The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-05-31
HOKE SMITH
PROMISES
L HELP FORD
Ctlanta Georsian)

JjecIaflnS the SNOalS site
natural asset Of which the entire
people ought to get the benefit and
pointing out that Henry Ford is the
only bidder who has turned his
toward the interests of
the people, former Senator Hoke
Smith left for Washington late
Wednesday promising to do what he
could ito help bring about such a
result" Mr.. Smith had just re-
turned from Muscle Shoals and was
in Atlanta a few hours on his way
10 the capital.
The former senator gave out the
following statement prior to his de-
parture from Atlanta:
With dam No. 2 completed and
No. 3 built, 100000 hydro-
electric horsepower can be pro-
duced at Muscle Shoals annually. 1t
will be far the largest hydro-electric
horsepower that a be produced in
the United States, certainly east of
the Mississippi.
1T is a national asset which
should be used for the benefit Of
I'll the people of the United States.
Nitrogen can he produced from
the air economically only by the
use Of great water power. This is
the one place in the United States
where air nitrogen n be produced
economicallN Limestone must be.
used in the process. The govern
ment has already acquired large
limestone quarries right alongside
the nitrate plants at Muscle Shoals.
Plants Need Use.
ct has spent eighty millions of
dollars in the construction Of nitrate
plants for the fixation Of nitrogen.
from the air. II the dams were
completed and simply used to pro-
duce power for manufacturing
plants and public service compa-
MES. these nitrate plants would be
a waste. These nitrate plants must
be used. or they will rust out.
with the dams completed this
plant would furnish the means of
producing in time of war munitions
of infinite service. 1t would make
us independent Of importations
from Chile and would constitute q
greet national defence. = would be
q powerful Influence to preserve
peace. for It would be recognized
the world over that with this plant
the readiness Of the United States
to produce explosives would be
complete.
s"The plant should be kept at
work that it might be ready at any
time as q military defense in order,
and the nitrate plant must be con-
tinualN operated in the fixation of
nitrogen from the air.
Nitrogen is one of the three
great elements Of plant food. Phos-
phorous is another. Phosphate rock
in vast quantities is located ali
along the Tennessee river in close
proximity to Muscle Shoals. So two
Of the three elements required for
plant food can be produced more
economically at Muscle Shoals than
anywhere else in the United States.
Cheap Nitrate Boon.
eCheap fertilizer will help the
farming interests Of the entire
country. help produce more food
stuffs. and serve all the people Of
the country.
There is no way to give to all
the people of the country the full
benefit from the wonderful water
power at Muscle Shoals except to
devote them primarily to the fiXa-
ton of nitrogen from the air. This
also will give US, first. preparedness
for war and thereby a guarantee OF
peace: second. cheap fertilizers. aid
ing in the production of abundant
foodstuffs.
..The only bidder for this prop
crty who turned his thoughts to-
ward the broadest use Of the power
in the interest OF all Of u people
was Henry Ford. The bid of Henry
Ford clone recognizes the great
service to the public which could
come from this property.
Congress ought to approve a
lease to a corporation directed by
Henry Ford along the lines Of his
hid 7 shall do what ! can to hep
bring about such a result"