Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-01-04
Offer From Ford
Is Best U. S. Has
Tinker Of San Francisco Announces
AS A Bidder For Mussel Shoals

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 - Henry
Ford's offer to purchase and lease the
nitrate and water power projects al
Mussel Shoals, Ala, stands alone
among the the widely different pro-
posals received from private interests
by which the government would entire
ly rid itself of future construction ex-
penses incident to the completion and
immediate operation of the projects.
OF the other proposals received and
contemplated by war department Of
fees, including that of G. c. Tinker
of San Francisco, none can be con-
strued in the competitive sense as be-
ing comparable to that made by Mr..
Ford. While Mr.. Tinker and his agent
are scheduled to lay their offers be-
fore Secretary weeks in detail this
week, department officials are of the
opinion that it will prove to be more
of bid for contract construction work
than for private possession and opera
ton of the properties involved.
Secretary Weeks has repeatedly de-
clared in favor of disposing of the pro-
perties in a way that will relieve the
government of responsibility for their
completion and at the same time insure
the operation of the plants by private
management to the industrial advant-
age of the country. He also has de-
clared frequently his opposition to
asking congress for further appropria-
tons so that the government might
complete the projects and operate the
business as government owned and
controlled business. Under the Tink-
Ter proposal as Interpreted in part by
the department, the government would
at least become half owner and would
have to make available the money re-
CURED to complete the work, which
is variously estimated from $50 100000
up.
Tinker Announces He's Competitive
Bidder
FLORENCE, Ala, Jan. p The
Construction Company of North
America is a competitive bidder fol
the governments nitrate plants and
power sites at Mussel Shoals. c. C
Tinker, president of the corporation
announced today.
Mr.. Tinker in formal statement
said that his company had submitted
to Secretary Weeks "a concrete and
business-ike proposition"
The company proposes he said, to
complete Wilson dam and power
houses and to defray the cost by the
sale Of an issue of rs year serial four
per cent bonds secured by this pro-
ject. The redemption of these bonds
he explained, would reimburse the
government for the total amount in
vested and after it was so reimbursed
the corporation would operate the
plants under the control and direction
| of board consisting of five members
two selected by the company, two by
the government and fifth member
chosen by the four selected. With thi.
board under the Tinker plan, woulc
rest final decision as to the feasibiit,
of completing dam No. 5 and of oper
ating one or both of the nitrate plants
Continuing Mr. Tinker outlined hi
plan further:
AS the government would have beer
repaid its full investment it would b,
in position to sell to the farmer fer
tilier at cost; it would not refure
per cent profit on any investment an,
might be willing to accept four to tw,
per cent or even cost. This plan make
it possible for the government to he'll
the farmer. This plan places in tn
absolute and undisputed control of tn
government the opera ton of the pow
or plant and of the nitrate plants an
returns to the government its entir
investment within the period of TWEEN
ty-five years, and at the end of fift
years the completed project free an
clear of any claim on the part of tn
construction company.
|
DR.. and Mrs. w. E. Bachelor O