The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25

project and launched into review of the states resources as whole.
 Alabama leads all states of the union when desirability for location of industrial plants is considered on a scientific basis, according to Mir. Babson, who said his organization made this report to northern capi- talists and manufacturers time and time again. Some mysterious agen- cy. which he styled as almost lack of pep" is robbing Alabama of many new industries, he said.
 Organization of a state exploita- ton agency, to boost Alabama as California has been boosted. was sus- gested by Mir. Babson to remedy the situation. California has climate, he said, but Alabama has both climate and natural resources.
 Enthusfastie For Ford
 MT. Babson was strong in denounc- ing the Alabama Power company's bid for Muscle Shoals and equally as enthusiastic over the Ford offer.
 "Why. the Alabama Power com pany has had two or three Muscle Shoals projects in Alabama for years" he exclaimed. They do not wish to develop water power re- sources of the state, but to bottle Up available power and maintain what amounts to monopoly.
 Acquisition of the plant by Henry Ford will mean more for the south than any industrial step taken in years. It seems to me that new en- thusiasm will be injected into the south, with lines of sectionalism en- tirely forgotten.
 Congress should forget politics for the time being and turn over the plant to Ford, under the most ad- vantageous terms the government can obtain. Ford operation and de- velopment of Muscle Shoals means much to workers and farmers of the nation not alone of the south.
 South "a Gold Mine
 The south Is now the gold mine of America and should realize its possibilities as the region of bound less resources of all the United States. Rapid industrial strides can be made if the southern attitude toward work is changed, with it be- ing regarded as a privilege of service and not necessary evil"
 Mir. Babson disclosed an interest ing result of his research work in Alabama and other states of the south. Comparison Of temperatures of northern and southern cities show that although temperatures outdoors are higher on the average, yet the interiors of mills and plants in the south are cooler by actual tests, than those of northern mills.
 Business prospects for Birming- ham and the surrounding district were not painted in very rosy hue by MT. Babson. who declared that steel and iron were due to sell tower in 1922 than they did in 1921. Coal will also suffer lower prices, he said.
 Writes to Porter
 Mir. Babson today mailed a letter to R. A. Porter, president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. urging him to appoint a representa- tive Qn a committee, composed of members from New Orleans, Atlanta and Birmingham in the south. and Boston, Detroit and Chicago or St. Louis in the north. which will test relative efficiency of labor in the north and south. This committed. according to the Babson plan, would corporate with representatives of the department of sapor in making these tests.
 Tests of this sort by encouraging friendly rivalry in efficient produc- ton methods in various cities, would do more to reduce the cost of living than any congressional action, Mir. Babson declared Labor efficiency eventually could be quoted in figures just as commodity prices or freight rates are given. he said.
 John F. Newman, engineer of the dock board. was named New Orleans representative at meeting in New Orleans Thursday according to MT. Babson. All representatives should be named within two or three weeks, he thinks.
 In addition to the representative