000. GOO so that at the end ot the lO0-year period of his lease the government has re- ceived it's full investment back and still owns the dams. completely equip- ped, together with the full power rights,
 Moreover, NIr Ford proposes 10, pay FOn+pVp BOl year oAAiRiA Ao tieAl4A tain the dams and locks for navi,s.t- tion, thing not heretofore done by private capital
 Receives s2I7,0OO.000 Tn all, the government will se- ceiVe during the period of the pro- posed Ford lease the enormous sum of $2lTG00,000. Yet this great pro- ject has been represented on the floor of the HouseNof Representatives at Washington us an enterprise witaoIt merit whose promoters proposed TO bring the water go miles through pipe line!
 'Furthermo MT. Ford is to pay to the government $5,000.000 for the nitrate plants, which he proboses to operate for the benefit of the farm CTS with a maximum profit of s per cent, and in order that the farmers shall be fully satisfied regarding his profits, he proposes to let a commit- tee of farmers representatives de- termine how much he is making Yet there are those who would prevent this offer from being accepted.
 important Additions
 Birmingham can expect to see very large and important additions to the consumers of her products in this trade territory if this plan IS duopltut anu lllS ttLtcl or lulIH Q6Nel- oping the Muscle shoals project vita the proposed upper river storage regulation will mean that fully .000.- 900 horsepower of cheap electrical energy will be added to the resources of this region.
 What this means can be seen by looking a Niagara FailsZthe former tourist town of 5000 people which through the development of about 600.000 horsepower at the falls has become an industrial city of 75,000 people. with products having a value in single year of over $60,000.000.
 Niagara Falls power plants were many years in securing the factories which use their power and under ordinary conditions. it would no doubt, be many years before nil- lion horsepower could be sold in this region--but the Ford plaps con .em- plate the establishment of great in- dustries chiefly of the electric fur mace type using power in large amounts so that much of the oad for the power plants would soon be provided,
 No such industrial opportunity was ever offererd to Alabama and the Birmingham region as offered by he full development of Muscle Shoals. Selfish interests, fearing composition, will oppose it and try to delay it, as they always have, but the friends of Muscle Shoals have only to present