Evening star., 1924-12-20
ACT, SLOWLY, SAYS /
P|NCHOT, OF sHOALS|
Tells Coolidge Country Should
Know Just What II In
tends Doing.

Declaring there is no other great
source Of industrial power for the South
except through Muscle Shoals, Gov
Ptnchot Of Pennsylvania, at a confer
ence today with President Coolidge
urged that no disposition be made of
the Muscle Shoals property until we
know exactly what we want to accom-
plish in power development"
The Pennsylvania governor, who is
one of the country's most widely
known conservationists, declined af-
ter his conference to comment on
either the Underwood or Norris
Muscle Shoals bills now pending in
the Senate. but said he did not favor
any bill which falls to bring dis
position of power within the provi-
sions of the Federal Waterpower Act
and does not provide for Industrial
development of the South
Conservation Is Discussed.
Steps to bring about forest conser-
walton also were discussed by Mr.
Ptnchot, who declared the Capper
bill, designed to bring about judicious
cutting of timber and natural reseed-
ing of forest lands. would aid greatly
in such conservation.
Il discussed primarily with the
President the Importance of the giant
power plan which we are working out
in Pennsylvania and its reference to
Muscle Shoals" Mr.. Pinchot said. "The
Muscle Shoals power is the key to the
Industrial development Of the whole
tidewater south from Charleston
around to New Orleans. The essen
tial in that connection is that, what
ever disposition Is made of pending
legislation, the possibilities of geo.
graphically wide instead of geo
graphically restricted use of the Mus
Gle Shoals power should be assured.
Wants to Go Slowly.
"My own belief is that no dis
position should be made Of Muscle
Shoals until we know exactly what
we want to accomplish. Then let US
dispose of 1t SO as to get precisely
what we want
Il am not in favor of any bill
which fails to bring disposition OF
power within the provisions of the
Federal water power act and does
not provide for Industrial develop
ment OF the South. OF course, the
production OF fertilizers goes without
saying"
The governor differentiated between
the giant power plan being worked out
IN Pennsylvania and the super-power
partment Of Commerce. The former
would provide, he said. for general
unit into which all power would go and
from which all power would come. The
latter he defined as a connection be-
tween the network of power projects
which would allow interchange of power
in emergencies.
Shoals Important Unit.
The giant power project, he as
serted, provided the most feasible
and the wisest means of linking up
the power developed in the eastern
half of the country and could be ex-
tended to cover the whole continental
United States. Muscle Shoals, he
added, would be an important ele-
ment in such a project. and accord
ingly steps should not be taken for
it's disposition until after the whole
plan had been agreed upon.
With all thought of a vote on Muscle
Shoals before the Christmas recess
abandoned, the Senate today settled
down to consideration of amendments
of the Underwood and Norris bills.
Progress on the pending bills today
had reached a stage which promised
q final roll call shortly after the holt-
days. Recent developments have clart-
fed the legislative situation in the
Senate. and leaders of both sides
now hope that a settlement of the
issue is not far off.
The Senate made substantial head
way yesterday toward a final vote by
disposing of seven amendments &c
the Underwood bill. all of which, ex-
cept one which he mildly opposed
were agreed to by the author of the
measure, Senator Underwood. Demo
crat, Alabama, and leaders hoped 10
dispose of another batch today.