South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-29

FLORENCE, Ala. Jan. 2S.-The
manifold possibilities of the Muscle
Shoals power and nitrate project
have fired the imaginations of farm
ers, business men and industrial en-
gineers of the south.
Water, water power and nitrogen
these are the natural elements
whose Harvesting at this point is ex-
pected TO revolutionize the agricul-
tural, industrial and commercial ac-
tivity of a large part Of the United
States.
When the Harvesting of Muscle
Shoals is completed il will have a
four-fold effect. In the first place,
Il will open up navigation on the
Tennessee river, and will link up the
entire territory as far as Chattanoo-
ga with the Mississippi valley and
New Orleans.
Second, il means the creation of
cheap electric current and the es-
adjustment OF a manufacturing and
industrial area which may equal any
in the United States.
Farming May Be RevolutioniZed.
Third, IL means the operation of
fertilizer plant which would revolu-
tionize farming in the south and east
and even all over the United States.
Fourth comes the question Of ma
tional security. as it Will be enhanced
by "a supply of artificial nitrates,
making the United States independ-
ent Of importations from Chile.
What is known as Muscle Shoals
is an extended hard rock formation
which has blocked the natural deep
ening Of the Tennessee river in the
vicinity of Florence and Sheffield,
situated respectively on the north
and south sides OF the river in the
northwest corner of Alabama. In
their ceaseless flow rivers attack the
soft rock in their beds more easily
than the harder crust, and owing TO
the peculiar formation of the river
bed of the Tennessee at this point
the water has eaten away the earth
underneath in such a manner as 10
create a fall of nearly $50 feet.
This fall is made by a bed of
solid rock, which will probably con-
tinue 20 withstand the effects of ero-
sion for another geologic epoch. IN
the meantime it constitutes both an
impeachment 10 free navigation on the
Tennessee and potential source of u
vast amount of water power energy.
100000 Horsepower Is Created.
Measurements taken by govern
ment engineers show that 100000
horsepower is created at Muscle
Shoals, and that at a certain period
OF the year the figure rises as high
as 100000 horsepower.
The early colonial settlers saw in
Muscle Shoals only an aspect OF
grim, remorseIess nature opposing
Itself 10 the progress of man. In
deed, the presence of Muscle Shoals
proved an absolute bar 70 the spread
of the French colonists who sought
10 push east from the Mississippi
valley. II has required the enor-
nous mechanical advances OF the
Nineteenth century before man was
finally able TO appreciate the poten-
tial riches offered by this despised
gift OF nature.
During the war the federal gov
. err alcnt set 10 work feverishly to
harness part of the energy at Muscle
Shoals and manufacture nitrates.
/ Nitrates. curiously enough, form the
most essential ingredient of both ex-
plosive materials and agricultural
fertilizer. The government wanted
nitrates for war purposes only, and
when the war was over IL closed up
its nitrate plant and waited 10 turn
il over 10 a private company as a con
cessionaire.
Ford and Edison Have Vision.
Henry Ford and Thomas Edison
were among the first 10 appreciate
the tremendous potentialities Of
Muscle Shoals. and Mr.. Ford made