The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-06

land he Is told by the government,
that he must remain on this land ant
develop it," ne narrated. IF he re.
mains on the property and makes the
development the time comes when
| he becomes the owner and capable
of disposing of it in any way he sees
fit. Why shouldn't we regard the
power development in the same way,
Let us say to the power company
that it must remain on the property
already placed in it's keeping and
make the proper development before
1t takes up another piece of prop
erty."
He also suggested that a tax be
imposed on property held by power
companies for future development,
contending that this would force de-
velopment and would keep the COM
panies busy.
John r. Bealle. representative of
Tuscaloosa county, said the people
of his county were opposed to the
petition of the power company and
that no voice In favor OF 1t was
raised when the matter came before
the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Com
merce.
Mr. Bealle's address concluded the
argument in opposition to the Pc
tition. Representative Bankhead
told the commission Representative
Steagall was forced to leave with
out submitting a statement. but re-
quested him to assure the commits
sion that he Endorsed the words of
the opposition spoken by other men,
bers of Congress.
Brown Tells Plans.
r. w. Brown of Birmingham re-
quested the commission to grant the
petition. He said he did not appear
as the representative of the Ala
| hama Power cOnnaDv hUt did an.
pear for clients who desired to con-
struct the paper mill near Tusca
loosa. He said 10000 acres of spruce
timber is owned by those who are
ready to construct the plant and thai
the industry will mean much for the
state and especially for the Tus
caloosa section and the Warrio
river.
He said he could not see why the
people of Tuscaloosa would be op
| posed to proposal which woulC
mean the development of a great In
dustry in that section. Il urge the
commission to grant this permit tC
somebody" concluded Mr.. Brown. III
you will permit the development tc
be made you will open the way for
development costing approximately
SO, 900, 000."
Judge Bernard Harwood, who ia
vored the granting of the permit
Muscle Shoals but cannot see how
the development at Lock IT would
interfere with the proposal of the
Detroit man. He stated that he is
the attorney for the men who de-
sire to construct the paper mill and
is assured that the plant cannot be
constructed until an adequate sup
ply of cheap power Is obtained. He
also said that the company which
proposes to construct the paper mill
has plans perfected for the organi-
cation of million dollar coal COM
pany for the mining Of coal from
lands not heretofore developed.
Mr.. Black of Mason City, Iowa.
representing the same interests men
toned by Judge Harwood and Mr..
Brown, declared that the spruce tim
Der had been owned for 20 years;
that the property represents an In
vestment of s1.00o,0o0 ana that the
owners are ready and anxious to
make a further development as soon
as cheap power can be obtained. He
insisted that he Is not interested in
the fight of the Alabama Power
company and knew nothing about II
until he came to Alabama.
He expressed the hope that Henry
Ford will get Muscle Shoals but
said he could not see how any de-
yelopment on the Warrior river could
be linked with Ford's offer for a
development on the Tennessee. III
a development is not made on the
warrior which will furnish cheap
power the interests I represent will
not be able to make the development
which they propose" said Mr.. Black
The speaker suggested that the