The Nevada County picayune., 1922-01-12
FORD'S BID
 IS FIRST
Others Not in Competition With IL, Weeks Says Thinker ReVamps
 Offer.

Washington Jan. r Henry Ford ill the view of War Department officials. occupies the position of first import ancc among those bidding for lease, purchase. completion and operation of the Muscle Shoals. Ala. nitrate and power projects
 Secretary Weeks announced today after conference with C. (. Thinker of San Francisco. president of the Construction Company of North Amer ica, who sought an agreement by which his company would complete construc' tion work and operate the plants on semi governmental basis. that the Ford offer was the only comprehensive scheme before him for completion of the project and manufacture of ferti- lizer by private enterprise.
 Both the Tinker proposal and that recently submitted by Frederick F. Engstrum of Wilmington \. C. il WAS said related almost entirely 10 coll struetion work on #the#damS and other plants and involved the government in future management of them aS well as in paying for the Work.to be done The virtual placing of the two of fer, ill tbo class of contract bids rath CT than lease and operation proposals Groueh, AIr Ford'S plan again 10 the forefront of the transaction and re moved in the minds of N. Depart mcut officials whatever idea had ex= fstcd that fao Thinker and EagztrDm paas#vere of | competitive Soft a= compared ta t6aI of tHe Detroit man maeturef
 Fl WIS =teeaiieH tHat Uhea Mf. Heele. lTe~t aa8or8eaa= desire te#dfSeeze af tHa H#-ra SHaa- properties fo=a 6Fst5a1Ia# J.5saae fIleeee~t=vaa would guarantee temperate tAen=to tge=eaHa eF. ad48a84e ac HaS pGouHed ar.ar eipHly hy f.e Hof7e=of mat5a4 tt1ra sar15eoaaao Ho f#e nal .ea, guaranteeing ffei@ operation rather than letting tlem stand >fa and Wttho2t asking Congress for the millions necessary fan government construction @d manage ment S8cha desire still exists in the mind of tAe waH >eretary. il was said and the Ford offer fl was added. is thc nearest thing the government has received fer is fulillment
 Thai. however. is not regarded a~ a perfect fudnment in it's present form of the desires of Mr.= Weeks and the secretary will seek To have fl amend cd in conference scheduled to begin Wednesday between the department of ifs representatives of Mr Ford and the latter in person.
 l Meanwaiie Mi Tinker and !. .. uitchcooz. acting as his engineer ad= wiser. will remain here in conference i with army engineers II was officially announced that tbev would modify the plans they explained to the secretary today hHt ii was not stated in what mauer the alterations would be made The Eue>trum offer remained ia the hands of the chief of engineers. Maj ; Gen. Beach. for study and further lr= port by Hm to Secretary Weeks
 Senator Harris of Georgia also con. ] felred with the War secretary teday ou the Muscle Shoals question. He told ot tbe tremeHjous interest on ] inc part of=the people of his slate i in the manufacture of fctilizarS aud development of power
 Then senator urged Mr. Weeks not to give control of the Muscle Shoals properties to=aH corporation routeolI cd hy the fertilizer or poWcr trusts In planning his lease of the prepefie. the senator urged timt he Investigate tAe stockholders of the =eomnaHie- bid diug for such leases and asked tla the names of Inc stockholders ot the ] companies be incorporated a~ ! part ] of the ~cercta1Y's report 10 Congress.