The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-05-02
Muscle Shoals

Muscle Shoals
The Tennessee River is being put
into harness by the United States
Government One hundred and sixty
million dollars IS being spent on the
Wilson Dam. and the other units. and
when the Government completes lis
construction work, the Niagara OF the
south will supply sufficient power to
turn the wheels OF industry in many
States. A good many people do not
seem to be clear in their understanding
that Muscle Shoals is a Government
development, and not in any sense a
private enterprise. Henry Ford seeks
20 acquire all this wealth OF natural
resource contained in the Tennessee
River and all this creative development
that is being paid for by the United
States. for 100000 of cash. and
rather hazy promises OF things that
he may perform within the next hun
dred years. that length OF time being
the period for which he seeks lease
OF Muscle Shoals. Mr.. Ford's plans
evidently contemplate building a great
manufacturing business that will make
industrial ccnters OF Sheffield and Flor
ence. Alabama. There are no guar
antees that 60 with the Ford offer"
and the sober-sense OF Washington
indicates tina; Muscle Shoals as a
bonus for Ford factory would be a
gift unprecedented in the history OF the
world. The policy OF the Govern
men, with reference to waterpower is
defined in the Federal Water Power
Act. limiting Leasing to fifty years. :,
This established principle is violated
by the Ford offer. Again. the people
OF the south expect this great power
to be distributed among them. and
this will be lost for most of them il
Mr. Ford acquires Muscle Shoals.
Practical Problems for the Shoals
The Senate Agriculture Committee
has resolved itself into a most inter-
estingly unique school OF farm Geo.
Monies. and the far-rcaching import
ance OF the suggestions made 10 il by
the presentation in behalf OF the latest ,
competitors for the prize of possession
of Muscle Shoals brings before Con-
gress practical and important prob
lens OF agriculture and commerce that
may be met through the utilization OF
hydro-electric Developments such as
this one on the Tennessee river. The
tremendous importance OF cheap pow
or available al Muscle Shoals is stress
ed in the Hooker-W White Atterbury
proposal for a fifty-year lease in ac-
cordance with the national policy OF
Concentrated fcrtiliz- ]
ers." which they propose to make from
fixed nitrogen. would mean a saving
to the farmers OF $30,O00.OOO a year. \
Figures have been produced to show :
that freight alone on a quantity Of !,
:. 400 600 tons OF ordinary fertilizer :,
within a 800 mile radius amounts to :,
3. 100,0 900. and that the same plant !,
'ood may be contained in 10000 tons =.
IN concentrated fertilizer. the freight :,
IN which will amount to $l.44O.000. :;
hus saving to the farmers on freight -,
'lone on this fertilizer. the sum OF :,
$4,000. This testimony by Elon :,
Hooker. prominent because of his =,
-adership in manufacturing chemistry, =,
; supplemented by equally interesting 70
estimony by General W. w. After n,
Jury OF the Pennsylvania Railroad =;
'yssem. who related how cheap power =,
I Muscle Shoals would make possible :,
he production OF metal which would
o, only cheaper but "revolutionize :
This meth is made II
-om an allow OF aluminium and mag
esium, and 1t is strong and light, and II
adaptable for use in place OF steel
, railroad cars. II was used in max
lg German Zeppelins during the war
G. White. ono OF the three bidders.
nd one OF the eountry's greatest