The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-06-15
Reports Provide for d.
vel0pment of Big Nj
trate Beds.
FORD PLAN WORTHY
Demand Made for Modificati3
of Ford Offer in Order to
Meet Views Of Majorlt--.

Observation-Disclosures separate repor,
setting forth recommendations for c,
ton by congress with respect to privat
development of the governments SOS
OOO,OOO power and nitrate projects
Muscle Shoals, Alabama, were made
the house today. by members of Il
military committee. The task OF n .
ing final decision is admitted in e.
Of the reports to be the duty of
full membership of the house at q
early date, but recommendations
that effect submitted after four month
of continuous consideration by L,
committee differ in important respec:
as they are presented in the documen
Acting Chairman Mckenzie of IL
nois, who drafted the majority repor
declares at the outset of that docume-
that the Ford proposal was the onl
one found worthy of serious consider
alton" and asks its acceptance by t:
house, provided however, that the GoI
gas steam plant is not included anon
the projects to be disposed CT
Muscle Shoals.
Concurrence in the majority repor.
except for the references made Vi
respect to the Gorgas plant, is vo'c2
in one of the minority opinions pre-
scented by Representative Wright @
Georgia, Democrat, and supported b.
Representatives James, Michigan. Re
publican, and the remaining Demo
cratic members. They ask full CON
pliance by the house with all provi
sions of the Ford proposal, includiai
thu Gorgas property and point out IT,
belief that if congress eliminates tn
Gorgas unit, it would defeat the FOri
offer
In the third report submitted b
Representative Parker of New Jerse
Republican, and signed by Represent
tive rockingham, Republican, is to OF
position of Ford's offer unless it !
modified in other sections than tn
dealing with Gorgas. In the event II
Ford declined to agree to the modifi
cations proposed the signers wou'c
have the secretary of war lease t.
dams. and nitrate plants "op such term
as will secure the completion Of tht
dams" and would authorize him t.
"settle the fair value of the Gorra
plant and convey the same to the Ala
bara Power company"
In conclusion, the majority repor.
says faction by congress is imperativs
and immediate action means economy
if such action wisely provides for, sue
disposition as will insure an incor
for the government and not a confirm
Gus outlay"
1.-TWO courses are open,' it adds
zone government ownership and oper.
alton, which in view of the Character o.
the project would in the Judgment #
mjority Of the committee, mean rot
only failure from the standpoint of in
come, but disaster to the hopes Of the
farmers and other users of comme~-
cial fertilizers.
"The alternative course is to sell tn
tangible property to private individ"
ais or to a corporation on conditio
prescribed by congress, lease the pow
err at a fair rental and permit indi-
vidual American initiative and ingeuu-
ity to have an opportunity at this
place, where the greatest water power
in our country can be developed, re-
curing a preservation of the element
Of national defense and at the same
time giving an opportunity for relief,
if such there can be, to not only til
southland but our entire country in
the way of commercial fertilizer at
res sonable prices"
Representative Wright points out II
his minority report that acceptance
Of the Ford offer would be a disDos'-
ton Of this property resulting in
great advantage to the government and
the people"
Too much stress, Mr.. Wright says,
cannot be placed on the fertilizer pro
visions of Ford's offer, and he declared
its acceptance carries a certainty cf
great development and is attended with
the promise of almost unlimited posi-
bilities for the accomplishment CT
many things for our country, one Of
which is to furnish employment to
many thousands of people now idle
Representatives Parker and Froth-
ingham find fault with the Ford OFF,
in their report, declaring the S5,0O0,00)
he offers for the nitrate plants, the
Waco quarry, the Gorgas steam plant
railroad and transmission line is
"grossly inadeuaute."
The fertilizing agreement made BIZ
Ford, the report concludes, sis a good
and proper thing. But whether or no.
the company can make fertilizer at
half price or make it at all at profit
Mr.. Ford's representatives state dis,
tinctly that the company Will not
make it unless it can do so at a profit
the turnover profit is fixed at $50 and
this fertilizer question is the bargain
counter in this proposal"
IA