Arizona republican., 1922-02-16
NEW BIDDERS
FOR NITRATE
PLANT DELAY
FINAL ACTION
Alabama Power Company's
Muscle Shoals Bid Will
Be Considered Simultan-
eously With Ford's Offer

WASHINGTON. Feb. l5-Entry of
The Alamaba Power company today in
the lists of private bidders for the
governments properties at Muscle
Shoals Ala, was regarded by officials
s offering formidable rivalry to-
Henry Ford'S proposal now before
congress for final decision. Secre-
tary Weeks probably will expedite
delivery of the new offer to congress
so that consideration Of the Alabama
and Ford proposals can be undertaken
simultaneously and their respective
merits discussed before final action
is taken on the Muscle Shoals ques-
tion.
The Alabama company offer is for
purchase of the Warrior power plant
and transmission line and lease for
so years of the other properties under
provisions Of the federal water power
act.
Members Of the house military COM
mittee investigating the Ford offer
learned with interest of the Alabama
company's proposal but said they
would not delay action on that al
ready before them pending receipt
from the war secretary Of the other.
Chairman Kahn explained that it was
. the duty of the COMMITTEES, acting in
behalf of the governments interests
10 make careful study of all offers
alike in an effort to determine which
was the best from the governments
point of view.
Secretary Weeks did not personally
receive the proposal today as he was
confined to his home by slight cold.
II was delivered to his private secre-
tary by Thomas w. Martin, president
OF the company and held for Mr..
Weeksnttention when he returned to
the department which, 1t was expect
ed. would be tomorrow.
Chairman Kahn was uncertain how
long the military committee would
continue the hearings on Mr. Ford's
offer. Witnesses yet to be heard in
clude q. number of the most important
on the docket, such as Hugh Cooper,
consulting engineer for the govern
ment on the construction of the
Muscle Shoals projects: attorneys for
the Air Nitrates Corporation and the
Alabama Power company, both or
! which claim optional privileges for
properties at Muscle Shoals which
they have declared their intention to
exercise before the government de-
cided upon a disposal of them to pri-
vate interests; and Theodore Swami
of Admission, Ala. an engineer of the
MUSCLE GCQOdlS COilSIl O~A4Oll WI n7.
After they are heard Mr.. Kahn said
the committee will face its task of
reporting to the house the result Of
its deliberations on the Ford offer.
1t appeared probable in view of these
circumstances, said the chairman
that the committee would be enga ged
for another two weeks before It
would be able to refer the proposal
back to the house. In the event Mr.
Weeks submits the Alabama COM
pany's proposal within that time. the
two offers would be simultaneously
in the hands OF the same house COM
nittee.
Today's meeting was devoted TO
hearing testimony of Governor Al
fred Taylor of Tennessee. in addition
TO that submitted by Professor Mill
ton Whitney, chief of the soils bureau,
department of agriculture.
First hearings to be held on the
Ford offer by the senate agriculture
committee was scheduled to begin to-
morrow with the Tennessee governor
and Major General Beach. chief or
army engineers. on the list of Wit
nesses.