The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-03-03

cd by accumulated interest charge
during construction. AS shown later
on several millions further would be
required for undermining the nitrate
plants. The total requirement of
new money from the federal treasury
for the project is probably 500, OOO,-
600 ever If no further extensions were
undertaken. ...
The purpose of the bill is to pro-
vide production and wholesale dis
tribution of surplus power and to
give preference to states, municipal
tiles, and cooperative organizations.
1t further provides that the policy of
the government must be to distribute
the surplus power equitably amongst
states, counties, and municipalities
within transmission distance i of
Muscle Shoals and provides for the
construction Of transmission lines to
effect this purpose. Such a trans
mission system for wholesale purposes
only is estimated to cost $4,000, 900.
T. it is proposed to sell power at re-
tail to householders, then there would
need be L great increase in the eSti-
mates of capital outlay and operation
costs for such distribution.
g. the plants at Muscle Shoals
we're originally built for a production
of nitrates for use in war explosives.
1 am advised by the war department
that the very large development in
the United States by private enter
prise in the manufacture OF synthe-
tic nitrogen now affords an ample
supply covering any possible require
lnents of war. 1t is therefore unne-
cessary to maintain this plant for any
such purposes.
Provision Not Important
This bill provides that the presi-
dent for a period of II months may
negotiate a lease of the nitrate plants
for fertilizer manufacture under de-
tailed limitations, but in failure to
make such a lease the bill makes it
mandatory upon the government to
manufacture nitrogen fertilizers at
Muscle Shoals by the employment of
existing facilities or by undermining
existing plants or by any other pro-
cess. I may state at once that the
limitations put upon lessees in the
bill are such that this provision is of
no genuine Importance. inquiries
have been made of the most respon-
Sible and experienced concerns that
might possibly undertake such lease
and they have replied that under the
conditions set out in the bill it is n
tirely impractical for them to make
any bid.
The department of agriculture re-
ports that these plants are now MOI
or less obsolete and that with power
at even 2 mills per kilowatt-hour.
with proper charges included, could
not produce the products for which
they are constructed as cheaply as
these products are 0 being sold in
the wholesale markets. Therefore, it
would be necessary to modernize the
equipment at an unknown cost in
millions. -.
II am firmly opposed to the gov
eminent entering into any business
the major purpose of which COMPETE
ton with our citizens.
II hesitate to contemplate the flu
ture of our institutions, of our gov
eminent, and Of our country if the
preoccupation of it's officials is to be
no longer the promotion of justice
and equal opportunity but is to be
devoted to barter in the markets.
That is not liberalism, it is degen-
Grafton.
/ Are Other Arguments
"This proposal "a be effectively
opposed upon other and perhaps mar
rover grounds. The establishment of
"a fedccal-opcrated power business