The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-08-11
cONCRESSsss GIL UP IN
AIR OVER The s. '''s
CATERING BETWEEN PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE OPERATION.
RATTLE FAR FROM END.
HITCE PROJECT is BIG PUZZLE

Factions Are Preparing tor Another
Rattle When Congress Convenes in
November. Government May Have
white Elephant" on It's Hands
Uncle Sans $1OO,O00,OOO football
srll is being kicked around the field
n national politics. The south and the
/ west are fighting to carry it to their
\ own goal posts, but now the federal
government has the ball tucked Sc
4 curelv in the crook of its arm.
The question of the last few years
is still up in the air.
What shall be done with Mussel
Shoals?
Playing Strange Game.
This is the game the government
has been playing for several years.
The government is seeking a plan to
mt TO some use the greatest power
nroiect in the history OF the country.
Between two plans-one for private
and one for public operation OF the
nlant-the government has been I'M
able to decide So congress, as has
been the case for several sessions,
again will fight over Mussel Shoals
when it convenes in December.
While the battle over its fate RACES
federal engineers are continuing work
on the giant project on the Tennessee
river in Alabama A major part OF the
project will be completed late this year
and operations actually can begin then.
Uncle Sam does not wish the plant
TO lie idle, so he has become a sales
man The federal government will
manufacture power at Mussel Shoals
and sell tiff a buyer can be found.
For there is a great deal of uncer-
taintv about Mussel Shoals. The gov
eminent is not sure just how long it
can supply power from the plant III
commercial quantities Another thing;
Because of the uncertainty OF the ultl-
mate disposal OF the project the gov
eminent cannot make leases or con-
tracts for sale OF the power So even
this plan is rather unreliable
Government operation of the project
will begin. however, as soon as posi-
bic. and the plant likely will be kept
in operation until it is disposed OF in
some manner.
West and South Battle.
The whole difficulty OF the Mussel
Shoals project has been a battle be-
tween the west and the south Senator
Oscar w. Underwood, OF Alabama,
favoring private operation of the prof.
ect. represents the south. Senator
George w. Norris, of Nebraska, who
advocates public operation OF the plant,
represents the west.
Senator Norris and his followers
contend that the government in l9lo,
when the project was proposed, plann-
ed to manufacture nitrate and fertilizer
at Mussel Shoals. The west uses nucn
fertilizer, so Senator Norris has stood
firm for the scheme OF leasing the
project to private firm which shall
manufacture fertilizer and nitrates ana
sell them under terms OF contract
with the government.
The south does not use as much Ter
tzer as the west, but has great de-
mand for power, so the plan OF ITS
representative. Senator Underwood, is
exactly opposite that of Senator Nor
ris Senator Underwood wants the
government itself to run the plant as
link in a giant power system 10
cover the country and reduce power
costs.
Both Senator Underwood and Sena-
tor Norris have introduced their plans
in the form of legislative measures IN
congress- Congress, however, has ia
ken no definite action on either one
About all congress has done is to IN.
vestgate the possibilities OF MusSei
Shoals under each scheme.
May Bring Matters to Climax
The fact that Mussel Shoals now IS
ready for operation in part may BRING
matters to a climax. While the federal
government tries the experiment Oh
manufacturing and selling power the
Underwood and Norris factions are
preparing for another battle.
There is little doubt that the Mus
sci Shoals project will be major issue
before congress when it convenes IN
December Unless Uncle Sam wishes
to have a white elephant" permanent
y on his hands congress Will nave 10
dispose of the project in some man
ner That is the opinion OF govern
ment officials who look Tor a ciash
between the public and private opera
ton advocates in the winter
Plant a Mammoth Project.
The Mussel Shoals project, about
which all this controversy is raging
Is second in magnitude onl y to the
n Panama canal. Its Wilson dam alone
cost $45,000,0 GOO, and the entire plant
will cost about $l50,0000O0.
The project has been in the process
Of construction for seven years ana
viii not be completed for several
years to come. Thousands OF work
men are building the project under the
supervision of some of the most expert
OF government engineers.
The possibilities of the plant are
immense Machinery that will gener-
ate a constant current OF 100000 horse
power from the flow of the Tennessee
river is being installed, Monster gen
orators, moved by the flow OF the