Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-14
Towns in Wild Excitement
and Realty Values Soar
While Congress Discusses
Disposal of Nitrate Plant

Congress may be in doubt about the
wisdom of accepting Henry Ford's
offer for the Muscle Shoals plant,
but the people living there, as well
as thousands of adventurous visitors,
with and without cash, say it must
go through.
Florence, Sheffield and Tuscumbia,
small; uneventful Alabama towns
normally, are enacting scenes not
parallelled by the rush to the Klon-
dixie gold fields twenty years ago
or the more recent stampede to the
oil fields in the southwest.
These towns, which will face the
development from both sides OF the
picturesque Tennessee river, near
the Tennessee line are hosts daily
| to distinguished and undistinguished
visitors, ranging from millionaire
bidders for the plant to promoters
of bowling alleys and weiner-wurst
stands,
| Lots which went begging at $4,000
| seven years ago sell for 100000.
| The local papers issue extras on eV-
cry new Ford bulletin. The quarters
a newspaper office on election night.
One landlord has served notice
that he will double rents the day
| congress says yes to Ford.
A while trainload of Detroit real
estate agents recently came to town
| These and other impressions are
| brought, to Atlanta from Muscle
Shoals by G.. E. Dfllman, local bust
ness man, who has contracted for
business interests there.
| Mr.. Dhlman is manager of the
Bishop and Babcock company at so
| w. Mitchell street. Mrs. Dillman,
| before her marriage, lived at Flor
ence. They now reside at 4S St.
Louis place.
Rush Has Begun
'"The rush to Florence has already
| begun" said Mr., Dillman. people
are coming from California, Texas,
the east and the middle west. Every
body is looking for real estate and
business locations, and finding few
for sale. A week ago a lot sold
for $4,000 that seven years ago was
hawked around at $4,000.
"a Philadelphia arrived in Flor
ence the other day with $4,000 in
cash. He wanted a vacant business
lot, but could find nothing in the
store district. The best he could do
was a location ten blocks out for
| $4,000. AS his building would cost
$4,000, he found that he would have
no money left for stock of goods.
| frame cottages, without conven-
fences, such as heat, are held at
$4,000 to $4,000. Capitalists from
the big cities are buying tracts along
the river and getting ready for sub.
divisions. That river, by the way, is
as picturesque as the Hudson.
"A farmer living some little dis
lance out from Florence recently
sold his small farm for $4,000. 1t
mad cost him about $4,000 in the old
days. You know how it is on the
| Iarn-hard work, debts for fer
tliizer and supplies, boil weevil, low
priced cotton and all that. He had
struggled with all those things for
years and years. The sight of $50 1000
was too much. He lost his mind
Mr.. D1llman says that high prices
are not being charged generally in
the stores. This is due to the fact
that the visitors so far are mainly
promoters. The general influx has
not yet led to congestion. He thinks
tnat proflteering will be discouraged.
Mr. Ford himself has issued an uIti.
matum to this effect. There are three
settlements Of working mems houses
Dam City, Jay City and White
Clty-which were built during the
war. These are intact, and will to
some extent care for the 100 600
workers whom Mr.. Ford announces
he will bring if he gets the plant.
Visitors Are Welcomed
II these aren't enough, WHY Mr.,
Ford will build new ones" Mr.. Dill.
man added. "Of course, everybody
over there wants Mr. Ford to have
the plant. But every bidder who has
been there has been given a big
hand. The people want it understood
that all outsiders are welcome and
Will be taken care of. Even if Mr..
Ford's offer isn't taken, somebody
else will get the job. There's going
to be some sort Of DEVELOPMENT at
Muscle Shoals.
Meanwhile the strain is terrific.
The people there have been disap-
pointed twice-once about thirty
years ago, when a mining boom col.
lapsed, and only recently when the
end of the war stopped DEVELOPMENT
at the plant and killed boom times.
Realizing this tension, the Flor.
ence. paper, which has added to its