Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-06
SOUTH BENEFITS IF
FORD GETS SHOALS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Aug. 4.-"The
extent of Henry Ford's development
at Muscle Shoals, provided his bio
is accepted, depends entirely on the
amount of hydro-electric power
which can be developed there It
will be so stupendous that the whole
south will feel the effects"
This was the statement today by
| w. G. Waldo, consulting engineer of
the Tennessee River Improvement as
soclatlon in an interview. Mr.
| waldo studied the Muscle Shoals
proposition for the Tennessee River
association and presented a report to
Mr.. Ford, and was present when the
Ford proposal was drafted.
ITO give you an idea of the posi-
bilities," he continued, "the best way
Isl to compare Muscle Shoals with
Niagara Falls. With 100000 horse
power, Niagara Falls produces $780,
100000 worth of products yearly. We
believe that Muscle Shoals, when de-
veioped as Mr.. Ford plans to de-
velop it, will produce 1000. 600 horse
power.
The greatest handicap in the past
has been that the possibility of
power development there was so
tremendous that never before was
there way clear for finding suffi-
Gent industries to utilize it. The
field CLIO "-o
with Mr.. Ford's proposal it is
dlqerent. He will utilize such a large
part or the power for his own indus
tIles-the nitrate plant, his great
electTlc furnaces and the other work
tE ne prospes to carry on there
that the profitable use Of the mower
will be possible from the start. How
ever, a large surplus of the cheanest
power IN the United States will still
De available for other industries"
south Backing Proposal
w. Ashcratt, president of the
chamber of commerce at Florence
Ala, and financial director of the
tennessee Improvement association
uGcldfed that the south is lining IN
aIluost SoHdly behind the Ford nrn-
posa!. Messrs. Ashcraft and waldo
ere IN birmingham to further the
fti1tlptalgn of the Tennessee associa-
nromota oe money Tor campaign to
f. f., U1iloIG acceptance of Mr.. Ford's Of
ae[: rye thousand dollars will ho
Ssheo OF birmingham, Mr., Ashnr.ft
saia. Memphis, Tenn, he dec1ar e.
'if'u .t1 aaIready pledged a similar amount
si+io ME there is still some ONO
cirnIns 20 the Ford offer in certain
craft said l.! .sR e ae1G; ere Mr.. Ash
-, olu proposed development of Mi
re ohoais means to the south D.
oauSIng business interests throuoI
Uut the 1tected territory tn oct bn
nlnd 1t: | have been assured the s1 ne
PorI OF the Birmingham Chamber ~
Dotiiillnefce and of other civic orean;-
a aat;; mere, just as L have in Other
Gigantic Construction Program
means a /$1O0,O0O,OOO constrnctioa,
program at the jump, Mr.. Waldo De.
cared, passing his estimates on The
cn n}s iheerlng surveys made by him
sell, sell and Ford engineers. Twenty
unions y must be spent on dam No,
: and eight millions on dam No. :
ne SAID with twenty millions more
n ne sor riyer o2 NM IN the upper Ten
nave nave to spend $23, 100000 on addi-
tional processes in connection with
the the, nitrate plants. In addition, there
T III De neavy expenditures for Mr..
Mr.. Ford is Completely hemmed
IN at Highland Park, Detroit, bv
ether industries" Mr.. Waldo sail
He has been able to find no field
where sufficient power is available
Tor the great electric furnaces which
are essential to carry on the indus
trla! program he has in mind, such
as the melting up of old freight cars
from which he can make alloy ANA
build three new cars from each old
one"
Asked regarding reports that Mr..
Ford plans to produce aluminium at
Muscle Shoals. Mr.. Waldo declared
that some of the nations richest
bauXite deposits are in eastern Ten
nessee, close to Muscle Shoals.
There is no doubt that he has
long wanted to secure a supply of
aluminium and other metals whioh
would permit of the making of far
lighter, more economical cars" Mr.
Waldo said. I'm order to do this,
however, the raw materials for al l.
minum and other alloys must be
available and, in the second place,
sufficient power for the economical,
working of them must be had. Elec-
trio furnaces are essential to cheap
production. Muscle Shoals offers the
possibility of all these things"
4