The Washington herald., 1922-03-13
THE SITUATION AT
MUSCLE SHOALS EXPLAINED.


MUSCLE SHOALS EXPLAINED.
The history Of the Developments
at Muscle Shoals and a comparison
Of the offers by Henry Ford and
. by the Alabama Power Company
were presented by W. @. Hoyt, Of
the Geological Survey. at the meet
Of the American Society Of civil
day night Mr.. Hoyt. In brief, said:
The section Of the Tennessee
River known as Muscle Shoals ex-
tends for a distance Of about 81
miles upstream from Florence. Ala.
The width Of the river through the
shoals varies from 1000 TO $500
feet, the total drop is about Isl
{ feet. and in their natural state the
shoals formed q complete obstruct-
lon TO navigation.
Between 1887 and 1883 the gov
ernment constructed q canal 100
feet wide on the north side OF the
( river. The traffic through the canal
amounted to $4,000 tons in the 20
year period between 1900 and 1890
Cost OF the canal including main
tenance has been $4,000. 900.
Immediately after the outbreak OF
the world war the increase in ac-
tivities Of all kinds created a de-
mand for more power. The effect
OF cutting OF our imports was be-
ing felt and we became impressed
with the great need OF producing
at home many commodities that we
had been importing. Conspicuous
among such commodities was nj
trate. A primary requisite in the
/
from the air is cheap power. At
Muscle Shoals there was an oppor-
tunity to develop immense power
at a location that was apparently
! Ideal for a nitrate plant-a location
near coal nelds and deposits Of lime
stone. far enough from the coast
to be safe from possible invasion
| and near lines OF transportation
After considerable investigation
plans were proposed for the con-
struction near Muscle Shoals Of two
nitrate plants and the Wilson dam
for the purpose of furnishing power
Nitrate Plant No. was designed
TO produce $4,000 tons Of ammonium
nitrate per annum by the direct syn
thetic ammonia CHaber) process.
Nitrate Plant No. was designed
TO produce llo. 900 tons OF ammonium
nitrate per annum by the cysnamid
process OF the American Cysnamid
process. The two plants were finish
ed. Wilson dam was to be a con-
crete dam i.27o feet long. creating a
head OF eS feet. On April s. 1891
when work was stopped. the dam and
power house were about 30 per cent
completed. The total expenditures at
the two nitrate plants and the Wilson
dam amount to about sle5. 900 600
Several proposals have been made
for taking over the property in who'e
or in part only two Of which have
been seriously considered.
Very briefly Mr.. Ford proposes TO
complete and construct Wilson dam
and Dam No. . "a proposed power
dam upstream) at government ex-
pense at a cost Of about $50 .ooo. 900
the Army engineers estimatel and
to pay an annual rental amounting to
per cent on the cost Of new work.
He will play s55.o annually for the
maintenance OF the dam and locks
and also pay semi-snnually s23.s75
for the purpose OF creating q sinking
fund As a condition to this offer ne
asks :he United States to sell him
nitrate plants Nos. and for SIS
100000. He agrees to operate Plant
No. : for the production Of fertilizers
or fertilizer compounds at cost plus
per cent and to keep the same in
readiness TO turn over TO the United
States in case OF war
The Alabama Power Company
agrees to take over the Wilson da M
and TO complete the same under pro-
visions Of the Federal water pow,
er act. Agrees to furnish the United
States free Lhe second 100. 900 II. P,
from Wilson dam and will pay SIS
100000 for the three steam plants and
transmission line which were con
structed TO furnish the nitrate plants
proper and the Waco limestone quar-
ry.
Openly opposed to the Ford plar
are the National Fertilizers Associa-
ton. certain public-utility groups and
some representatives OF large inter
ests. In favor OF the Ford plan are
the farmers and allied groups. public
improvement associations OF the
South. and in general all those who
believe that Mr.. Ford Possesses the
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