The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-28
LAUDS SHOALS BILL
 OF SEN. UNDERWOOD
Says Farmers Would Gain By Adoption Of Ala
 bamian's Measure
SCORES REFUSAL
 OF FORD OFFER
Fate Of The Underwood Pro posal Is Problematical Con-
 clud.s Senator Harrison
fWashington Bureau.l

OTN, ,beC. Hs. ASi out attempting to .depreclate the value of hydroelectric energy in the development of a country, Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi, in a for mai statement issued today, declares that the south at the present time IS more in need of fertilizer.
 That fact as stated by Senator liar rison, is cited as one of the reasons why he supports the so-called Underwood bill for the disposition of Muscle Shoals: The Underwood bill, he says, would authorize the President to make a con tract, if possible, on terms which would guarantee an annual production Of 4O,- GOO tons of fixed nitrogen, sufficient for the preparation of more than 2,OO0,- GOO tons of mixed fertilizer. He makes the point that if the goyernment cannot enter into lease with a private cor poration, it must, under the terms of the bill, carry out such provisions, ltseif.
 Senator Harrison refers to what ls generally understood here that only such Q measure. that provides the possibility, If a leaseswould receive the approval of the President. He\ declares 1t tony. TOT which it is known in advance the Pres- ident would not approve. Discusses Situation
 In the following statement, Senator Harrison discussed the situation as 1t involves Muscle Shoals from beginning to end: .sa
 "No question that has come before the American congress since the great World war effects the south, and espec.. ially those states in the vicinity of Muscle Shoals, more vitally than the question of what shall be done with the governments properties there.
 "It has frequently been said that Muscle Shoals is nothing but water mower proposition. This position has been taken by the great eastern inter- ests and their bond brokers. One of their representatives frankly com nlained in a public statement that as to the fertilizer end of the Muscle Shoals problem, it has been given an undue importance and has had dis' turbing influence on the entire dis cussiOn."
 When it is remembered, however, that the governments Muscle Shoals invest ment. dedicated primarily to the pro- duction of nitrates for explosives in time of war and for fertilizers in time of peace. amounts to fully $S0,OOO,OOO, while it's Muscle Shoals investment for water power purposes is but S4o,ooU,- GOO. it becomes evident that those who seek to belittle the importance Of fer tilizer production at Muscle Shoals are not supported by the facts.
 ExpIains Home Conditions
 s'The great state of Mississippi is first of all an agricultural state. Out of every 100 people who live in Mis- sissippi. S6 are classed by the United States census as rural inhabitants. The nrosperity and wellbeing of S6 per cent of our people directly depends upon their success as farmers and no one Will deny that the welfare of the remaining IA per cent is scarcely less dependent upon agricultural prosperity: Whlie the opposition paints rosy pictures or the benefits of hydro-eiectric power dis. tributed from Muscle Shoals, we or Mississippi should not permit ourselves to forget that our fertilizer bill Is more than S4,250,000 every year and that the electricity for lighting and power that we might get from Muscle onoals would be a sorry substitute for an abundant production of cheaper and better fertilizers for our hundreds or thousands of acres which must have fertilizers in order to make their cultl- votion worth while. Every farmer knows that fertilizers are his greatest nrotection against the boil weevil and that no amount of calcium arsenate will protect his crop if his soil lacks the necessary fertilizer to produce the crop in the first place.
 "It is of special interest to Missis.. sippi people. therefore, and equally Of as great interest to other southern states, that in establishing the nitro'
 gen industry at Muscle Shoals 10 make nitrates for explosives, congress did so in May, 1916, with one great purpose in mind, viz: that the plant which could produce the nitrates t0r these explosives in time of war, would
 be equally effective as source Oi
 cheaper and better fertilizers for our
 people in times of peace and in the national defense act which carried the authority for the building of the nee cssary dams and plants, the making of fertilizers was named before all other products as the peace time pJr- bose of this great enterprise.
 NThe opposition may shout "It can't he done," but those who are in the business know only too well that any such statement is mere deception and falsehood. No better proof of this state ment could be desired than was con- tained in a dispatch in the Wall Street Journal of October 22, 1924, eight days ofter the south had lost the Oppor- tunity of a generation.
 Ask For Bids
 "The chief of engineers had asked for bids, the private interests seeking to gain Muscle Shoals for their own advantage had declined to make an / offer, and the entire enterprise was going begging-then, suddenly, thos
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