The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-01-25
MUSCLE SHOALS
RICH IN PROMISE
Ford Would Make Greatest Effort. On
to Washington.


Detroit, Mich, Jan. 1.-THE Muscle
Shoals plan of Henry Ford contem-
plates one Of the greatest undertake
ings in the history of industrial Amer
lea and If the Detroit manufacturer OBJ
ta1ns possession of the project in Ala
Dama he Will take immediate steyps to
make that part Of the South one of the
industrial centers of the country, the
Associated Press learned today. His
plan, 1T became known, includes de-
Velopment OF the property as model
10 be extended eventually to many 9TH
er parts CT the country.
Mr. Ford's proposal includes the
building Of a city rs miles long in the
Muscle Shoals region. It would be
made up Of a number Of large towns
Or small cities. This is in line with
the manufacturers view that men and
their families should live in small COM
munlties where benefits OF rural or
near rural life would not be entirely
lost.
Ills proposal to the government in
cludes leasing Of the property for 100
years. But before the expiration NJ
half that time he proposes to turn
the completed project over to the peo-
pie OF the district or to the govern
ment In such way that no one in
the future will be able to make ner-
sonal profit from the undertaking ua
VIII arrange that neither he nor any of
MS heirs may realize any monetary
Deneht from the Muscle Shoals plant
or the power developed, it became
known.
Mr., Ford proposes to make the pro-
Ject, II the government gives its con.
sent, the outstanding achievement of
his career.
The Muscle Shoals project is how
ever, only the start of a greater nro-
gram, 1T became known. This includes
the development Of water power "a
ciiitles In many parts of thecountrv
by which persons in those comn,r,,
tles would derive power to run mann
racturing plants, lifht their homes and
run machinery on the farms. One
uetall of the plan is the harnessine
NY 1anmers Of every creek. and brook
tnat crosses their property.
WI. tofd expects to leave here about
noon tomorrow for Washington to CON
1er with Secretary Weeks reeardino
MS proposal Of leasing the Alabama
plant.
- 'he government accepts Mr.. Ford,s
oio' work at Muscle Shoals will he
started at once. The nitrate and otbor
pants would be run by steam power
pending the time the great dam. that
VIII require about two years to ,build
has harnesscd the water at this no;nt
men would follow development, in tho
opinion of Mr.. Ford, until within
comparatively few years an industr,a,
center greater than Detroit .youId
nave been built up.
MI. Ford believes the Muscle Shoals
plan, If consummated, will be the
start toward development of the Mis-
sisstppi River valley. The manufac-
turer believes this valley could run
the United States" If the water now
going to waste could be utilized.
Eventually, in Mr.. Ford's opinion.
the government could derive enough
revenue from these power pl ojects to
support itself, thereby revolutionizing
the financial system Of the country. Mr..
ford has bent the greater part OF his
er eieles the last few weeks to the
whipping into shape his plans to de-
yelop the Alabama district in the event
ne obtains the lease from the govern
ment. He has held large number OF
conferences on this matter and his
program is known to be ready. This
program includes definite steps toward
development OF water power in every
part of the country The manufacture
er does not believe 1t practicable to
carry power for long distances and
therefore has evolved plan to pro-
vide each district with It's own project
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GREENWOOD MAN
ysyHn