The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-12
EARLY DECISION .;:,.: <, OR YEAR'SDElafr, \
 HARDEN WARNING
Expert Declares Seven and Half Million Sufficient For Years Work at Will
 son Dam /
By Associated Press

Washington, April 11.-Early au-
 thorization by Congress for renew
 ing work of construction on the Will son dam at Muscle Shoals was sug- gested today by Col. W. J. Barden, army engineer in charge of that prof. ect, before the Senate agriculture
 committee. Unless a decision is made
 soon, the colonel said, the engineers
 would be unable to begin work this
 summer and another year of delay
 would result.
 Colonel Barden testified that the
 $7,5o0,00o which the committee unanimously decided to request in
 the Senate when the army's bill is presented there for amendments was sufficient to cover 8 years opera tions on the Wilson dam. In order
 that opportunity might be taken of
 the summer working session in the Tennessee river projects. he said. at
 least 30 days advance notice would OO ACSCSsdAy AOt tAC ChS iHNCA " make preparations so actual work could begin as soon as the money became available.
 The S7,500,o00 would be available, if appropriated under terms Of the army bill. on July 1 next.
 Wants to Start Now.
 Colonel Barden asked that Con-
 gress inform the engineers by June of its intentions and promised to initiate preliminary steps for re- sumption of labor on the dam in a
 way that would make it fully oper- ative soon after July l.
 At the same time the Senate agri-
 culture committee men heard Colonel Barden, members of the House mili- tary committee discussed their indi- vidual positions on the various pri- vate offers for Muscle Shoals devel- opment submitted by Henry Ford the Alabama Power company, Fred erick Engstrum and Charles Parsons, Although the discussions proceeded I in executive session. it wass learned I that not more than one-third of the al committeeman had disclosed their attitude today. The remaining mem- bers including al democrats and sew | eral republicans, still were to be heard when the committee adjourned | to meet again tomorrow.
 Fav0rs Ford offer.
 Representative Hull of Iowa. whe
 was the ranking republican member | of the committee to inspect the Muscle Shoals project in company with the congressional delegation which went to Alabama recently, today announced his advocacy under certain conditions of MT. Ford's offer for purchase and lease of the prop critics involved.
 I am in favor of Mir Ford's propo- sition," MT. Hull said. provided he will agree to modify the offer so as | to eliminate the Gorgas steam plant and agree to purchase the land re- quired for flowage purposes at Dam No. B." MT. Hull said he had reason to | believe Mir Ford would agree to the suggested notifications, if the com mittee reported bill to the House recommending acceptance of the of- fer on the conditions outlined. Chairman Kahn said he was hope | full the discussions would crystalize sentiment among the committeeman by the end of the week. It was inn possible to forecast what final de- cision would be reached, he said, un- til more than a majority of the com | mitteemen had revealed their posi- tions with respect to the four pro- posals before them.