Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-30
ford WOULD MAKE
ARSENAL At SHOALS,
CONGRESSMAN SAYS

cium arsenate at Muscle Shoals if
the Detroit genius is given a lease
on that property.
Representative Wright made an
eloquent speech in the house on
conditions in the cotton growing
belt growing out of the ravages of
the boil weevil," and in this speech
urged not only the acceptance OF the
Ford offer to lease Muscle Shoals but
informed the house that Ford might
manufacture calcium arsenate at
that plant.
At present this country is almost
wholly dependent upon foreign sup
plies of nitrates, Judge Wright also
said, and England controls three
fourths of the Chilean nitrate mines.
Transportation and other charges
make the nitrate cost the American
farmer $40 a ton.
Praised by HOke Smith
Former Senator Hoke Smith, who
is an advocate Of the Ford plant for
Muscle Shoals, commented Saturday
that the speech of Representative
Wright was one of the most i'm
portant and able delivered in con-
gress during this session. It was
thorough analysis of conditions in
the south, the plight of the cotton
farmer, his combat against the boil
WeeVn AMI the scarcity and high
cost of his fertilizer. The Wright
speech was the first intimation that
Ford may manufacture calcium ar
senate at Muscle Shoals and that he
is now Investigating that very pro-
ject.
1.-TWO things that the cotton plan
ter needs today" said Representative
Wright, ARE fertilizer and calcium
arsenate. Where do we get this nj
trate of soda?/ 1t is imported from
Chile, and in what way?
England controls three-fourths OF
those Chilean nitrate mines. Eng
land transports coal in her ships
from England and from Germany to
Chile with which to operate those
Chilean mines. BY the time the coal
is transported and the power gener-
ated by it is furnished to the nitrate
mines the cost OF mining it is about
So a ton, and then when it leaves
Chile to come to the United States
the Chilean government exacts an
export duty of over $12 a ton, so
that before it ever leaves the coast
of Chile en- route to the United States
it has cost over $40 ton. 1t has to
so through the Panama canal, and
what do We do there? The Ameri-
canal and he is compelled to pay
the toll to have this nitrate go
Through that canal.
while we spend billions of dollars
for Chilean nitrate, today down at
Muscle Shoals there is standing idle,
and at great cost to the government,
nitrate plant built by this govern
ment, which is capable of producing
10000 tons of fixed nitrogen annual
ly, which is equivalent to every
pound pound of Chilean nitrate which
the farmers consume.
EdisOn's Opinion
Forty thousand tons of fixed nj
trogen is the equivalent of 900
tons of Chilean nitrate, imported into
this country and used by the farm
ers. From the air over one acre of
land there can be fixed 1880 tons
Of nitrogen, and the supply is mex
haustible, as it is replenished in the
air, Not only this, but nitrogen
and fertilizers can be economically
produced at Muscle Shoals and as a
result farmers of this country would
be saved an almost incalculable
amount during the 100-year period
which Mr.. Ford obligates the COM
pany to be formed to operate this.
Thomas A. Edison. who has
studied the question, gives it as his
opinion that fertilizers can be pro-
duced at Muscle Shoals at about half
the price at which they are now sold.
1T should also be kept in mind
that with 10000 tons Of fixed nitro
gen a mixed we'll balanced fertilizer
can be made aggregating 100000
tons.
Representative Crisp, of Georgia,
expressing his support of the Ford
offer asked Judge Wright upon what
he based his statement that Mr.
Ford would also manufacture cal
cium arsenate.
81 am not authorized to speak for
Mr.. Ford, but have personally
taken this matter up with the rep
resentative Of Henry Ford, Mr.. w.
B. Mayo, and suggested to him the
possibility of manufacturing calcium
arsenate at Muscle Shoals as we'll as
fertilizers, and also the manufacture
of machines there which could be
supplied to the farmers at reasona-
BILE prices to- distribute this calcium
arsenate, and he is intensely inter
ested in it and is now actively en-
gagged in working on the question
to determine whether it is practical
to manufacture calcium arsenate at
Muscle Shoals.
Offer Ignored
cit would seem, however, of doubt
full propriety to ask Mr.. Ford if he
would manufacture calcium arsenate
at Muscle Shoals, as his offer thus
far has been ignored, and he might
very properly ask this house what
it proposed to do in reference to
his present offer, which has been
pending so long. I firmly believe if
this great plan at Muscle Shoals
should be turned over to him under
his offer. he would gladly manufac-
ture calcium arsenate there as well
as fertilizers. I believe he would do
this not only because Of the interest
he has manifested i'm the prosperity
of this country, but because if for
nc other reason from q selfish stand
point.
Henry Ford knows as we'll as
any man that he can not sell trucks,
tractors and cars through the south
unless there is a production of cot
ton. He knows without the use of
fertilizers and calcium arsenate that
cotton can not be successfully pro-
duced. am persuaded that the
manufacture of calcium arsenate at
Muscle Shoals is entirely practicable.
Upon the completion of Dam No. 2,
an abundant supply Of power will
be available; that section abounds
in an unlimited supply of lime rock
from which the best grade Of lime
can be produced, and if white arse
nate can be secured, and it can be,
certainly Mr. Ford is in a position to
do so and thus all of the elements
necessary of produce calcium arse
nate could be easily brought togeth-
er at the Muscle Shoals plant Pure
lime and white arsenate are the nee