The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-19

deries triennial committee is com posed of F. B. Keiser, chairman; J. A Mccartney, secretary; A. P. Wells. treasurer; D. M. Weakley, marshal W. A. Hood, Dr. W. W. Ransom, c. J. Geohegan, L. A. McCutchen, R. L. Strong. w. S. Porteous, J. NJ Lower, J. s. Falkner, H. M. Sharp, NJ. E. Baird, T. c. Latham and Jesse M. Wood.
 of improving navigation will be greatly facilitated, and the expense of the government greatly reduced at the same time.
 With this end in view, and in connection with series of water power developments, I am undertak- ing plan on the Coosa river which expect to very materially aid navi- gatfon. I secured the services of one of the most able hydraulic engineers in the United States, who made a thorough study and preliminary sur vey of the Coosa river and it's tribu- taries from away up in the Appa- lachains, down to where it forms the Alabama, that, in connection with the able engineers of the United States government, the most perfect dual system of navigation and power de- velopment, together with the most perfect system of impounding or con- serving the waters of these strea in aid of such navigation and power development, might be designed. The result of this investigation is both interesting and instructive, and if properly handled, promises the most happy results.
 Should l be successful In getting this propect of development properly on it's feet, the Coosa valley will be destined to become one of the great est manufacturing sections of the world
 This quotation, I think, is enough to show the good intention and pur- poses of the organization. If not, | have may more. It can be seen, how ever, that the Alabama Power com pany is today strictly discharging the duty for which it was originally or ganized, and this, I must insist, it is doing in an honorable and highmind- ed manner.
 Getting Capital Interested
 T might say in this connection that after the organization of the Alabama Power company in 1906, I spent six of the longest years of my life try ing to find somebody with money enough to carry out the purposes for WilSh tHt COHnpany was organized. Finally. at the eleventh hour, I was successful. l got people who were big enough to do it. It is true, in my money chase, I secured this coun- try from end to end and falling here, finally succeeded in getting clean English capitalists to take it up. Un- fortunately, however, for this splen- did group of English people, the war soon came on, and owing to the stress of war in Europe they were not only unable to furnish any more money, but were forced tot unload the most of their securities in this country at great losses. The saddest part of it all is that the leader of this splendid English group today fills disap- pointed grave. And, worse than all, I fully believe the uncalled for as- saults that have been made against the Alabama Power company at diff ferent times within the last few years are chiefly responsible for this disappointed grave. He who serves the public is a poor animal; he wor- ries himself to death and no one thanks him for it.'-Goethe.
 Resolution No. 3: For brevity shall only mention one of the cor porations which the Alabama Power company took over after it passed out of my hands and, owing to the state of the minds of the people at this time, feel that I am thoroughly justified in bringing this up.
 Soon after I found people with money enough to undertake the de- velopment of the properties of the Alabama Power. company, the own CTS of the Muscle Shoal Hydro Elec tric Power company, of which Mir. Ford's chief propagandist of today was, one. got in behind these English people and sold them the Muscle Shoals property, which consisted Of all the property along the Muscle Shoals. After selling this property to the Alabama Power company, this same propagandist, during the war, was behind the move to get the gov ernment committed to the building of the big nitrate plant at Muscle Shoals. Successful in this, this same able agandist was next seen behind the publicity move to force, if neces- sary, the Alabama Power company to turn over the Muscle Shoals dam site No. 2. now the Wilson dam, to the government to operate this nitrate plant The power company, believing the government really wanted this water power for the above purpose and being ever ready to come to the assistance of the government during the war, donated the same to the gov ernment. This piece of property which the power company gave the government cost the company almost half million dollars, aud the com pany bought this property from this same propagandist and his associates.
 "The government now owns this property. we find this same propa- gandist behind the move to have the government hand over all of this property, nitrate plant, steam plant and all. to MT. Ford. Any man that can get by with all of these things is certainly entitled to be called The Chief Propagandist'
 "The Muscle Shoals Hydro Electric Power company, I believe, was the principal corporation taken over by the power company after it passed out of my hands.
 Resolutions Nos. 8. and refer insinuatingly. to good laws on the statute books of Alabama which make possible the improvement and development of our rivers. Alabam- ians alone, and I know where of | speak, and particularly Muscle Shoals parties, are responsible for these laws. The laws on the statute book to which the resolutions refer so in- sinuatingly. were passed by the leg islature of the state in 1907, five years before the present owners of the Alabama Power company ever heard of or acquired this property. Please remember this
 Strange it is that some of these Muscle Shoals parties then interested in getting these laws passed should now lead a mass meeting to condemn