The New York herald., 1922-01-15
FORD FRETS OVER
! MUSCLE SHOALS
Charges Fertilizer Trust and
! Wall Street Men Cause
Delay.

WAsuINGToN. Jan. 14-Henry Ford
Secretary Weeks apparently was delay
ing settlement Nof the Muscle Shoals
proposition and that "the Fertilizer
Trust. the power and chemical interests
other interests that fear to have Muscle
Shoals developed along lines that will
serve all the people most, are deiuging
Weeks and Congress with literature
that grossly misrepresents the facts"
This is not political matter" Ford
added. 80 be jockied and juggled about.
Why doesn't Secretary Weeks take it
or leave 1t. yes or no. as he would a
private business matter? I mean that
now. after six months, he is still asking
what appears to me as irrelevant ques-
tions and delaying the settlement of this
matter. We didn't want Muscle Shoals
for selfish purposes in the first place ::
Hanged IL we care very much whether
or not We get 1t now. We did not make
the Government a selfish business prop
osition--it was an industrial philan-
thropy which we offered-an offer based
on a desire for great public service"
"A subsidy means getting something
from the Government for nothing.
We're not asking the Government for a
nickel-instead we are giving the Gov
ernment an offer unprecedented for its
generosity. II the fertilizer men think
this offer means subsidy. why don't
they go and talk to Major-Gen. Beach,
Chief of the Army Engineers. Say. those
fellows would climb the Washington
Monument rather than get the army
chiefs figures"
Discussing charges that he could net
make fertilizer at Muscle Shoals on a
profitable commercial basis. Mr. Ford de-
clared that Thomas A. Edison says we
can"
"Tm not a chemist" Ford went on.
''but Edison has been down there and
knows every detail OF this proposition.
He is working on this thing right now
IN his laboratory at East Orange. Hc
says that with Muscle Shoals we can
give the American people aibetter fertilizer
at much lower price than they have
ever had before.
''Why, II we can't make a good,
cheap fertilizer down there why does
the fertilizer trust flood Congress with
statements that If we get Muscle Shoals
we'll wreck the monopoly? We're going
t. the mat with them and make them
prove before Congressional committees
every statement they make.
I'VE have never needed Muscle Shoals
he continued. "The Government invited
Us, although we did not think we wanted
II, to make a bid for the property and
We finally did bid because. as we saw It,
IL gave US an opportunity to awaken
the whole American people to what they
cen do IL they will only study and utilize
the water power possibilities OF the
country. And the more we investigated
the thing the more we saw the great
wastes going on. We believe It Is our
cuty to remedy, II we can. some of these
wastes"
The question OF disposing OF the Gov
ernnent's properties at Muscle Shoals
to private interests by lease. purchase
or agreement to complete was divided
to-day into three separate parts
Law officers Of the War Department
were directed to begin the work OF fit
ting Into legal phrases a contract in
yolving Secretary Weekss desires with
regard to the proposal of Henry Ford.
which will be submitted to Congress
with comments as soon as the papers
are prepared and Mr.. Fords signature
Is affixed.
The offer submitted by c. C. Tinker
OF San Francisco was being rushed to
that city for modification, SO as to In
clude provision for the manufacture
or nitrates after the plants and dams
were ready for operation.
As third part Frederick Engstrum.
president OF tho Newport Shipbuilding
Company of Wilmington, and engineers
assisting him were engaged In making
slight changes in the offer he had SUBJ
mitted. These were said to involve the
inclusion OF a more definite provision
for nitrate manufacture at Muscle
Shoals than had been submitted.
Secretary Weeks reiterated his deter
rnination not 10 announce what com
ment' he would make in submitting the
Ford offer to Congress. He also was
insls.ent. In referring to the Ford pro-
posal. that IL be understood that his de-
cision In forwarding the question to
Congress did not imply an acceptance
or Endorsement of II on his part.