Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-09
NORRIS IN FAVOR
Of DELAYING LEASE
OF MUSCLE SHOALS

WASHINGTON, May S.-Conclus-
ions reached after more than a
months investigation Of private
proposals for development of the
nitrate and power projects initiated
by the government at Muscle Shoals,
Alabama, were announced Saturday
by Chairman Norris of the senate
agriculture committee, in a state
ment to the Associated Press.
After asserting his firm convic-
ton that the government should re-
tain title to the properties within
itself for all time, the senator said
congress, in his judgment, would
not act at this session upon any
of the private proposals for Muscle
Shoals and all that could be eX-
pected before adjournment would
be the authorization to continue
work on the Wilson dam under an
appropriation of $7,500,000.
1t was his intention, Senator Nor
ris said, to offer an amendment to
the army appropriation bill when 1t
was up for passage by the senate
which would provide funds for con-
tinuing construction work on the
Wilson dam by army engineers dur
ing the fiscal year beginning July L.
Belief was expressed that the
senate would accept the amend
ment but would decline, because of
it's congested legislative calendar and
the anxiety of members to return
home for the fall campaign, to take
up for acceptance any of ahe offers
pending in the agriculture commit
tee.
IT am firmly convinced" the sena-
tor said in the statement, that the
government ought to retain title TO
all the property at Muscle Shoals
in itself in order to permit the peo-
pie to get the full benefit OF I'M
provements science may develop IN
the fiXation of nitrates from the air.
1t ought not to bind unborn genera
tons by accepting a contract made
under existing conditions of rapid
changes in the art, particularly one
which would extend a lease over the
properties for a hundred years."
Justice to Future
Future generations should have
"something to say about the con-
troll of the natural resources of the
country" the statement continued,
that the bill proposing a government
corporation for operation ana de-
yelopment of the Muscle Shoals
plants. or some similar legislation
ought to be enacted; something along
that line is the solution"
st am impressed with the fact
that we are asked to make con-
tract binding upon future genera
tons when we do not know the con-
ditions that will surround the people
during it's life" said Senator Nor
ris, land that applied particularly
to Henry Ford's proposal because II
continues for 100 years.
Improvements undoubtedly VIII
be made in the art of extracting MI
trates from the air, continued the
senator, land it is not unreasonable
to assume that, within a few years,
when these new processes are de-
yeloped that the methods used at
Muscle Shoals now will be entirely
obsolete.
"It may easily be that power will
not be so important then in the eX-
traction of nitrates and become only
an incident to the production of that
commodity. Great power would be
freed, in that event, and the lessee
would be at liberty. according to the
proposals we have received, to dc
with it as he pleases.
"Thus, situation would be
brought about whereby the people
would lose title to valuable re-
source which was theirs by right of
heredity and a corporation would be
the benefactor.
"None of the bidders binds him
self to extract nitrogen by the meth
DDS used at present, if more
economical methods can be used.
None of the bidders will live much
beyond fifteen years and each pro-
poses that the contract be carried to
its completion by a corporation.
whatever confidence we now
have in the bidders, and that applies
again to Mr.. Ford, should not in
fuence us entering into a prolonged
lease with Them