The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-19
The MuscIe Shoals Drama


 If the average citizen stops long enough to take stock of the Ford offer for Muscle Shoals it will soon become apparent that there is an alarming depreciation in this prop osition that at one time alarmed the citizenry. Not few of us have been sorely disappointed in this. matter some for one cause and others for another. There was hopes of a magic city 1 in this corner of Alabama, while the possibili- ties of cheap nitrates thrilled the farmers of the state.
 For three long years now the matter has been pending. There is less hopes at this time than ever before of Ford getting this prop erty. In fact, he has been so indefinite about the whole thing that he has lost many of his strong supporters in both houses of congress. So far as nitrates coming from this source, even the most optimistic must now have mis- giyings. As the matter stands the farmers have lost. They must continue to pay the Chilean government royalty of twenty-five dollars per ton for nitrate of soda, while the vast amount of their tax money lies idle at the Muscle Shoals plant
 The present conditions effecting agricul- ture make it imperative that some provisions be made to secure cheaper nitrates. Alabama is composed of great number of small farm CTS. Alabama soils are nearly all depleted of nitrotes which must be had before economi- cal production can be had. How long shall these farmers of small means pay tribute to the Chilean government and at the same time the enormous amount of public funds lie idle? This is a question that the farmers them selves will answer. If those in authority do not take definite steps to bring this relief, the farmers will march in one solid phalanx to the polls and make a demand that will reyerberate from coast to coast.
 There is no economical reason or cause so ha iad mn longer by Mir. Ford or anyone else. The one thing that agriculture is demanding and will continue to demand is a square business deal. They owe Henry Ford nothing; the debt they owe their fellow-citizens Tn the United States congress they will pay at the polls. It matters nothing to the rank and file of the farmers who gets Muscle Shoals if they get relief.
 The time for making politics of this gov ernment property has gone the limit. If one citizen cannot and will not act, then give an- other a chance.
 The writer has come to believe that the best friend to the Alabama farmers is his neigh Dor. We have the Alabama Power Company chartered and doing business in the state, and much of its capital is Alabama money. It is giving employment to Alabama citizens and services to the citizenry of the state. The writer did not feel that this company was acting in good faith in opposing Henry Ford, but since the matter has gone as far as it has, it begins to appear that this com pany was acting in good faith and that the farmers have really been the losers to an interest entirely foreign to them. However this may be, it is now time to get results If the Alabama Power Company can and will produce nitrates as 1 understand was speci- fled in their proposition to congress 1t is now time to give them a chance. The delay in the matter is bearing too heavily on only one class of citizens-the farmers. They must have relief.
 There is a larger and more economical way of looking at the matter. There are hundreds and thousands of Alabama citizens doing daily toilNin coal mines, small electric plants, gas plants, etc, that are gradually giving place to electrical contrivances. The way the Muscle Shoals matter stands, inevitably the Alabama Power Company and kindred cor poratiOns will sooner or later come into pos session of this Muscle Shoals properties Within ten years what will happen? Lines will be run into every town in the state that has one thousand population or more and electricity will supplant all machinery now operated by coal as well as gas plants. This will result in the closing down of coal mines and throwing labor out of employment, or to say the least of it, shifting labor, which is always a disturbing element. Gas plants will also give place to electric contriYances for domestic uses. Upon whole, no less than twenty per cent of the citizenry will suffer disturbance in their efforts for a living. What will be the counter part of this con- dition? The Chilean government will continue to sap the farmers which must result in high CT prices for food for this element of citizenrp disturbed by closing down business. Condi- tons as a whole cannot be made better ex- cept perhaps for the mere convenience of electrified machinery, etc To be sure the Alabama Power Company will be the bene- factor of the new conditions.
 While this must be the inevitable outcome with the electric companies the sole benefae- tors and agriculture and many laboring peo- pie made the worse for it, yet these electric companies will be satisfied as any other cit izen. or corporation if their profits in opera tions are made safe. This will be possible by contracting to furnish the farmers with nitrates If the Alabama Power Company will now enter into a bona fide agreement to furnish nitrates to the farmers with emer- gency clauses for war purposes and that to the extent of say eighty per cent. of the power developed at the Muscle Shoals plants, this company will not only bless the farmers as class, but will leave intact the thousands of laborers that must sooner or later be elim- mated from certain industries. The economy of such action will mean multiplied millions to the state in the course of time.
 JAMES F. SCOFIELD.