South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-01
FLOCK
TO MUSCLE SHOALS
AS NEW Ell DORADO
Neritable Stream of Humanity
Pours Into the Niagara
of the South.

With the interest Of the nation fxod
for months on Muscle Shoals. an In
Gux OF people TO the district has con-
sdtutod a problem that has taxed
the ingenuity Of town and civic au-
thorities
Agitation Of the potential strength
OF 'tbe SOuth's Niagara" and the
possibilities that were expected TO be
speedily fulfilled i'm event Of develop
nent of the latent war project, turn
cd a veritable stream of humanity
jn search of the FL Dorado. Folks
came on foot, i'm horse carts, in mo-
tor cars. in day coaches and I'm pala-
tial drawing rooms There were
mon with money seeking invest
ments; men in overalls hunting
work. There were adventurers look
ing for anything they might find
Some spent money lavishly; others
were wards of the community and
had 10 be fed
THE problem at once became so
grave that the town authorities of
Florence. Sheffield and Tuscumbia
municipalities composing the dis
trict's "tri-cities' out a warm
lDg stay away from Muscle Shoals
unless YOU come on legitimate bust
ness and have an engagement in adj
vance,
This stopped some of tho fortune
hunters. but yet they came.
The first offer for the govern
mcnt's property caused complete
motamorphosis Of The district. The
community was stunned when war
work was stopped the day the arm
.stice was signed Putting machin-
cry in standby" condition was "A
symbol Of dissipatcd hopes But the
resultant somnolent condition was
rc1waboned overnight when the
word went forth Muscle Shoals
is to Toe developed. Everybody in
the district believed that a bid meant
other bids and that competitors i'm
tine field would result ia acknowI-
edEemont 10y the government that
Muscle Shoals would not he scrap
ped
The people Of The district formed
the policy Of extending a coming
hand 90 builders and the real estate
..'.H tH" OBJ Tue NaLIHt flLAN~ AN III nj
tlar realty prices should not ascend
beyond unreasonable levels These
boards. it is stated. have largely
controlled prices Of real estate 4
few spccuIators edged in however.
and small tracts of undesirable land
have been optioned and sold 40 fig
urcs not within bounds set by the
realty associations III is asserted
though. that actual cheating and
takins has trapped bat few persons.
There are no swamp or low lands i'm
the region. the realtors declare. but
some Of the property offered is sit
uatcd many miles from the Tennes-
zee river and the nitrate projects.
Much property is said 20 have
changed hands over a stretch of
territory along the river for a dis
lance of % miles. The state of Mich
i-Ir . is said has furnished more
buyers than all other states COM
bred with the possible exception
Of Alabama Town lots have sold
7t from few hundred dollars 90
$4,000 Farm land contiguous TO
.ho towns has brought from $50 70
$l-1 per acre. Many OF these near
rv farm tracts have been optio0ed
0r purchased with view Of SUBJ
dividing .u event of looked-for de-
yef0pwcrts.
Authorities of the tri-ciues say
.hr three municipalities will corsti-
cute The hub from which VIII radlate
one of tho industrial miracles OF
r.e aEe 1o matter who the success
lu bidder may be for the govern
men. property
ENrIvaEcnt stories circulated con-
ruln- conditions IN the dis.r.c;
brought omit The Muscle Shoals
Book Endorsed by the town and
civic orsanilatlonS ana ediled ul one
tDr~ 10 sets forth authentic data
tor those VINO have the vision and
! d .Hrr-. u rH.H o. 4