Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-09
FINDS FORD OFFER
FOR MUSCLE SHOALS
ONLY ONE OF MERIT
Majority Of Committee Recon-
mends Its Acceptance by U.
S. Without Corgas Plant.
THREE REPORTS OFFERED
BY Associated Press to Every Evening

with respect to private development
of the governments s10s. 900, 900 power
and nitrate projects Mt Muscle Shoals.
Ala. were made TO the House today
by members ID the military committee.
Tho task OF making final decision Ia
admitted in each of tho reports 10 be
tho duty OF the full membership OF
the House at an early date
Acting Chairman Mckenzie OF MI
hoIs. who drafted the ma jorlty report
declares that the Ford proposal was
the only one found worthy Of serious
consideration and asks It's acceptance
by the public provided, however. that
the GorRss steam plant Ia not included
among the projects to be disposed OF
at Muscle Shoals
Concurrence in the ma jorlty report
except for the references made with
respect 10 tho Gorsas plant. is voiced
In ono Of tho minority opinions pre-
sented by Representative Wright.
Democrat. Georgia and supported by
Representative James, Republican.
Michigan. and the remaining Demo
cratic members They ask full com
plisnce by. tho House with all pro
visions OF the Ford proposal. includ-
ing the Gorgas property, and point
out tho belief that II Congress elimi-
mates tho Go~gss unit II would defeat
the Ford offer
In the third report submitted by
Representative Parker. Republican. n.
New Jersey and signed by Repre-
sentative Frothlngha Republican d,
Ma ssachusetts. the opinion is adverse
to the acceptance OF Mr.. Ford's offer
unless It II modified in other sections
than that dealing with the Gorgar
plant. In the event Mr.. Ford declined
TO agree to the notifications proposed
the signers would have the secretary
Of war lease tho dams and nitrate
plants "on such terms as will secur,
m. completion OF the dams" and woult
authorize him to "sette the fair value
OF the GorEas plant<an convey tn.
same TO the Alabama Power Com.
pany."
Mr.. Mckenzie In the majority ~.
port says in part:
"A glance at tho figures set forth
will disclose the fact that up to dat,
the government has expended upol
this colossal undertaking somethinI
over 31os.ooo.o0o, approximately IS.
100000 OF which was expended upo,
the GorEas steam plant and trans
mission line"
Tho long investigation made by tn
committee. tho majority report says
convinces II that the money considera
ton In mot the vital one" but "i
Is the continuing considerations to b
performed by Mr.. Ford and his com
pany over a long period OF 100 year
which gives his proposal it's merit" an
caused the committee TO give Il IN
serious consideration resulting in tn
adoption OF his proposal. except Il
30 far as it includes the Gorsas plant
} In conclusion. the majority repor
says action by Congress is impera
tive. and immediate action mean
economy IL such action wisely provide
, for such disposition as will insure a
income for the government and not
continuous outlay.
Representative Wright points out, 1
} his minority report, that the questio
of disposing OF the vast properties ,
, Muscle Shoals rs fraught with ia
reaching and momentous results ar
. one OF the greatest which has ev,
, engaged the attention OF congress.
THE acceptance of the Ford offer
he says, would be a disposition OF tn
property resulting in great advantas
to the government and our people. tt
carrying out of the Ford offer wou
y moan the production Of almost 1.00C
' O00 HYDRO alarfrtc hnraa-nnxxar
q manufacture annually for one hundr,
. years Of nitrogen and other commerci
, fertilizers: the maintenance of mira
, plant No. 2 for 100 years in it's prese
state of readiness, or its equivaler
to be turned over 10 the governme
. for immediate operation in time OF W
for the production of explosives;
making navigable the Tennessee riv
a distance OF approximately go mil
through section abounding IN q
If richest and most varied material r
II sources such as many billions OF TO
q of coal and iron, almost inexhaustit
l. quantities OF timber. phosphate roc
d aluminium, zinc and other materia
n and thus bring these necessary m
terials by water transportation with
: easy access TO the industrial cente
of the world"
Too much stress. Mr.. Wright say
cannot be placed on the fertilizer pr
visions OF Mr.. Fords offer and, he d
clares. its acceptance carries "a ce
tainty of great development and
d attended with the promise of almo
unlimited possibilities for the accor
/ plishment OF many things for o
W country. one of which is to furni
II employment to many thousands
4 people now idle"
u "As we see IT," the report conclud
" "a vote for the Mckenzie bill. witho
~ an amendment TO include Gorgt
'e means the rejection OF the Ford offei
. Representatives Parker and Frot
a. ingham find fault with the Fo
offer in their report, declaring IN
= Sc. 10000 he offers for the nitre
!, plants. the Waco quarry, the Gorg
20 steam plant railroad and transmissi
= line is grossly inadequate"
(, Representative Wurzbach, Repuh
"a can. Texas. today telegraphed Repr
n sentative Wright authorizing his mai
or added to the signatures of the Geors
III members report.
IA,
[r. Shirtwaist dance. viscose Hall, Nj
III Gus Hook. Pa. Friday. June 9. Spec