The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-20
FORD TO Be ASKED
TO PAY INTEREST
ON SUM EXPENDED
Revised Offer of ManufaCtu-
rer Is No More Definite
Than His Previous
Representations
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS
Washington Bureau. The Age-Herald.
500 Davidson Building


Washington, December 19.-tSpe-
cial. THE Secretary of War de-
clared intention today of asking
Henry Ford whether or not he
would guarantee to pay interest on
whatever sum might be expended by
the government in completing Will
son dam and dam No. 8 at Muscle
Shoals, in the Tennessee river.
Fords revised offer for the govern
menes properties in north Alabama,
submitted through his agents, ]. w.
worthington and W B. Mayo.-svas no
more definite than his previous rep
reservations. AS result of his most
recent inspection of Muscle Shoals,
Mr.. Ford has concluded that instead
of SIS, 900 600 the completion of tina
two dams will cost $40, 100000. BY
indireetion he agreed today to pay
per cent interest per annum on
that sum.
at was merely the expression
of his opinion said Secretary
Weeks. ale guaranteed moth
ing. There Is still difference
of sI5,OOO,OOO between his esti-
mate of the cost and the estimate
of the governments engineers
Then it was that Mr.. Weeks de-
clared his intention of writing Mr..
Ford and asking him direct ques-
lions. It was plainly intimated that
to bring the matter to head. and
eliminate the question of varying es-
Inmates, Mr.. Weeks would ask Mr..
Ford to agree to assume whatever
cost to the government the compile
ton of the work would entail
All Are Melancholy
Following the conference between
the secretary and the representative
of Ford. three very melancholy gem
tlemen presented themselves to
score of expectant correspondents.
Pessimism was the keynote to the
situation. Mr.. WorthingtoM declined
to talk. The secretary was lugu
brious, for evidently he had expected
Mr. Ford to talk in definite language.
When pressed. the secretary admitted
that Mr.. Ford after having gone -
Muscle Shoals with Thomas A. Ed
son, had sent him letter throug /
his agents. In the letter the De-
troita manufacturer had stated as
opiaion to the effect that The two
Attbio AOAAN " NNaAi'ANtNN ACA Ff'fR9FT-
600
1t was expected that Mr.. Ford
would have spoken Of the POSSIBLE
ties of the project, of his prospective
employment of 100000 men, Of his
intention to construct metropolis In
the Tennessee valley, Of his belief
that 100000 horsepower could
be generated with consummate cas-
And IT was expected that he woult
state in unequivoeal terms whether or
not he would meet the requirements
Of the government in the matter OF
money payments,
But, according to the secre-
tary, he said nothing of n den-
mite character. The secretary
WINS obviously disappointed. But
he intimated TO newspaper men
that he would Immediately write
to Ford and ask him directly what
he intended TO do. or would do.
Ii was apparent that he intends
to bring the matter to head. He
IL very anxious to net, he inti-
mated in such, manner as to put
the proposition out of his hand
and into the hands of Congress.
While to a greater extent than ever
before, pessimism prevailed today
among the congressional hackers OF
the Ford offer, despair has not set in
These congressman believe that Fort
is so certain that he would be able
to accomplish such great things, for
mankind as a result Of his operation
of Muscle Shoals that he win nor
longer bicker with the Secretary but
make him a definite. clear-cut state
ment regarding the acceptance or
which the secretary could not afford
to hesitate.