Arizona republican., 1921-09-27
The Muscle Shoals Project

The Muscle Shoals Project
 In the now much discussed nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the United States has it's greatest opportunity war project into a peace time asset instead of liability. Started at when the nitrates for explosives oyer- shadowed all questions of economy the great Muscle Shoals project stands idle and partially completed while the naton and especially the South is crying aloud the for fertilizer which it should be providing.
 Early last May the Mississippi Valley association appointed committee to investigate the Muscle Shoals project. The committee submitted its first report following of the plant latter part of the same month and its findings should be re- ceived with interest by member of congress and every citizen.
 The Muscle Shoals project should be completed two paramount It will produce nitrogen for fertilizer in large quantities and cheapy, when fertilizer is vitay essential to the agricultural industry of the East and South, and it will relieve a power shortage large area of the country and make possible saving of 6.50o.ooo tons of a year. As lesser benefit it will mean the opening to navigation of the Tennessee river.
 This project to have consisted of four great nitrate plants hydro-electric plant to furnish power The hydro plant, centering in a greatest the world, with generating capacity of 6o0o00 horsepower. This dam under way when the project stopped, and now quarter of million yards concrete blocks the river channel and a huge construction camp nearby stands idle and deserted
 Two of the four nitrate plants were completed The first employs the Haber process. which is stin in experimental stage but which promises ultimate while the second, using the cyanimd process was operating commercially when closed. These and the two prospective plants designed to render fJ,fs inda Of nitr all-important ingredient explosives. As to the dam, the committee declares:
 eThat congress should deliberately abandon the al-important dam which is essential for supplying cheap power that is needed to enable this plant to aid importantly in the repenishing of the soil in this country is unthinkable."
 Yet that is just what congress has done so far Meanwhile, costing s5ooooo only to guard the project while losses running into millions certain through deterioration. The com- mittee's report points that profitable crop not be produced in the eastern and southern states speaking generally, without the of fertilizer the demand for which is far beyond the supply. This fertilizer demand be filled to great extent by the Muscle Shoals project plant. while the power generated by the dam will be gigantic economic factor. both increasing and cheapening industrial production in a large area
 In it's report the committee compares the Muscle Shoals project with the Roosevelt Lam pToJect lnes latter, it points out, representing investment of s1ooO0,ooo. generating 10000 horsepower and irri- gating 213o00 and while livelihood is thus furnished to 4o00 their families Instead of making profitable cultivation of limited area by supplying the missing element-water-the Muscle Shoals project, when finished, would make possible the profitable cultivation of considerable portion of the United States by supplying the missing ele- ment-nitrogen In addition 1t states, it will aid our economic structure by providing cheap power and cheap transportation most of the lower Mssis- sppi valley
 The committee concludes its report with the only recommendations that be made on the Muscle Shoals project:
 "The immediate appropriation of s1o,ooo,oOo to enable construction the dam to be resumed
 Tn view of the fact that the government cannot transfer it's right to manufacture nitrate by the cyanamid process to others than the patentee a government controlled corporation corporations should be established to operate both the hydro electric power and nitrate plants giving preference to agriculture, but always reservng the right to resume control and operation in event of war
 Surely we are to ignore greatest oppor- tunity to literally swords into plowshares