Evening star., 1922-02-22
ALABAMA POWER
MAKES SB|DFORDAM
President Says They Would
Only Call on Government
for Aid for Locks.

The Alabama Power Company, which
Is bidding against Henry Ford for the
power development at Muscle Shoals,
Is prepared to go ahead with and COM
plete the great Wilson dam. now about
80 per cent finished, without calling
upon the government for any further
expenditure except for the locks, ac-
cording to Thomas w. Martin, presi-
dent Of the company, now in Washing
ton.
Mr. Martin said that it would re-
quire about s3O.OOO,OOO to complete
this dam, and that his company had ar
ranged to finance the project. He said
that Henry Ford. on the other hand,
proposes that the government shall
nnance the construction of this dam,
and that Mr.. Ford shall pay the gov
ernment in the neighborhood Of 4 per
cent on the money so invested. Mr..
Ford. however. is asking practically a
perpetual title to the power project,
Mr.. Martin said. Also. he said, Mr..
FORD does not propose to pay the gov-
ernment any interest on the SIT, 900, 900
"
pended on the Wilson dam
What Ford Proposes.
All that Mr.. Ford proposes to do"
sald Mr. Martin, 'is to pay the govern
ment s1,O00,000 in five installments. and
for this he proposes that the govern
ment shall turn over to him the two
nitrate plants it owns at Muscle Shoals,
which cost the government $4,000 900.
the governments interest in the Gorgas
steam plant and Transmission line and
the sheffield steam plant.
Mr. Ford proposes to manufacture
mabi,as materials . Tor use in constructing auto
tillzers, using the nitrate plants for
p<pfltably. He gives ~ no e positive sf 90 $50 50
surance that he will turn out the fer
tillzers 1or the farmers of the country.
i;, upoh Wnlcn SO much stress has been
it pays" '''''
Tells Of His Company.
Mr. Martin said that his company
development in Alabama for many
years; that it had built itself up from
small beginnings, and was TO-DAY serv-
ing large territory with power. He
SAID that his company owns a steam
pIant at Warrior Reserve. and this
pant was enlarged during the war,
rne government putting up the
money; Mr.: Ford now proposes, he
says that the government shall take
part of this plant, which is CLOSELY
entwfned with the property Of the
power company. and turn it over to
MN. There are coal mines located
there, and the property is owned by
the power company. Mr.. Ford. Mr.
Martin said, desires the government
fields wal
Il do not see how the government
can take private property for the pur-
pose OF turning IT over to another pri-
vate owner" said Mr. Martin. II DO
not believe that such a practice would
stand in the courts
Mr.. Martin pointed out that If his
company is allowed to proceed with
lhe deveiopment Of hydro-electric
power at Muscle Shoals it means that
cities of the southeast will benefit by
1t, New Orleans, Memphis, etc.
Ihe Alabama Power Company's Of
fer for the project leaves to the gov
ernment the possession Of the two
nitrate plants. which it may operate
or lease for operation, as it sees fit,
In brief the offer Of the power COM
pany is:
Alabama COmpany's Offer.
!: For completing the Wilson dam
without further advances or expendi-
it's locks. A-
2. For leaving the government in
full title and possession Of the two
nitrate plants and the Waco quarry
for such disposition either by lease or
otherwise as 1t sees fit for securing
nitrates for munitions Of war or ferti.
lizer, with proper provisions to safe
guard the interest of the govern
ment in case of war or other emer-
gency.
8. For 100000 horsepower (second-
ary) free of cost for operation of one
or both nitrate plants for the pro-
war either by the governpent or its
nominee.
4. For the purchase by the company
of this 100000 horsepower in case the
government does not SO use it.
5. For the payment Of $4,000, 900 for
the governments interest in the
Gorgas steam plant and transmission
s. In submitting the offer the COM
pany proposes that all it's rights and
obligations be fixed by a license for
a period of fifty years, with right to
recapture by the government under
the terms and provisions of the fed
eral water power law.
THE Alabama Power Company, said
ing in large field; it's rates and
service are regulated by public
it is bound to serve every
one without discrimination either in
service or in rates. Natural resources
belonging to the public are not di-
verted to private use when admins
tered by public utilities.