Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-17
DEMAND ON SENATE
IS MADE FOR EARLY
DECISION ON SHOALS

WASHINGTON, Nav 14.-Demand
was made on the floor of the senate
today by Senators Shields, Democrat,
Tennessee, and Hefiin, Democrat, Ala
bama, for a vote on a measure to
develop Muscle Shoals at this session
of congress.
Chairman Norris, of the agricul-
ture committee, which has the ques-
ton under consideration, replied that
he favored a vote at this session, and
said no effort was being made to pre-
vent one.
Senator Norris told the senate his
bill, providing 70 rgoVernment own
erShip and operation, had the APP
prevail of most members of the agri
culture committee.
When the report of the commit
ator said, it will contain informa-
Muscle Shoals have never been
realized.
Senator Mcclellan, Democrat,
Tennessee, Joined in the request for
a quick settlement of the issue,
willie Senator Reed, Democrat, Mis-
souri,, spoke against the Henry
Ford offer, declaring the Detroit
manufactures should be regarded as
a shrewd business man, and his con-
tract considered solely as a business
proposition.
Senator Heflin charged there was
combined effort on the part Of the
power companies to prevent Ford
from obtaining Muscle Shoals and
he declared Ford is entitled to a de-
cision on his bid. He declared he
would oppose adjournment of con-
gress until the Muscle Shoals cues
ton was settled.
Senator Reed delivered an attack
on the Detroit manufacturer, declar-
ing he did not believe Ford was
''such an iarchangel Of purity as
some people think he is. Even If he
is a S good as some people think he
is, he is not going to live forever,
and the contract is to run a long
time after Ford, probably, will be
gone.
I'm coming to believe that these
great natural resources which yield
light and power should be kept as
nearly in public control as possible.
We people of the United States must
look after ourselves. This slop and
slobber and gush about him makes
me tired. If some other people were
practicing business methods as
Henry Ford does, gentlemen would
be standing upon their hind legs
making the rocks ring with protest."
At today's hearing before the SEN
ate agricultural committee e. A.
Yates, man0 Ger Of the Alabama Pow
er company, stated that the south
will suffer power storage within fit
teen or twenty years unless the $780,
600 horsepower at Muscle Shoals is
made available.
He is appearing in support Of
the Muscle Shoals bid of the asso-
ciated power companies, and esti-
mated potential water power in the
southeastern states at 4,250,000
horse power.
Yates said storage reservoirs on
the headWaters of the Tennessee
river would provide approximately
100000 horsepower at Muscle
Shoals, and, if distributed to the
public, an investment of $1,250,00
for its use in manufacturing pur-
poses.
Yates said inter-connecting power
panies could cover the whole terri
tory east of the Mississippi, includ-
ing Michigan and Wisconsin, with
in few years.
Yates said a recent geological sur
vey report estimated that in North
Carolina, South Caorlina, Georgia,
Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and
Louisiana the potential waterpOWer
is approximately 4,250 900 horsepow-
err, with 2,750,00 horsepower unde-
veloped.
Cotton mills, he said. have po-
tential requirement of $4,000 horse
power
He denied that the Alabama Pow
er company is controlled by British
interests, declaring eighty-five per
cent of the company's securities are
owned in the United States. If the
power companies obtain Muscle
Shoals, Yates said. it would be kept
strictly a southern enterprise with
the stock held by the public in the
south and with no one power com.
pany having control of the Muscle