The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-02
FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT MUSCLE
SHOALS PROJECT UNLESS GORGAS
STEAM PLANT is TO BE INCLUDED
Automobile Manufacturer Makes
Definite and Final Reply to
House Committee.
10y The Assoelated preasl

WA ASHINGTON, June Tive con-
nittees Of congress today resumed
study OF plans for developing the gov
ernment projects at Muscle Shoals,
Ala, with a view to presenting COM
pleted proposals to the house and SEN
ate for final disposition.
In the house military committee de-
velopments pointed to a quick decision
by that body delivery there of Henry
Ford's final proposal and the presen-
tation of a letter from him to Chair
man Kahn calling for early acceptance
or rejection of the tender as a whole
stimulating action among the COM
mitteemen. After an executive meet
ing during which the new language
added by Mr. Ford to the committees
counter offer was carefully studied,
another meeting was arranged for
tomorrow when W.B Mayo and j w
Worthinston. representing the Detroit
will join the committee
in what may be their last joint efforts
to adjust exising differences.
That the meeting tomorrow might
result in the committee acceding to
Mr.. Ford's request, agreeing to in
clude the Gorgas steam plant among
the other properties to be disposed of
at Muscle Shoals and formally approx
ing his notifications of the COM
mittee's plan, was predicted by some
members. Others, however. remained
firm in their opposition to such an
agreement.
Before the senate agriculture cc5f
mittee, Secretary Weeks declared his
belief that speedy action could not i5lz
had in congress while the house and
senate continued to move along what
appeared to him to be opposite paths
in seeking TO find solution or the
problem.
Tho full text of Mr. Ford's reply fol-
lows:
have carefully examined the
made by your committee
to my proposal dated January 25, 1922.
for the lease and purchase of the gov
ernments Muscle Shoals properties.
and observe with surprise and regret
that you have rejected that part Of
the modified proposal relating to the
governments Gorgas steam plant.
The greater portion of the other
changes suggested by your COMMITTEES
have been approved and are incorpor-
ated in the accompanying corrected
More than a month ago Mr..
Mayo presented to me certain clarifi-
cations in the proposal of January 25
to which your committee desired my
agreement, which was promptly given.
Mr.. Mayo explained that while some
of your committee were unwilling to
accept that part of my offer which
included the government steam power
plant at Gorgas, certain other men,
bers of the committee had requested
him to ascertain if l would agree to
accept an assignment and transfer by
the United States of everything now
owned by the government at Gorgas
under its contract OF December ]. 1917,
with the Alabama Power company, to
which I assented. and Mr.. Mayo was
instructed to advise your COMMITTEES
that the offer would be revised accord
ingly. l have been informed, that this
revision was accepted by your COM
mittee, but later, upon reconsideration.
you decided to eliminate the Gorgas
plant
Il cannot consent to ellminate the
Gorgas plant because it is necessary
to the economical operation OF the
Muscle Shoals properties II my re-
vised offer for Gorgas is rejected then
/ must understand that the acceptance
(Cotinued on page threel