The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-19
ALABAMA POWER 7. CO.'S INTEREST
h Muscle Shoals 1912-1921

sCrfcfcs Of the Alabam Power com pany are endeavoring to make 1t ap- bear that this company was not in- terested and had no desire to secure the Muscle Shoals properties until MT. Ford submitted his offer
 On December 10, 1918, with the pur- pose in view of tying together the great water power systems of the south, MT. J. W. Worthington, now one of Mir. Ford's principal supporters, was authorized by the Alabama Pow CT company to submit a proposal to the government for the construction of Dams 2 and at Muscle Shoals, in connection with storage develop ments on Little river and at Chero- kee Bluffs on the Tallapoosa river, and this plan was recommended to Congress by the government engi- neers. (House Document 20, Sixty third Congress. second session.)
 No action having been taken by Congress on this proposal of 1913, a further study was made by govern ment engineers and the same plan ap- proved in 1916, Mfr. Worthington again acting for the power company (House Document 1262. Sixty-fourth Con gress. first session.) It was, however, recommended in the last report that in view of the passage of section 124 Ol tAC (cionSc ACI OI lS1Ot action on the proposal be suspended until. 1t was determined whether the Muscle Shoals power would be utilized for the nitrate plant.
 The Alabama Power company's po- sition in the matter was loudly ap- plauded and actively supported by the people of the Tennessee valley, its principal supporters then being it's principal opponents today. One of the newspapers in north Alabama, which is now most critical in it's attitude toward this company, said in an edi- torial in 1914:
 "The vast power on the Coosa and the Warrior and the Tallapoosa ana the Tennessee must be harnessed and put to work. Let us have more James MitchelPs of London, bringing Brit ish{gold for Alabama's development" SHresident Wilson in 1917 ordered that the nitrate plants be located at Muscle Shoals. The donation by the Alabama Power company of the sites and flood rights which the govern ment required for this development, terminated the connection of the power company with these proper ties, Thereafter for period of near 1y three years the government was busily engaged in spending many mil Hons of dollars in these developments. It will be recalled that Senator Underwood was successful in securing the approval of the Senate to an additional appropriation for the con- 1nuation of this work. but the House of Representatives on March 4, 1921, finally declined to vote such appropri- atton, and activity at Muscle Shoals ceased.
 Within less than 30 days after Con-
 T funds, on April 2, 1921, Gen. Lansing II. Beach. chief of engineers of the United States army, addressed a com munication to the Alabama Power company inquiring as to what ar rang gements could be made to derive q reasonable return upon the invest ment of the United States in the pow CT plant at Muscle Shoals.
 'If you are interested" wrote Gen. eral Beach, T would be pleased to discuss the matter with you at this effice at the earliest date that may De mutually determined"
 ..On May 2S. 1921, more than 30 days before Mir. Ford submitted his pro- pbsal to the Secretary of War, Thomas ". Martin, president of the Alabama Flower company. replied to General Beachs letter, setting out therein a brief review of the company's activi- ties at Muscle Shoals, accepted Gen eral Beach's invitation to assist the Government in completing the dtvel- opment, and concluded his letter with the following paragraph:
 i"If, therefore, authority is confer red by Congress to conclude a con- tract for the use of any part of the power by power companies. we wish to assure you that we are ready to work out a mutually satisfactory ar Engagement looking to vne completion of the dam and the disposal of such fart of the power as Congress wishes to rlace in commercial use; desiring now, as at all times In the past. to co-operate in every way desired by the United States in working out the matter"
 f On July .. 1921. Mir. Ford submitted his first proposal to the Secretary of War.
 1t will thus be seen that for nine years no person or interest ever made any attempt to provide for the de- velopment of Muscle Shoals except the Alabama Power company; that it has given more toward this develops inent than any one else, both In money Rnd in effort; and that if any inter est has the right today to develop Muscle Shoals. that interest is the Alabama Power company.-Adv