Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-02
MuoclEo SHOALS BID
OF HENRY FORD LAID
BEFORE CONGRESS
Continued from page l

This partial installation" the
scs9e<ary explains. would effect a
saving Of present Investment in at
lssst the sum Of u. 900 900, leaving, ac-
C.. Aing to the chief Of engineers est.
mate. not to exceed $4,000, 900 to be
invested by tho government at this
Tine instead OF t<o,ooo,ooo to 10000
oeA~
inc question OF unemployment II
rec<~xnised as n factor to be consider
cd ~ Congress In connection with Its
tree tment OF the Muscle Shoals ques-
tioy-
AT this time" the secretary points
out. when there In n large amount
OF unemployment II In not without
Importance 70 consider the advantage
10 he nation OF the employment Of
the fargo amount OF labor required In
Undertaking this development. L.
Therefore. urge that Congress give
carry consideration TO this matter. not
ONLY TO settle controvertcd question,
but 10 furnish employment on a large
sonia"
Secretary Weeks outlined to Con-
sress the voluminous offer by Mr..
Ford in this way:
Mr.. Ford offers to undertake tho
conlDlction OF Dam No. q and the
conNruction OF Dam No. 3, according
TO the Eovernment's plans, for which
he shall be reimbursed the actual cost,
and TO lease the dams and power
plants at an annual rental equivalent
To per cent OF the cost to the gov
ernnrnt OF completing Dam No. and
constructing Dam No. 8. exclusive OF
tho cost OF acquiring lands and fiow-
axe rights necessary for Dam No. 8.
TIE rentals Of four per cent are 10
commence. respectively, in six years
after Dam No. : has been completed
tn tbc point where equipment for
loo,oop horse power is installed and
ready for service at Dam No. 3.
I'm the meantime. during the six
year aud three year periods respec.
lively, he offers to pay upon Dam No. :
en- annual rental OF 100000 and or
pam No. 3. 100000.
Ills orer places upon the United
Nates the responsibility for repair and
naintSnance OF the two dams othe,
nan tie power he uses, which powe,
houses and electrical equipment h,
agrees 10 maintain at his own ex
e.nse M efficient operating condition
I AS compensation To the Unite,
, states Tor the repair and upkeep o.
! 'am No Z, and locks. he offers TO pa,
lac sum OF $4,000 annually and o
/ pam No. J, and lock. the sum of $40
300 annually.
lie xlso agrees TO furnish cleo
: 'ficity Tor operating the locks NJ ono,
! or thesa dams without charge TO In
i government, and I'm addition he agree
q 10 pay the sum OF s2s.s7s semi an
i nuaily Tor the purpose of building II,
81 sinking fund TO return TO the Unite
- states at the end Of the lease perios
y sum OK money which he estimat 10
Q II invested at nsr cent viii be APP
. proSimately sac. 1000 600"
= Mr.. Weeks then goes into deta.
concerning further considerations An
4 stipulations OF the contract.
}. A statement appended to the secre
. tafy's letter, prepared by Major-Gen
r era Beach. chief OF army engineer,
a points out four indirect benefits IN
v government VIII receive In tho ever
the Ford offer is accepted. They 10
low:
The maintenance OF a nitrate plar
4 In readiness for a war emergency.
The production. in the interest {
r the public welfare. OF the lars
amounts of fertilizer NJ a cost not e,
p cceding the reasonable cost Of pro
N duction. providing that the produs
\ ton OF nitrate adapted TO fertilizin
n purposes Is found TO be practicable.
!, The elimination OF the cost OF MAR
> tanning and operating the present in
|, perfect facilities for navigation
4, Muscle shoals. amounting TO frol
- $4,000 20 $4,000 per annum.
The advantage 10 interstate con
Ia merce and navigation OF the far 81
"a perior facilities to navigation that w
a be secured through the constructic
- OF the dams and locks"