The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-03-09

the Committee was disappointed by
the failure of Henry Ford to accept
it's invitation, and elucidate his offer
for the great Niagara Of the South"
But the Alabama Power Company,
which is likewise a bidder for the
property, is not so modest, and
Thomas w. Martin, president of the
company; told the committee that
his company holds an option for the
exclusive right to purchase the war
rior Steam plant, contained in the
contract signed with the War De-
partment, by which power was sup
piled by the plant during the war for
operation of nitrate plants at Mus
Gle Shoals. Mr.. Ford includes this
property in his offer to the War De-
partment despite the claim to it of
the Alabama company.
The feature of the hearing brings
out the facts that the Alabama in
terests that are seeking to purchase
Muscle Shoals have already won
their spurs in the South by creating
and carrying on large developments,
and that it would seem that they
should be given particular considera-
ton on account of their accomplish
ed achievements. On the other
hand Mr.. Ford is being pictured as
a later-day carpet Dagger" SO far
rs this particular proposition is con-
,erned But Ford is Ford, and there
are none like him-hence the Ford
enthusiasm in connection with Mus
lie Shoals. It may nevertheless, be
regarded, as unfortunate for the pub
lie interests that the investigation
before Congress does not disclose the
particular merits claimed for the
Ford offer. 1t is said that Mr.. Ford
will make alterations in his PROPOSE
ion. 1t is clear that the Govern
ment will not do business with him
1nless these changes are far more
favorable than anything contained
n the earlier proposals.
RADIO ENTHUSIASM
EVERYWHERE
A year ago there were $4,000 wire
less telephone receiving sets in the
country; today there are 100000 sets.
fhe only reason why there aren't
more is because the supply has be-
come inadequate to the demand.
every night theses.sets are used. by
heir owners and their guests to par
.icipate in lectures and concerts that
Ire Thrown into the air. in New
FORK, Washington, Chicago, De-
roit, San Francisco, and other cities.
The delight of one "bug" when he
inds sympathetic radio soul is
,qual to the fraternity of Elks gath
cred at Volstead club-sideboards.
Secretary of Commerce Hoover has
aiken the initiative in bringing the
representatives of commercial radio
md others into a conference for the
purpose of developing plans for con-
.rol of the other, which he says,
S threatened with being filled with
frantic chaos"
1t is of course very clear that if
The owners of the 10000 instruments
hat have been put into operation,
we're all to do "broadcasting" at
1nce that the sound would have
he notices of Babel faded. "It is
therefore primarily question of
broadcasting, says Mr.. Hoover, who
adds that cit becomes of primary in
terest to say who is to do the broad
casting and under what circum-
stances, and with what type of ma
terial. 1t is inconceivable that we
should allow so great a possibility
for service, for news, for entertain
ment, for education, and for vital
commercial purposes, to be drown
ed in advertising chatter, or for
commercial purposes than can be
quite well served by our other means
of communication"
While radio has sprung into popu-
lar favor in a few weeks, it's Won
lers have been utilized by CONNER
cial interests for many years. The
giant stations of the world have
been in communication with each
other for many years. But now
everyone is to have RADIO" and
strange to say that it costs the in.
dividual less than talking machine