, 1922-02-02
VoluminouS Plan Is
Submitted Today
to Congress by
Secretary Weeks
WASHINGTON, Feb. q
ny Ford's proposal for the
B.. rent projects at Mus

T. 9o Ala, were submit
teS " congress by Sec
retars 10 for such ac-
uon as co.. nay deem appropri-
ate The ~.uggestioas contained
in he letter OF transmission related
to specific clauses in the contract md
h desirability OF amendments which
would. In h event the proposal be
accepted by congress further safe
guard tho governments interests.
Otherwise tho secretary OF war care.
fully avoids reference to congressiona
action involving the ultimate aocep
lance or rejection OF the offer as sub
mitted.
In the event Mr.. Fo-d's roposai is
accepted" he declared, "the govern
ment must make new appropriations
amounting to $40. 900. 900 to $50, 900 o
OF which Mr.. Ford will have the bene.
fit for approximately 100 years a. 4
per cent"
In the event the offer be rejected"
the secretary gave II as his opinion
that dam Nc. 2 Cvtlson damn should
be completed by tho government and
that power requirements for CONNER.
cial purposes. h benefits to naviRa-
ton as we'll as tho possible needs OF
the government would warrant this
expenditure.
IF this were DONE he continues,
tho government may itself undertake
TO sell he product to the best adyan,
tage. In such case tho of
the governments present proposed In.
vestment would DO very materially re
ducd. because dam No. 3, costing from
$4,000. 900 to s25 900. 900. would not
be built" and Il would not be neces.
sary to make the full Installation Of
power plant on the Wilson dam until
the market required such installation.
This partial installation" he ex.
planned. would effect a saving of the
investment in at least the sum OF So.
600, 900. leaving. according to the chief
OF engineers' estimate. not to exceed
s22 900. 900 to be invested by the gov
ernment at this time instead of $40.
600, 900 to $50, ooo. ooo.''
Tho question OF Unemployment is
recognized as n factor to be considered
by congress in connection with its
treatment OF the Muscle Shoals cues.
ton. A this time he points out,
when there is n large mou OF un.
employment II is not without impor.
TANGO to consider tho advantage to the
nation Of the employment of the large
amount Of labor required IN undertake
ing this development.
"~Tfa~efore. ] urge that civ,
early consideration to this matter. no
only TO settle n controversial question
but to furnish employment on a larg,
scale"
The secretary explains his action In
sending h offer to congress by dc
claring he is without authority to ac
cept Mr.. Ford's offer, or dispose OF
the property as a whole, either BY
sale or by lease"
He points out the necessity for de,
termining whether the advantage &c
h government in having nitrate
plant No. 2 maintained in readiness
for tho manufacture of explosives an.
in actual production of fertilizer, to
gether with the Improvement to navf,
CATION. is of sufficient Importance to
Justify the proposed departure from
the present policy of the law in regard
to dealing with the waterpower re
sources and to warrant leasing to Mr..
Ford government property for SO Ions
a period.
Il believe Il would be a better DO
Icy" he wrote. ito limit tho con
tract to a term of 8 years dnstead OF
1907 to conform with the established
policy OF tho f-seral government as
set out in tho w~aterpower act.'
The secretary also suggested a modI
fication by congress of the proposal 70
that in the event the operating com.
pany to be created failed to carry ont
the contract some penalty would be
imposed. Referring to a clause in the
contract submitted. the secretary adds
that 1t might be contended that the
language used rs susceptible of a con.
struction to the effect that Mr.. Ford
is personally bound only to see that
his company enters into tho contracts
required to carry out the terms of the
proposal and this point should be
cleared up SO that there can be nc
question as to its proper construc-
tion."
Secretary Weeks outlined the volum-
inous offer by Mr.. Ford in his way,
"Mr. Ford offers to undertake the
completion of dam No. 2 and the con
struction Of dam No. 3. according to
the governments plan. for which he
shall be reimbursed the actual cost,
and to lease the dams and power
plants at an annual rental equivalent
to 4 per cent OF tho cost to the gov
eminent of completing dam No. 2 and
constructing dam No. 3 exclusive OF
Continued on Page Four.)