The Topeka state journal., 1922-02-15
MAKE new OFFER
Alabama Power Head Asks for
Muscle Shoals Contract.
Lease for Fifty Years Wanted
in Fourth Proposal.
WILL FIGHT FORD CLAIMS
Government Morally Obligated
in Option Granted AIabamans.
Fourth Plan win Agree With
Federal Water Power Act.
WILL FIGHT FORD CLAIMS

Washington. Feb. 15.-The offer OF
the Alabama Power company for pur-
chase and lease of the government
nitrate and water power projects al
Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the fourth
proposal to be presented, was formal !
ly delivered TO Secretary Weeks's Of
flee at the war department today by
Thomas Martin. president Of the con-
cern.
Because of the secretarys absence,
due to illness which confined him IN
his residence for the day, no action
was taken by the department, but II
was said the offer proba bly, would be
sent to congress soon for its decision
= the same manner as that of Henry
Ford was submitted.
The company proposes completion
of the Wilson dam without further
advances or expenditure by the
United States and the outright pur-
chase Of the Warrior power plant on
the Gorgas river. situated on ground
already owned by the power COM
pany."
Ask Fifty-Ycar Lease.
The properties would be leased by
the power company for a period of
fifty years, after W hich they would be
subject to "reca pture by the govern
mcut."
They would he operated under pro-
wise of the federal water power act.
The offer 5ntlined To Secretary
Weeks in a letter signed by Mr. Mar
tin. stated il to be the company's pur-
pose to install at the start plant Of
approximately 10000 horsepower.
subsequent installation to be made in
accordance with federal water power
act may be necessary to meet the
market demands.
Would Furnish Free Power to L. 5.
The Alabama company offered fur
ther 'to furnish free to the govern
ment. or any one il may designate
from the hydropower plant 100000
horsepower, as required for the pro-
duction Of fertilizers and munitions Of
war. and for research in connection
Herewith"
Whenever the safety of the United
States demands" the letter said, the
United States shall have the right. as
more fully provided in the federal
water power act, to take over and
operate the project covered by the
license, for the purpose Of manufac
turing nitrates, explosives or muni-
tions of war or for any other pur-
poses involving the safety of the
Upited States for such length of time
as may appear to the president neces-
sary for such purposes.
Begin Construction soon.
Tho Iicensee will agree to begin
the construction promptly upon the
enactment Of the necessary legislation
and granting Of license and to complete
the same within a reasonable time
thereafter"
o. The offer differed from those re-
ceived from Ford, Frederick c. Eng
strum, of Wilmington, n. c., or so far
as is known from that proposed by
g e. Tinker, head of the Construction
Company of North America, with
headquarters at San Francisco in that
none OF these agreed to function un-
der the provisions of the federal water
power act.
The Alabama Power company claims
AN option to purchase the Warrior
plant on as favorable terms as those
given to other private concerns which
option war department officials have
admitted contains moral obligation
upon the government to sell the plant
to the Alabama concern or remove it
from the ground it is on. Witnesses
before the house military committee
testified that before congress accepted
the Ford plan, involving delivery of
the Warrior plant with a clear title.
it would BE faced with long fight in
Tho aptsVtg