Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-16
NEW MUSCLE SHOALS BID:
WALLACE ENDORSES FORD
Wallace Believes Farmers
Would Be Benefited by
Cheap Fertilizer From
Muscle Shoals Plant

WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.--(By thu
Associated Press.)-Another offer for
purchase and lease of the govern.
ment's properties at Muscle Shoals,
Ala, was completed today and ar.
engagements made by its sponsors,
the Alabama Power company, for
immediate filing with SecretaryM
Weeks.
The offer was rendered by Thomas
tMartin,j acting for the Alabaana
Power company, of which he is pres
ident, and with its submission the
total number of proposals received
by the government for its war-ac.
CURED properties in Alabama was
brought to four. The new offer ia
expected to be transmitted soon by
Secretary Weeks to congress, which
has before it the offer of Henry Ford
The Alabama Power company pro
poses completion Of the Wilson dam
without further advances or ex-
penditures by the United States,
and the outright purchase Of the
Warrior power plant, on the Gorgas
river, which is situated on ground
already owned by the power com.
pany.
The properties would be leased BIZ
the power company for a period Of
fifty years under the plan and be
subject to t'recapture by the govern.
ment" at the termination of THAI
time. They also would be operated
subject to the provisions of the fed
eral water power act under an op.l
Grating license.
Wallace Approves Ford Offer
The agriculture department Tues
day approved the Ford Off to deyel-
OPP the govrnment's properties at
Muscle Shoals, Ala.
DIR. Richard c. Tolman, director
of the Fixed Nitrogen Research
Laboratory, appearing before the
house military committee, said that
Secretary Wallace had authorized.
him to say the department. believes
that farmers would be benefited
by operation of the Muscle Shoals
plant for manufacture OF fertilizer
as proposed by Mr.. Ford.
DIR. Tolman read the following
statement as presenting the attitude
of the agricultural department. with
respect to development Of the Muscle
Shoals properties:
II have the authority of the secre
tary of agriculture for the following
statement; @s
THE department of Agriculture
believes that the farmers of the
United States would be benefited by
the operation, of the Muscle Shoals
plant, to produce fixed nitrogen for
use in fertilizers.
Data Collected
"The department understands that
congress already has decided against
the operation of this plant by gov
eminent owned corporation and that
operation must be by private in
dividual or corporation.
1.-THE department has collected q
great deal of information as to the
utilization of the plant and as TO
the possibilities for its future devel-
opment and stands read. Ito cooper
ate to the fullest extent possible
WITH any agency winch AHdy ScSuAN
the plant.
Concerning the Ford proposal, II
it's terms are sufficiently definite and
binding to make sure that the plant
will be operated continuously for the
manufacture Of FERTILIZER, the depart
ment looks with favor upon its ac-
ceptance, believing that it will re-
suit in making available consider
ably increased supply of fertilizer in
time of peace and give us assurance
of adequate supplies Of explosives in
case Of need. The department. does
not undertake to pass upon the
terms of the contract, or venture ana
opinion as to whether they are su1
ficiently definite and enforceable
guarantee the continuous man04
ture of fertilizer"