Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-08-08

in Uncle Sans.
One point the papers do not agree upon is the
spelling of Muscle Cor MusseD Shoals.
Only few writer's look askance at the Ford Of
fer The Muncie Star is one of them. 1t quotes
the report OF the Mississippi Valley Association
which has reported that further expenditure OF
"less than twenty millions of dollars would com
plete the plant, which would yield a substantial re-
turn. Says the Star
eff by putting in twenty millions more, Of
which only ten millions would be appropriated tC
present the government can get profit on its one
hundred and twenty-five million dollar project foi
five millions and rental of little than one
per cent does not seem very alluring. But his
proposal adds force to the Mississippi Valley AS
socia-ion's report that Mussel Shoals is not vi
slonary undertaking and should be cmpeted"
The Chicago Tribune is even more suspicious O.
Ford. "If Muscle Shoals is good thing from ;
commercial standpoint why should the govern
ment turn 1t yer to private individual" it asks
adding that Mr. Ford's "philanthropc" offe
should be considered in the Eight of his war ser
wees and those of his exempted son, Edsel" Thu
attitude is exceptional rather than typical, how
ever though some writers while not directly op
posing private lease urge completion OF the plan
by the government. The Adrian Telegram be
lieVes that "the enterprise is either worth com
pleting or isn't; it will either pay profits on TWEEN
ty million dollars it won't" If it is wortl
Ieompleting, it concludes, and eff it will paw prof
ITS on twenty millions then we can afford to spent
that amount and we ought to spend it,
The Ford offer, The Philadelphia RECORD
points out has moved Congress to realize thai
there is something in Muscle Shoals which ar
until now has been neglected owing to "stupit
ignorant and wastefuP' partisanship. The Chat
tanooga Times takes somewhat similar view
adding that IF Mr.. Ford's proposition is not ac
cepted the government will either have to take
the plant and operate it else let it to private
enterprise on better terms than Ford's". While
1t sounds "Quxotic" to The Baltimore News
nevertheless the plan contains enough of posi-
bility to make it interesting and The St. Joseph
News-Press notes that while the. government
might do with the plant what Ford intends to
do, observation of governmental methods ex-
tending over long period of years." makes it
doubt that the leopard is going to change his
spots" The Buffalo Express thinks there is
only one thing about the proposition "that
should give the government pause" and that is
the length of time Ford asks-a hundred-vear
lease" A period of fifty years already set by
Congress in such cases, seems generous enough
to The Express"
The majority of the newspapers. however, ex-
press their approval of the plan without such
Qualifications, most of them adopting the attitude
expressed by The Philadelphia Bulletin. when it
remarks that If Henry Ford wants to get the
Muscle Shoals project out of the congressional
trenches" where is has lain for years. "let him
try it." While "he isn't much learned in history
and literature and has "some cranky propensi-
ties he would do we'll to discard" The Nashville
Banner feels that he has proved his executive
efficiency in conducting large industry and
he should be able to do a great deal" for Muscle
shoals The Tennessean of the same city is even
more enthusiastic, for it believes that Fords
great financial resources" combined with the
great dam for electric power, cyanide plants and
factories will result in unprecedented develop
ment of the surrounding territory. The Chatta-
aooga News agrees and adds that it would not
only be "a splendid thing for the South" but for
The nation as well, a sentiment in which The
Mobile Register concurs, concluding with the
hope that for the sake of all concerned the equip
nent will soon be in operation
The Hartford Times credits Ford with NERVE
and ability which are sure to carry him through
The Wichita Eagle is no less optimistic "Tf