The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-25
Big QUESTION
IS HOW TO USE
SHOALS POWER
Government Wants to Know
: What to Do With Dam
. and Nitrate Plants

: NOTE: This is the conclud-
ing article of a series of three
!. on Muscle Shoals, giving the
romantic history, possibilities
and future of the hugh hydro
electric development.
BY GEORGE BRITT
: Especial Correspondent
Washington, Feb. 25.-Muscle
Shoals has been a household gener-
atty since the war, but never was
it such a pertinent issue as now.
Heretofore it was possible to dis
miss it with "Ho, hum. let them
finish it before they worry me
:'rout it. Time enough to cross
e.. bridge when we get to it."
Well, in literal fact, they are
completing the mile Of driveway
switch bridges the masonry arches
of the great Wilson dam. 1t is
ready to be crossed. The hydro
electric installations are virtually
complete and the spring high water
Is expected to move eight turbines
generating 100000 horsepower.
Now, What to Do?
Now that the government has a
S5O, 100000 dam, in addition to
$50, 100000 worth of nitrate plants,
what is it going to do with it?
There are three uses of the Muscle
Shoals development.
!. First, the government considers
the big nitrate plant, No. Z, Of pri-
mary military Importance. 1t will
insist that it be kept in condition
TO make. nitrogen for explosives
without delay.
/. Second, there is the fertilizer pos
sibility. The plant may be used to
produce nitrogen enrichment for the
soil.
: Third, and Of greatest immediate
Importance. there is the mighty
electric power for which the use
fulness is of unlimited value.
Norris Plan
Senator George w. Norris of Ne
braska, the man chiefly responsible
Tor defeating the Henry Ford bid
on the shoals, would have the gov.
crnment itself operate the plant
making nitrates and selling the sur
plus power for the common benefit
President Coolidge is in favor OF
leasing the plant and resolution
to ask for bids for a 5O-year lease is
before the Senate now.
Tho two policies seem to be the
alterna tives.
In spite of the tremendous vol.
ume of talk about the advantage OF
the Muscle Shoals plant for the
manufacture Of cheap fertilizer, il
is widely agreed by this time thai
the advantage is not so great. Nit
rogen fertilizer can be made else
where and sold cheaper. Farmer.
use mostly nitrate of soda, which i.
not the cost convenient product Of
theSMuscle Shoals plant.
Consequently, engineers now say
that fertilizer production, while de,
sirable, will yield first place in i'm.
portance to electric power.
The idea of putting the Tennessee
river water power to work would
be considered almost anybody.
idea. For Is years there has beer
agitation for government action BY
John w. Worthington Of Sheffield
Ala, president of the TENNESSEE
River Improvement Association. H,
is the man who induced Henry Fore
to make his offer.
The decision to locate the project
at Muscle Shoals was made b,
President Wilson whose part j:
commcmorated by the name Of The
Wilson dam. Plans were drawn
and the supervision Of the engineer
ing.work was carried on by form
CT army engineer, Colonel Hugh L
Cooper.
The construction was by civilian
labor under the guidance of arm,
engineers. Lieutenant George r
Spalding was the chief for The
grc&ker part of the time, and Major
&. Tyler now ia in charge.
Oershadowing all these name.
IN Popular attention, however, j.
that of Henry Ford. The ironica
fates made him the personificatio,
Of the Muscle Shoals dream, and al
he did was to offer to buy for S.,
OOO, 900 the property which had cos
the people $89,0O0,OOO and which
had replacement value Of SIS,
100000. Ford proposed that tn,
government complete the Wilson
dam and build the No. 3 dam which
would produce almost half as mucl
power additional.
F0rd's Offer
Ford would take these on a 100
year lease, with 4 rental of about
per cent Of the cost he would nav
80, 0e,OOO for the two nitrate plant.
and the industrial villages; h,
would use one plant to make auto
mobile parts and would sell fertile
er from the other at profit limit
ed to 8 per cent.
The offer was made in July, 1921
andsreceived with approval BY mil
lions who considered Muscle Shoal,
simply white elephant. The pro
posais was denounced by Senate,
Norris and at length was withdraw,
by Ferd in October, 1924.
There were other offers at tina,
time4all Of which Congress reject
ed. j. il is decided to ask tor bids
the inside track appears to be hele
~ tue Union Carbide Company. Il
is reported to have an offer pre-
pared, similar to one which II pre.
scented some years ago.
The COMPANY uinI,ld ,&un 7; ~,