Evening star., 1929-10-06
Challenge of Muscle Shoals

used have been almost negligible. Fig
ures available for the first six months
show that only $70.488 worth Of power
was bought at Muscle Shoals by the
power company-not enough to pay
mere operating expense and upkeep 81
the power plant and dam. to say moth
ing Of depreciation or interest on Un-
Gle Sans investment. 1t Is only fair
to add, however, that more of the
power could be sold II the Government
were willing to enter into five or ten
year contract. But this simply means
that with this power contracted for a
term of years and at a low price the
power company could interest electro
chemical industries to move into this
area and use the power for electric fur
naceS and other wholesale purposes.
The truth of the matter is that there
is more electric power available in the
lower Appalachian region than any one
knows what to do with. Mr. Hoover said
in his Seattle speech in August, 1926,
referring to the Tennessee and Cumber-
land Rivers:
IF adequate headwater sources were
provided and the location of a dozen
power dams we're designated at proper
points throughout the system. total
of about 5000, 600 horsepower could
be developed. the cities of Nash
vile and Chattanooga could be placed
upon modernized water transportation
and the floods Of the Mississippi miti-
gated. The devotion of a large part of
the power which could be created here
to the development of the electro
chemical industry is a national neces-
sity for industry, agriculture and for
defense"
Tennessee Power Possibilities.
A survey Of the Tennessee River VAL
ley, just completed by United States
engineers. shows power possibilities on
the Tennessee and its tributaries
amounting to not less than 100000
horsepower Gncluding appropriate
steam auxiliaries). Furthermore, the
development Of electricity from coal has
feached such q high state Of efficiency
that the Alabama Power Co-the chief
factor in that region-now uses several
steam plants in preference to develop
ing additional waterpower, The total
installed electric power in the Tennessee
River basin in 1925, according to the
Government survey, was but 871 $50
horsepower, of which only 4s2,76o
horsepower was hydro-electric, the
rest being steam. The total demand
for electric power in this area during
the same year was only 1853, 800 horse
power-years-that is, continuous horse
power.
The fact is that it is the presence of
too much potential electric power that
is worrying the power companies Of the
Southern Appalachian region, rather
than any lack Of power. The power
companies are not particularly inter-
ested in securing the current at Muscle
Shoals for themselves. Thomas w.
Martin, president of the Alabama
Power Co.-the company now buying
whatever portion of the Muscle Shoals
power it wants-stated last December
that his company "has practically
eliminated Muscle Shoals from it's fu-
ture calculations and is planning its
new installations without regard to it.
What the power companies are inter-
ested in mainly, 1t would seem. is to pre-
vent Muscle Shoals power from getting
loose in their territory under conditions
which might upset their price levels.
The outlet for Muscle shoals power
Is mainly through the electro chemical
industry. And that industry is not yet
developed in the Muscle Shoals terri
tory. Mr.. Melons aluminium company
has large privately owned power plants
and electro-chemical works on the Lit
tie Tennessee River, not far above
Muscle Shoals, but no electro chemical
industry of consequence exists near
Muscle Shoals.
8 Proposals Before Congress.
Three proposals for the utilization of
Muscle Shoals are before the Congress
at this time. Senator Norris Of Ne
braSka is the author of q bill propos-
ing that the Government itself operate
the Muscle Shoals fertilizer plants in
an experimental way and endeavor to
sell the surplus power, preferably to
municipalities, but to electric power
companies if necessary. This bill had
my support as member of the COM
mittee on agriculture and I voted for
it when 1t came before the Senate a
year ago.
Another strongly advocated proposal
Is that contained in what is known as
the Madden Wright bill. It embodies
the offer Of the American Cyanamid
Co. (Which operates ths'1arge plant at
ing Of the Governments power dams
and plants to the corporation, under an
agreement for production of fertilizer
and sale of same to the farmer on a
profits limitation basis. This bill did
not come to q vote in the Senate last
session. A..
A third factor in the situation is a
proposal made by the Farmers Ferti-
li1er Corporation.
Whatever the relative merits of the
three proposals, or of any other that
may be made, there. can be no adequate
excuse for further delay in settling the
Muscle Shoals question. It is high time
to put an end 10 the present huge waste
Of power and to devote the great nat.
,iral resources at Muscle Shoals to the
service of-the people generally end. the
nations farmers O particular.