The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-23

"nA PAOJCtI.
 Referring to the Tennessee river as "one of the major streams" of the country, the speaker asserted that development of Muscle Shoals and other power sites which would result In the establishment of numerous in dustries and complete navigation of the stream, would be of importance so tar-reaching that 1t would be diffi- cult to estimate without inviting the charge of exaggeration..
 Mir. Small predicted that develop ment of the river and its tributaries would produce i.5Oo,ooo horsepower in electrical energy. In the Muscle Shoals district proper he said 1.000,- 900 horsepower might be delevoped
 lndorsing the proposal of Henry Ford for lease and purchase of the governments nitrate plants and power sites at Muscle Shoals MT small said that such disposition of the property was .so willed by the American people"
 National Importance
 Tt is question of national im- portance, continued the speaker, and the sooner Congress recognizes the problem and reaches an adjust ment which will unleash this power and permit Mir. Ford to initiate his great enterprise will the people of the country be satisfied"
 In message read before the con Terence, C. II. Huston. assistant sec retary of commerce said; Tt is time to get man of the type Of Henry Ford interested in the development or agricultural chemistry, which holds forth such promise of imme- dlate return. It Is now time to get a master mind. with unlimited re sources, directed toward agricultural pursuits and the gigantic resources lying dormant heie have met thetr match in that great industrial leader, Henry Ford, The public must receive the benefits of the governments tn- Vestment at Muscle Shoals. not through operation but through some liberal arrangement with private capital, whereby the public Is insured adequate returns In times of peace war.
 Henry Ford late today telegraphea the conference from Detroit that he was ready to proceed' with do- veiopinent under the terms of his bid when Congress said the word. Ills message which provoked enthusiasm. read:
 Tt is with much regret that am unable to be with you on occa sion of your national meeting at Muscle shoals. We are still awaiting the fnal action of Congress and will be ready to proceed as soon as they say the word"
 Enthusiasm among the delegates ann visitors ran high at every men, tion of Ford's name.
 Better Thnn Other Bfds
 The audience shouted for several minutes when former Senators Hoke smith of Georgia, declared that he had reached the cold blooded deci- sion that the bid of Ford would better serve than all the other proposals put together" Mir. Smith referred to Muscle Shoals as a national asset" and asserted that If power site of such potentiality had existed in New England in the middle Atlantic states, Ohio or Illinois. gray haired men would have been babies when the development started" The Geor- ginn said the power interests sand the fertilizer interests" didn't want MT. Ford to have Muscle Shoals.
 And 1t is interesting to note" con- tinued Mir. Smith, that the manu- faeturers of automobiles are afraid of Henry Ford" Mir. Smith offered the opinion that strong company should operate Muscle Shoals, but he said. "I had rather see Henry Ford start that company than anybody else"
 Declaring that it was now time for Alabama to take her place in com merciai and industrial sense in the minds of the nation in place of only ar alphabetical position, Harry T, Hartwell, city commissioner of Mo- bile, urged the delegates to support local and national legislation look tng to port Improvement at Mobile and development of Muscle Shoals. We are thinking of the future," said Mir. Edwards. We want adequate terminals at Mobile: we are urging Congress to pass the ship subsidy bill; we are determined that Henry Ford be permitted 10 develop Muscle Shoals"
 Delegates will inspect the nitrate plants and power projects tomorrow after which sessions will be held at Sheffield. Wednesdays ses- sion will be held at Tuscimbia.
 Two things have stood in the way of the development of Muscle Shoals, the name Wilson dam" and sectional prejudice against southern project, asserted Col Luke Lea. publisher Of the Nashville Tennessean. speakir. of the conference. It was his opfn- ion that Wilson dam had aroused spirit of narrowness and bigotry'
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