The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-01-31
TENNESSEE POWER
| PROJECT taking IN
REVENUE ALREADY
Has Sold $685. 600 Worth Of
Current While Congress
Debates What to Do
BIG PURPOSE IS NITRATES
Norris Bill Would Provide Gov
eminent Operation or Reg
uIated Lease at ST
BIG PURPOSE is NITRATEs

Sheffield, Ala, Jan. 3l.-Ho-All
dressed up and waiting for the house.
warming is Muscle Shoals, the gov
ernment's Sl33, 0O0. 900 power and nj
trate project on the Tennessee river
here.
During the decade that Its fortunes
have been debated by congress, the
great nitrate plant and its two power
units. Wilson dam and the auxiliary
steam plant, have been kept in stand
by condition. ready to 60.
When Representative w. Frank
James. chairman of the house mill
tary affairs committee. recently made
his official inspection he stated that
the project could be placed in oper-
alton within a few days.
There seems a fair chance that
Muscle Shoals will have somc sort Of
house warming before long, for the
struggle to place the plant in opera
ton is to reach another climax this
winter.
Hearings on Bill on Calendar
Hearings on the Norris bill were
to start In the house in January and
in the senate a soon as the tariff
measure is disposed of. Senator Nor
ris' proposal provides government
operation, but also contains a section
which permits leasing at an annual
rental of a dollar to any firm which
will carry out the provisions of the
bill. with profits limited to 8 per cent.
Designed to produce nitrogen, for
munitions or fertilizer, the plant has
been picking up pin money by selling
power, keeping fit with these light
exercises. Three municipalities and
4 power concern are customers. The
plant Is operated by the army.
During the fiscal year ending June
20 1929. cost Of maintenance and
operation of the nitrate plant was
367. 900, while the income from lease
of the steam plant was $129 900. In
the last eve years the average
nual expense has been about $67 900,
although the average annual income
was 1854, 600, army records show.
Making Profit on Power
For the same fiscal year the 0per-
alton and maintenance Of Wilson dam
cost 1921 600, with an income Of $l79,-.
900, according to the report Of the
commanding officer.
On the other hand. revenue from
the sale of power from January /,
1928. to December 30, 1928, totaled
$454, 900, with expenses approximately
the same as for the federal fiscal year.
The contract for sale of power during
the calendar year 1929 called for a
minimum payment of $4,000
Total revenue from the sale of
power since September II, 1925, to
July I, 1923, was 81, 1888, 900. with ex-
penses in the same period amounting
to $753,OOO. Operating expenses
uld be increased but little II the
plant were really put to work and
run at capacity.
Nitrate Project
The straight-line arrangement of
the nitrate plant permits a steady
flow of the material In course Of man
ufacture with maximum efficiency.
The process, roughly, is the burning
Of limestone into lime, mixing it with
equal quantity of crushed coke and
the fusing Of the two into calcium
This, when cooled and
ground, is placed in ovens in contact
with nuitrogen gas obtained from the
air.
Heat is applied then to form cal
cium cyanamide, and after treatment,
gas results. A portion Of
gas Is oxidized to form nitric acid
and the other part used to n~eutralize
the acid, forming ammonius nitrate,
which is ev~aporated and grained for
shipment to munitions or fertilizer
factories.