The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-10-27
WASHINGTON LETTER
By J. E. JONES.
THE SLUMP IN FERTILIZERS

of the country have been dumping
the bumps for the past two years.
Their securities have shrunk, their
dividends have disappeared, and
hey say that they might get along
spite Of all this, if they could only
lake their collections. Cheap cotton,
he lack of productions. Cheap cotton,
md the general depression among
armers throughout the country have
,een responsible for the slump in
ertilizers.
The farmers have shaved expenses
" going without fertilizers, thus
mpoverishing the land and lessening
production. Out of this condition
here has arose very natural agita-
ion for cheaper fertilizers" Fer
ilizer production is sufficient in the
ountry to meet the farmers needs,
tut if fertilizers were cheaper per-.
APPS the farmers would not do with.
,ut them, even during hard times.
n consequence the talk of utilizing
he big White Elephant at Muscle
'hoals, Alabama, to manufacture
cheap fertilizers" is being agitated.
When this plant was projected dur
ng the war it was expected to "take
litrates out Of the air." and per-
'orm other wizard-like stunts, which
lobody except the experts under
stand exactly. But the war blew
p, and the Musrle Shoals war-baby
ost it's rattle. Someone suggested
nat it should be turned a fertilizer
manufacturing institution, and when
Ienry Ford offered to do song and
-ance for the great plant, there
we're visions of fertilizers on the bar
.ain counters and possibly in the
We and ten cent stores.
The report of George E. Roberts
itrate director for the War Depart
nent, shows that the plant is especial
adapted to the manufacture Of
iulphate Of ammonia, and this pro-
iuct is found to be selling so cheap,
wing to overproduction, that Mus
lie Shoals would sink farther into
he quagmire of speculative chaos il
IS activities should be turned in
hat direction. The War Depart
lent evidently finds no warrant in
he claims that Muscle Shoals can
,e converted into a fertilizer plant.
md in consequence the Ford PROPOSE
ion is looked upon as dead issue.
There is, however, one Of the great
st power producing plants in the
.ountry at Muscle Shoals, and there
S an insistence' in and out Of the
Var Department that it be linked up
With the new development along this
inc in the South, in order that it
nay pull its proper load in the in
lustrial harness.
RECORD WATERPOWER
ACTIVITY
The Secretary of War has issued
statement that is full Of optimism
concerning the waterpower develop
ihent Of the country. Since last
March, Mr.. Weens tells us, the Fed
eral Power Commission has authoriz-
ed the issuance of licenses and tenn
porary permits that involve $780,
700 horsepower, which is equal TO
the aggregate of all applications
approved by the several executive
parties during the fifteen years pre-.
ceding June, 1920 Notwithstand-
in gthe industrial situation, the
statement continues, projects ag-
gregating 1,277,OO0 horsepower and
an investment of approximately
$10O,00O,000 are already under con-
struction in New York, Alabama,
Wisconsin, Oregon and California. "
The 256 applications filed with the
Commission involve 100000 horse
power. In most cases the develop
ment OF this power will relieve the
load being carried by the burning of
coal to manufacture steam and pro-
duce power.
THE PARTY OF THE
THIRD PART
AT the very outset of the war
there was organized the War Labor
Board. In order that it might have
behind it the greatest possible
amount IF prestige, President Will
son summond ex-President Taft as
its head. This Board passed upon
all differences between employers
and employees in the industrial estab-
lishments of the country and func-
toned in the interests of speeding
up the war;"
When the war was over the indus
trial interests of the country had
been converted to the wisdom Of in
Guiding "the party of the third part"
in the settlement of their industrial