New Britain herald., 1922-02-02
MUSCLE SHOALS PLAN
 UP BEFORE CONGRESS
tcontinuod from First Pago)
the benefits 10 navigation as well as the possible needs of the government would warrant this expenditure"
 Ln.I AIinLt DrnAI

| the possible needs of the government would warrant this eXnenditure,'
 Govt, Might Profit
 "If this were done" he continues, | the government may itself undertake to sell the product to ihe best ad' vantage. In such case the amount of the governments present proposed in- yestmcnt would be very materially re- duccd, because dam number three costing from slS,O00, oO0 to s25, 5,ooO,- | 600 would not be built and it would not he necessary to make the full in- ! staIlaton Of power plant on the Will son dam until the market required such installation,
 Difference Of Millions.
 This partial installation" he ,cX- plaincd would effect saving of { present investment In at least the sum of s3,0o0,0oo, leaving, according 10 the chief engineers estimate, not to exceed 22,0oo, ,00O to be invested by | the government at this time instead ! of $40, ,o0o, 00O 10 $50, ,oo0,Ono."
 The question of unemployment i' recognized as factor to be consid- cred by congress in connection witt 1 its treatment of the Muscle Shoals question.
 Employment Possibilities.
 "At this timc' he declared when there is a large amount of unem. ployment 1t is not without importance to consider the advantage 10 the na- ton Of the employment of the large amount of labor required in under taking this development. l therefore urge that congress give early consid. eraton to this matter, not only tc settle controverted question but tc furnish employment on a large scale.
 He emphasized the necessity fol determining whether the advantage to the government in having nitrate plant number two maintained in readi
 ness for the manufacture of eX
 plosives and in actual production o
 fertilizer, together with the improve ment to navigation, is of sufficient i'm
 portance to justify the proposed de parture from the present policy of tht law in regard to dealing with the waterpower resources of the natior and to warrant leasing to MT. Fort government property for so long { period at the rental proposed.
 Favors 50 Year Contract.
 "I believe it would be a better policy" the secretary wrote 'to limit the contract to a term of 50 years | Gnstead of 1o0) to conform with the established policy of the federal gov ernment as set out in the waterpower act"
 Secretary Weeks outlined 10 con- gress the offer by Mir. Ford in this | way:
 Fords Proposition.
 Mir Ford offers to undertake the completion of dam number two and I the construction of dam number 1 three according to the governments | plans for which he shall be reim' l bursed the actual cost and to lease | the dams and power plants at an an l nual rental equivalent to four per cen 1 of the cost to the government of com l pleting dam number two and con i structing dam number three, (ex- 1 elusive of the cost of acquiring lands and 1owage rights necessary for dam number three.
 "rhe rentals of four per cent are | to commence, respectively in six years l after dam number two has been com pleted to the point where equipment | for 100,O horsepower is installed and ready for service and three years after the equipment to develop S0,000 horsepower is installed and ready for service at dam number three. In the meantime during the six year and three year periods, respectively he of fers to pay, upon dam number two an annually rental of s20O,00O and or dam number three $160,0o0.
 Govt. Responsible.
 i His offer places upon the United States the responsibility for repair anc maintenance of the two dams other than the power houses, which powe1 | houses and electrical equipment hs agrees to maintain at his own expense
 in efficient operating condition. A f compensation to the United States fo the repair and upkeep of dam mum | Der two and locks he offers to pay thu | sum of S35,0 ,000 annually and of dan l number three and lock the sum 0 | s2n00O annually. He also agrees t furnish electricity for operating thu l locks at each of these dams Withou | charge to the government and in ad | dition he agrees to pay the sum o | S23373 semi-annually for the purpos | Of building up d sinking fund to re | turn to the United States at the en' 1 of the lease period, a sum of none