New Britain herald., 1923-11-05
President Tells Chairman Madden, Who Drafted Proposed Project, He Favors Early Settlement If Issue.
Proposal Is for Construction of New Steam Plant and Then Ford Might Renew His Offer. .sl

Washington, Nov. 3--Outlines of new proposal for disposition of the Muscle Shoals project, contemplating a duplication Of the Gorgas steam plant, recently sold to the Alabama Power company. was presented 10 President Coolidge today by Chairman Madden of the house appropriations committee.
 Would Build New Plant
 Under the plan outlined the govern ment would build or authorize to be built new plant at dams, IS, 16 and 17, located about 10 miles southwest of Gorgas. A new power transmits sion line from the plant to Muscle Shoals proper also would be authoriz- ed. ATr. Madden expressed the belief that revised offer based on these proposals could be obtained from Henry Ford.
 The Illinois representative told the president he would soon begin work on bin embodying his plan and would have the legislation in shape for presentation when congress con venes next month. He said also he believed there was substantial unity of opinion in the house in favor of a speedy disposition Of the Muscle Shoals question.
 One of First Acts
 One of the first acts of congress should be to clean up this Muscle Shoals proposition" said MT. Madden after his conference. "This question has been before congress long enough and there is a general opinion among house members that the drain on the treasury shoald be stopped through lease or sale of the war built proper ties to private interests"
 President Coolidge is understood to have informed Mir. Madden that he favored early settlement of the ques- tion.
 If we can make the southern states more productive through the manu- tacture of nitrates for fertilizer at Muscle Shoals we win have added that much to the riches and prosperity of the whole United States" said Mir. Madden. Taking that view Of the matter, I believe that the government can afford to make contribution in the interest Of national prosperity to the amount fl originally expended in building the Muscle Shoals property"
 70 Million More
 Representative Madden said that 4 personal survey or thc Muscle Shoals section had convinced him that pri- ,ate interests could. through an ad1i- tional expenditure of approximately s5n. .0no. ooo esta blish there the great est power plant in inc world"
 Private interests. also. he said, would see the wisdom Of moving the two steam power plants iu the vicinity of thc Wilson dam down to the pres ent government property near Gorgas. Hs such step would save s2,O00 a day in the transportation of coal. now moving from tho vicinity of GorEas ID to the Wilson dam location.
 Thn sale of thr Goreas plant to the Alabama Power company recently brought from Henry Ford the state ment that he would not modify his offer for tho Muscle Shoals properties, which included thc Gorras steam plant was hel4by Nr Ford to be e sential 10 tho project Advocates or Ford control of the properties recent lv have hc'd conferences here in an effort to work ont some way hv which 2 program such as that outlined hy air. Madden could n" put through.
 Renewal nf the lease Of the rov- arnm"nt's power plant at the Wilson dam. one Of thc units of thc Muscle Shoals project. to the Alabama Power will be approved hy thr war Department. Secretary WnSts an- today after receipt Of an tn- luiry from the power company.
 The plant was leased to Inc power concern about tv-o years ago and its operation has made return of aba1tt s5oa.o .ohh to the government. The terms of the contract. if renewed. viii .ontifue 70 be rsyorsbts and in an rs- 'pHrfs simi'ar to tbosa agreements 1Toti0usiy mad ty thr war 5auart- nent.