Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-17
Advises More U. S.
Expenditure on
Muscle Shoals Plant

Washington, Dec. 16-Seven ana
one-half millions Of dollars can be
profitably expended" in new work on
the Muscle Shoals. Alabama, nitrate
and water power project during the
fiscal year OF 1921 Major General
Beach, chief Of army engineers. says
In his report today to the Secretary
Of War. Work on the project was
shut down last April as q result OF
the refusal OF Congress to appropriate
further funds for It and the govern
rnent now is negotiating for the sale
and lease OF the plant to Henry Ford.
A financial summary prepared by
General Beach shows that to date a
net total of $t5,27s,S28 has been ex-
pended on the project which. the
general says, ID about one third COM
pleted, the percentages of completion
for the various units being: Wilson
Dam 45 per cent: powerhouse IL per
cent, and locks 10 per cent. The sum
expended in the fiscal year ended last
June 80 was 37,S40,78l. the principal
items listed by General Beach being:
Dam construction. $3,10S,So0; pow
erhcuse construction. 3l.o17,000;
Mainline railroads, construction,
maintenance and operation 34S5.5O0:
general plant, purchase, construction,
operation and maintenance, $780,
200; camp construction, maintenance
and operation, 3723,500; general ex-
penses including flood losses, labor
recruiting. and Office. expenses, $751;
800. and lock construction 3145.800.
On last July l. the balance avaiia-
BILE out Of funds appropriated was
$s98.92l and General Beach says this
will be expended by next August al
the expenses of guarding and main
tanning the property average $4,000
q month.
Should additional funds be pro-
vided," General Beach says. 1.-THE
work to be done would be: Construc-
ton of Cofferdam& No. 2 and work
therein: continuation OF excavation
for lock; continuation of concrete
work in dam and continuation of ex-
cavation and concrete construction
for powerhouse. The amounts ex-
pended for each would depend upon
the date and amount Of the appropri-
alton. The rate Of expenditure should
be approximately $S25.ooo per
month"
Discussing the present state Of the
work. General Beach says:
IAN preparatory work in the ma
ture Of camps, roads. railroads,
plants, shops. etc, is completed. Earth
excavation for the lock, is 80 per cent.
completed and rock excavation IL per
cent. About Sc per cent. of the exca-
walton and foundations for the dam
are completed and about 36 per cent.
of the concrete placed. About 4s per
cent. OF the excavation for the power
house section is completed and APP
proximately as per cent. Of the con-
crete placed.
Following suspension of construc-
ton, property has been collected and
stored, rented floating property re-
turned and construction equipment
placed in condition for indefinite
storage or lay-up. The navigation Of
the river is completely blocked by the
work in its present condition"
Describing the project in some de-
tail. General Beach says:
The existing project provides for
the construction of two locks, a dam,
and powerhouse, 81 miles above the
railroad bridge at Florence. Ala, Sc
curing a least depth Of IL feet at
extreme low water for a distance Of
14.7 miles, and for the generation of
electric power for the production of
nitrates or other products needed
for munitions OF war. and useful in
the manufacture of fertilizers and
ether useful products. The length Of
the entire section is 366 miles, its
lower end being 2e5.5 miles above the