The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-25
FORD MAY AID IN OUTWITTING PLAN I SALE
Mccormack Lays Claim To
 Half Interest In Land Upon
 Which GorgaS Is Located,
 Kept Secret For Eight Years POWER co. PAYS U. s. $3,472,487.25 FOR EQUITY Weeks Closes Deal And Ford
 Is Silent, Knowing His
 Agents Have Been In Con-
 ference With Mccormack
WASHINGTON BUREAT%,
 THE AGE-HF1R4LD MashingtOn. D. C.. Sent. 2i

WASHINGTON BUREAT~,
 THE AGE-HERALD
 Washington. ID. C., Sept 24
 The United States government, through Secretary of War John W. Weeks, today sold its interest in the Gorgas power plant to the Alabama Power company for S5472,4S7.25. the money being paid and the necessary papers exchanged. but the days de- velopments indicate that Henry Ford may have outWitted the Alabama Power company in sensational way.
 1t is learned here that the Gorgas steam plant may not after all be lo- eat ed upon land owned by the Ala hama Power company as has been claimed for so many years. It is as- serted upon what seems excellent authority that there is a claim out standing against one-half interest in the land upon which the power plant and town of Gorgas are located which if substantiated would mean that the Alabama Power company in the war days did not have authority to execute with the government the agreement under which the govern ment built an auxiliary power plant upon the site and under which agree ment todays sale was made
 McCormack Has Claim.
 It is learned that the Mccormack interests of Alabama represented by II. B. Mccormack vice president and general manager of the Pratt Con- solidated Coal company, claim one half interest in all the land upon which the plant and town of Gorgas are located and that suit will prob- ably be institut ed within the next Jew days 10 establish the claim. Ac-. eDrdfas to tiffs fnformation MT Nrc- asl- .Fnrfr t.- land in the section embracing Gorgss and only half interest was ever legally transferred to the Alabama Power company. This it appears has been unknown to the Alabama Power company during the past eight years.
 But Henry Ford and his advisers knew it and his friends here are claiming this is the reason for his silence as the day approached for the expiration of the time extension given by the power company in It's transaction with the government. These friends are so positive about it that they call attention 10 a con- ference held between well known Alabamians and Mir Ford's represen- tatives at the Hermitage hotel in Nashville about three weeks ago. It was at this time that the claims of MT. Mccormack are said to ha- been laid on the table together with their authenticity. There were stories at the time that MT. Ford himself was in Nashville, but 1t seems that was found unnecessary and his represen- tatives were sent. Among those from Alabama who attended this conference were Lee Andrews and c. B. Clark, aneXpert on abstracts oe Sheffield. Later the situation was brought to the attention of repre- sentatives of the Alabama Power n fu that time they have been frantic in their efforts to get some kind of an adjustment of the embarra ssment growing out of an oversight of some- body eight years ago when the prop ertY was purchased. If such an ad- justment could not be effected-and 1t Is understood here that no satis- factory basis of settlement has been reached-it is said the Alabama Power company considered the next best thing to be to get possession from the government and hence was unwilling to make any more exten- sion of time trusting in the old adage that possession is nine tenths of the law.
 Willing For Trade.
 On the other hand it Is claimed the Mccormack Interests were willing to have the trade go through by which the government relinquished its title SO that their suit might be against the power company Instead of against the government.
 To what extent there is an under standing between Ford and the Ma. Cormack interests is not known here. but their attitude is said to be one Of entire friendliness if not definite understanding.
 W, B. Oliver, representative of the Sixth Alabama district, prior to the consummation of todays deal in- formed the secretary, and the Presi- dent, that inasmuch as the govern ment was still purchasing power of the Alabama Power company. some of which was generated at Gorgas. the Alabama Power was not in posi- ton to declare that the government had failed for six consecutive months 10 buy GorGas power and therefore not in position to contend that the government must either sell it's in- terest in Gorsas or remove that in- terest from the property of the com Tany
 The Secretary of War. evidently be- lieVing that there was right in the argument and that there was need of additional investigation by the At torney General, asked Thomas w. Martin. president of the company. for a further extension of the time in which toaformulate the final decision of the government. Mr. Martin met this reuest with a statement that the company had given umOst considera- tion of the government and with no- tice that unless the gov ernment im- mediatelY state its decision the com panX, after today is relieved of ths obligation to buy and will withdraw its offer
 It may be stated that the McCor- mack claim had not at this time be- come known.
 In the meantime the secretary had been informed by his legal advisers that in their opinion the contention of Mir. oliver that inasmuch as the com pany still furnishes the government some power. the company was not warranted in demanding that the