Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-14
FORD A WAITER
Offer WITHDRAWN
FOR MUSCLE SHOALS

New York. Oct. 10 ca. P.)-Henry
Ford has withdrawn his bid for Mus
Gle Shoals and. according to an in
terview with him in the current is
sue of Golfers Weekly, has assumed
waiting attitude by putting it up
to the government to make the next
move il he Is to take any future ac-
ton in the matter.
The transa ction. characterized by
Mr. Ford as "a simple affair OF bus
mess which should have been decid-
ed by anyone within II week." he de-
clared. has become "a complicated
political affair" and the bid was
withdrawn because productive bus
mess cannot wait on politics.
Muscle Shoals" Mr.. Ford Is
quoted. THAT Is not live issue with
us any longer. More than two years
ago we made the best bid we knew
how to make. No definite action has
peen taken on 1t. A simple affair OF
business which should have been de-
cloed by anyone within a week has
become n complicated political affair.
we are not in politics and we are in
business. We do not intend to be
drawn into politics.
I'VE have been and still are deenlv
interested In Muscle Shoals as M
tional asset. There is small promise
now that 1t ever will he national
asset-more than likely 1t will be on
~ an expense. That concerns every
one Oh US as citizens. In the Ford
business. once we make up our minds
~ no anything, we go right ahead
ana do 1t with the least possible
waste OF time, energy or money. n
we cannot do what we want i'm one
way. then we find another.
we are moving so fast and the
settlement of Muscle Shoals future
seemed so FAR away that we had 10
ma other means to do the thing.
we could have accomplished ut Mug
c!e shoals. In fact, we have nassed
NuscIe Shoals. Productive business
cannot wait on politics. Therefore
we are Withdrawing our bid"
asked IL that meant withdra win,
apsolutely from Muscle Shoals and
1seIythlng that pertains to II Mr.
Ford replied: ~ mr'
= Yes we have made our bid. no,v
,.a,, mem make us bid. And they
i NOT nave to wait three veors
In five minutes" ''i'iA
After discussing the poyerr.
investment in Muscle Shoals m,bta,.
ne said was much larger tb"n q.
ought TO be. but which could NJ =.
neIped because It was rush worI
1"he In war time for war pl,rposss
Mr.. Ford said: p"' poSes'
our bid was intended to deve,o,,
method by which the nnhIio..,
ony could be made productive and
teh.uaAy returned to the pubic
soy at a profit. while ut the
tra.s. ume We should produce MI.
ia, ss at a sufficiently low cost -
% oeiI ,hem to the farmers at fract,on ~
what they now have to pay. Aisn
ntended to create a plant ,vhInh
m"uId not only make US fndenendant
b., CniIe Tor nitrates for expiosivas
Due would give US an indepsndses
,sSppiy. possibly equal to thai ~ ais
rest OF the world put to9etb.r :"
Mr. Ford Said his companv ,,a,
Completed the purchase .of ieo nna
: OF coal lands In Kenfuckv go
eI relating some OF the eynas.
ILL. conducted at the River Rone.
we ind from our experieno.
aI. House that we can, renorats
ectr'cai power in these coal ianSs.
my extent we may need ana -
neaper rate than we co,Iid ,,raa
our DID at Muscle Shoals. Ana aisn
We can generate In our own way 80
.Hey outside Of all political inem.
ence or political meddIing. That !.
why we have lost our Interest IN
Muscle Shoals" ~
ASKED what he thought. ought to.
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