The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-12

of acres of coal averaging three thou sand tons to the acre. Enough sand, gravel and shale to construct all of the buildings for ages to come; asphalt, to pave all the streets of the world for the next hundred years; ochres-red, yellow and brown, from which the best paints are made.
 All of the ingredients for the making of chemical fertilizer are there at hand. It is claimed that the fertilizer industry alone will employ twenty thousand men the year round. | It is estimated that the use of nitro gen in the south will increase the farm ers' savings $75,OOO,OO0 on cotton alone. On account of the excessive price which cotton growers are compelled to pay for fertilizer made from Chilean nitrates, they can afford to use it only in comparatively small way. As re- suit, the soil throughout the south yields OIiy apoLC one-third bale to the acre. With high grade fertilizer at a low price produced at Muscle Shoals, the yield will be three times as much as it is at present. If it increases the cotton crop value to that extens it is cerain to Denerit other agricultural in  deed, it is claimed that the dam and the nitrate plants, enormous as was their cost, will save to the farmers the entire expense of the project, not only Once but every year. That is-the Muscle Shoals project, on the fertilizer feature alone, will earn dividend of one hun dred per cent every year hereafter. And this dividend will come from approxi- mately 25,O00 horsepower, which is only small fraction of the amount of power to be developed.
 Would Aid Farming
 The effect of the upIlft which would be given to agriculture and all of the allied industries, would make a tremen- dously increased market for automobiles and farm tractors. There would be a demand for modern equipment of all kinds, which, up to this time, the south land has had no chance to enjoy, owing of the Civil war.
 With water transportation, the cheap est of all transportation, down the Ten nessee to the. Ohio, and on down the Mississippi, and with cheap fertilizer and economical marketing facilities right at hand, thousands of farmers in other parts of the south and central west are planning to locate in the Muscle Shoals district. They are going there, not to work in the factories, but to farm independently and produce for the market, corn, cotton, vegetables dairy products, hogs and cattle.
 Not only farmers, but investors, man ufacturers and business men from all sections of the country are going tC Muscle Shoals now to investigate this project, with the view of casting their lot on the Tennessee river.
 Muscle Shoals is in the heart of the great cotton belt of the south. Nearby is a large, forest of timber, both hard and soft. Textile mills and wood pro ducts plants can be built and operated at a lesser cost than in the north.
 Muscle Shoals is a very advantageous location for the development of a great manufacturing center. With the coin pletiOn of the dam excellent water trans pOrtation will insure lower freight rates to every port of earth.
 This district is crossed by three rail roads-the Southern, the Louisville anC Nashville, and the Northern Alabama These lines connect every part of thC | and with populous centers of the east west and north, on the other
 The climate at Muscle Shoals, being neither extremely hot in summer, nol cold in winter, makes it possible fol labor to put in full time, either indoor. or out, during all seasons of the year Moreover, the cost of building and heat ing is much less than it is farther north
 There is an abundance of common labor. Skilled labor will always flow to the point where there is demand for it.
 With raw materials close at hand with hydro electric power less than one fifth the cost of steam power, with thu Tennessee river offering cheapest trans pOrtatiOn to every port in the world with a climate ideal the year round Muscle Shoals seems destined to become the greatest industrial city in thu United States.
 Eyes on Shoals
 In the search for cheaper power cheaper raw materials, cheaper trans portation and better climate conditions hundreds of manufacturers in all part of the country are looking to Muscl Shoals.
 lnere SnOulu De teAllie HILLS IOr LII manufacture of cotton goods, factorie for the production of aluminium and it metallOid utensils, aeroplane plant where metal aeroplanes can be manu factured by the tens of thousands, ce ment plans, concrete plants, asphal plans, and many others, giving profit able employment to armies of men.
 The bill providing for the disposition of this great project at Muscle Shoals has already passed the house of repre- sentatives By unanimous consent tn senat has agreed to take up this bill o the opening day of the coming sessio of congress, December 3. The senate pledged to give this bill undivided at tention until it is disposed of
 When this prOject goes over. it is pre- dicted that the most rapid develOpmen ever experienced in any locality i America will take place at Muscl l SbOalc