Evening star., 1922-01-22
The Muscle Shoals Proect-Wha Where It Is and Why

accord with the declaration Of prin-
| ciples OF our association, which calls
for the development of agriculture. OF
industry. of finance, and Of trans
portation.
1--WE therefore recommend.
| "Q) The immediate appropriation
Of $10.000.000 to enable the construc-
tion OF the dam to be resumed.
J "(2) In view of the fact that the
| government cannot transfer its right
to manufacture nitrate by the cyana-
mid process to others than the
patentee, government-controlle
corporation or corporations should
be established to operate both the
hydro-electric power and the nitrate
plants. preference being given to
agriculture. but always reserving the
right to resume control and operation
in event of war"
| X X + r
THE War Department has re-
ceived many irresponsible and
freak letters since this Muscle Shoals
| agitation started. One individual
"IOle LIlc ludL IL IL "Oulu
pay him s1,o0O,000 a year in advance
for five years he would put the
dams and nitrate plants in apple pie"
| order.
Mr.. Ford has received several hun
dred letters with propositions. One
man wrote him that he had discovered
/ q process for making nitrate out Of
which ne would guarantee that ST.
000, 900 a year could be made. But"
said he, II will sell you the right for
$50, 900 cash."
A summary of Henry Ford's PROPOSE
tion to the government follows:
The government must complete the
Wilson dam as speedily as possible
and install hydro electric facilities
and equipment for generating 100000
horsepower, then Mr.. Ford's company
will agree to lease the dam, power
plant and all property connected with
them for 100 years. The company will
pay to the United States per cent
on the remaining cost Of locks, the
dam and power house taken at $780,
100000 in payments Of $.,200,o0o, ex-
cept during the first six years of the
lease period payments shall begin and
| be made annually as follows: 100000
| one year from date, and thereafter
| 100000 annually at the end Of each
year for the period Of five years.
| After the first six years payment Of
$1.200,0O0 shall be made annually at
| the end of each calendar year, during
the lease period. The company will
also pay the government $4,000
| year for repairs, maintenance and
operation of the dam, gates and locks
at Wilson dam for the 100 years 1t
will also pay a sinking fund Of $Ss,537
a year for ninety-four years. the sink
| ing fun investments to bear the high
est rate Of interest obtainable. but not
less than per cent per annum.
Mr.. Ford also agrees to buy nitrate
plant No. . for $5.0oo,o0o. In order
that the farmers may have the fer
tilizer produced without paying ex-
cessive profits he guarantees that his
net profits shall not exceed more than
per cent. He proposes that farmers
tives (two) on the board with two
representatives Of the company. In
| word, they are to see to it that no
more than per cent profit is made.
Mr.. Ford being a quantity production
man, his friends believe that he will
manufacture fertilizer from the un-
limited phosphate deposits in Tennes-
see very near Muscle Shoals in such a
large volume that it will give them
4 their Supply of fertilizer at a yarv
reasonable price.