The Colorado statesman., 1924-06-14


World war in 1917 found us dependent upon Chile
for ntrates with which TO manufacture explosives.
Nitrates can be taken from the nitrogen In the air.
The power and the facilities for the manufacture
of an adequate supply not available Hence
the federal government decided to construct a nj
trnte plant of Its Muscle Shoals was selected
as the site because 1t had ample water power, was
convenient to the raw materials, coal and lime
stone and from military viewpoint
Work begun at Muscle Shoals in July of
1913. At the signing of the armstice in November
of 1918 steumpower nitrate plant had been prac-
dcally completed. Wilson Dam, however, had been
barely begun Congress decided to complete VIII
son Dam and it will be ready to deliver its power
some time in 1925
Muscle Shoals did not become useless at the
signing of the armistice On the contrary 1t pos
sesses great peacetime possibilities 1t can be
made source of two of the most important factors
in industrial development-electrcity and nj
trogen compounds The uses of electrical power
almost limtless. Nitrogen compounds can be
made into either explosives fertilizer, the pre-
limnary stages of manufacture being the same.
Completion of the Muscle Shoals project will also
greatly increase the navigabillty of the Tennessee
river.
During the last two years several offers have
been made to the War department for part all of
the Muscle Shoals properties The secretary of
referred these offers TO congress with the
quest for legislation covering the situation.
Muscle Shoals Project in Detail.
President Coolidge, in message TO congress De
cember g, 1923, recommended that the properties
be sold, subject to the right of the government to
retake them in time of and with covenant
that experimentation for the manufacture of fer
tilizers be carried on to success He recommended
that congress consider offers conduct negotiations
and report definite recommendations
This article, however, is solely for the purpose
of giving the outstanding facts in connection with
the physical aspects of the Muscle Shoals develop
ment. Other phases of the complicated situation
purposely ignored.
The strictly wartime works at Muscle Shoals
are from representing all of the present under
takings, existing and proposed If present plans
ure carried out the complete development COM
brlses the following:
Dam No. This Is small navigation dam TO be
erected Florence two miles below the Wilson
Dam. Its estimated cost is $14OO,OOO. Its con-
struction is not yet approved 1t is to contain
navigation lock and will provide sufficient depth of
water upstream to the Wilson Dam. From Flor
to the Ohio, distance of 257 miles, there is
TO be a sixfoot channel.
Dam No 2-rhis Is the Wilson Dam, elsewhere
described in detail. II will develop power and Is
provided with navigation locks Its final Is
estimated ut $51,OOOOO0.
Dam No 3-Ths is proposed power and navi-
CATION dam, located 1s miles above Wilson Dam.
Its construction is not yet approved. 1t would
raise the water in the river 40 feet and permit
navigation "A further distance up strenm for about
G5 miles. II would supply power to n maximum OF
10000 horsepower. This dam would be even longer
than the Wilson DAM but not so high. Its estimat-
ed cost is $25.0O00o0.
Nitrate Plant No This Is a relatively small
nitrate plant built in 1917 for experimental pur-
poses cost of S1O,OOO,O0o
Nitrate Plant No 2-This is n large nitrate plant
built to supply nirates for explosives during the
war Its total COST including 1o0,OO0-horsepower
steam plant and a limestone quarry at Waco, was
about $40 100000
villages-In connection with Nitrate Plants Nos
I and . complete villages for workers were built
Plant No 2 covers site consisting OF $500 acres
of land 1t consists of six separnte plants for the
ynrtous chemical processes and there are In addi
tIop 1876 permanent houses, with electric lights
so,yors and water supply; hotel with 1OO
rooms furnished with all modern improvements
% miles Of Improved roads; 81 miles OF standard