The New York herald., 1922-06-02
Insists on Gorgas Plant and
Early Acceptance or
Rejection
ACTION IS LIKELY TO-DAY
Observers Believe Congress
Will Approve Manufac-
turer's New Offer.

DETROIT. June 1.--Henryl Ford talk
ing on the Muscle Shoals project late
to-day expressed his displeasure over
the long drawn out negotiations and
said that selfish Wall Street interests
and British capital were behind the
opposition to his taking over the en-
terprise.
These charges by Mr.. Ford accom-
panied an explanation of his letter
submitted to-day to the House Mill
tary Committee in which he insisted
on the inclusion of the Gorgas Ala
bama Steam Power plant in the prop
critics. Mr.. Ford asked for, an early
acceptance or rejection of his tender.
Referring to his proposal to manu-
facture- fertilizer at a low price, the
manufacturer said:
The statement that fertilizer cannot
be made at Muscle Shoals at less than
present market prices is fraud. We
can make it for a great deal less be-
cause we would cut out four profits
now going to manufacturers and mid
dlemen by making complete fertilizer
and selling it directly to the farmer
"For almost a year." he continued.
I'VE have been negotiating with the
Government and still have not decided
a matter than in private industry
would have been decided at a single
board Of directors meeting. We have
hoped steadily we could get to work
down there this summer.
Congress is willing to spend a hun
dred million at Muscle Shoals for war,
but in three years and six months 1t
has not spent a nickel there for peace.
The destiny of our country. agricul-
turally and industrially, lies at Muscle
Shoals. If the project can be devel-
oped as an example of what can be
done with water power a new epoch
in American agriculture and industry
will be born. an epoch in which the
American farmer and workingman will
be better off than he ever has been
before.
''If the selfish Wall Street interests
which. behind the scenes. have been
delaying and misrepresenting our
and make the Government a better Of
fer than mine. I'll fall right in and
cooperate and help them and the Gov
ernment in any way l can.
But If they think they can get over
a less worthy private offer / notify
them now that the fight for Muscle
Shoals so far has been but skirmish.
We will exert every resource ut our
command to keep Muscle Shoals out of
the hands of Wall Street.
The Gorgas plant is absolutely essen
tial' to the Ford plan for making a
cheap. high grade fertilizer, Mr.. Foru
said.
'The Gorgas plant would be essential
10 economical operation OF Muscle
Shoals Nitrate plans until dams No
and No. could be completed, which
might take from three to four years."
he explained. mo coal mines are near
the nitrate plants. Fuel has to be
hauled ninety miles. bringing about d
tremendous overhead charge. But at
Gorgas, ninety-one miles from the
nitrate plants, the Alabama Power
Company has a small steam power plant
at the mouth of mine. The Govern
ment built large addition to the pant
with the idea of obtaining enough power
to develop electric current for trans
mission to the Shoals over high tension
cables.
THAT was good Industrial judgment.
1t saved carrying the coal. and good
business sense dictated It.
when the dams are completed and
the river Is at full flow we could de-
velop approximately 100000 horse