Evening star., 1933-01-25
ROOSEVELT SEEN
SPONSOR OF PLAN
TO DEVELOP RIVER
Continued From First Page.)

plan. The chief Of engineers made no
effort, however, to outline policy, but
merely to submit information.
In his letter of transmittal, Gen.
Brown said, referring to the estimate
Of cost:
This sum Is to be in no wise con-
fused with the cost Of any project to
be executed at the expense Of the
United States Government. 1t Is q
vast plan possible to a proper combi-
nation of private enterprise and public
works"
In general way. the development of
the valley Of the Tennessee River and
its tributaries must depend upon the
development Of navigation, for which
Congress has a plan and for which it
has made provision in part. With
proper navigation facilities it will be
possible to supply cheap transportation
which should be followed by the devel-
opment of industries. With cheap
transportation and cheap power, coal
and other natural resources at hand
the basin Of the Tennessee River is re-
garded as capable Of a very great in
dustrial development.
The extent Of the Tennessee River
and the territory through which il
flows are very great. The river Is
formed by the Holston and French
Broad Rivers in the east central part
Of Tennessee. 1t flows successfully
southwest, wet and north through parts
Of the States Of Tennessee, Alabama and
miles long and has fall Of about SOC
feet.
$4,000 Square Miles.
The drainage basin has an area OF
GAO 900 square miles and a population
Of about 100000. While the basin is
at present largely devoted to agricul-
ture. 1t contains important mineral de-
posits, particularly cCal, limestone and
phosphate rock. The two most i'm
pOrtant cities in the basin are Knoxville
and Chattanooga, Tenn. The Tennessee
River Is navigable and its entire length
is under Improvement by the Federal
Government.
If the Government is intent upon the
improvement Of navigation without re-
gard to further development of water
power, it can accomplish its end
through the construction Of a number
of low dams. If, on the other hand, the
Government wishes to provide for pow
er development, as it may at half a
dozen or more points other than Muscle
Shoals, higher dams will be necessary
This Is a matter which Congress will
have to determine.
Senators, some of them from the
States which embrace the Tennessee
basin, who accompanied President-elect
Roosevelt on his recent trip to Muscle
Shoals. although they declined to quote
Mr.. Roosevelt, expressed themselves as
greatly pleased with the attitude of
Mr.. Roosevelt toward the development
Of the Tennessee Valley. They be-
lieve that his attitude toward this
development may be a criterion for
large projects in other parts of the
United States.
U. S. Owns Projects.
Flood control in the Tennessee Basin
as proposed in the program of de-
yelopment, would result in the saving
OF hundreds Of millions of dollars over
period Of years, while the damage
done by ordinary floods is not great
the flood of 1926 caused damages esti-
mated at $2,650,000 Still larger floods
are possible and it has been estimated
that occasionally. perhaps, once in sew
eral hundred years. damage amounting
to $l4,000,000 might be done.
The Government present interest.
in the Tennessee Valley, outside of the
development of the river for navigation
are found at Muscle Shoals, where Il
owns waterpower plant and fertilizel
plant. The plants at Muscle Shoals were
built under the authority of the ma.
tional defense act of June 3, 1916, fol
the production of nitrogen and othel
products for munitions for war anc
for the manufacture of fertilizer fol
agriculture in times of peace.
The problem of what to do with tn.
Muscle Shoals properties has been be.
fore Congress continuously in a mum.
Der OF forms every since the Work.
War The Government has expended
in the neighborhood of $165 ,0OO, ,00(
there.
At present the power plant is beinl
operated to limited capacity and the
Government has contract with tn,
Alabama Power Co. to take such powel
as 1t needs, with the stipulated mini
! mum payment to the Government PEI
annum of s560000 Since 1925 thi
company has paid the Government
s4,903,393 for power generated by tn,
dam. In one wear the payment wa!
more than million dollars. The pres
ent capacity Of the power plant is 261.
600 horsepower. with eight turbines ant
generators installed. There is a pos
sibility, however, of a very greatly in
creased power production.
Private Power Plants.
Private power plants more than 6
score in number with a considerable
capacity for power production have beer
installed. The aluminium Co. Of Amer.
lea and the Tennessee Electric Power
Co. are among the concerns which have
made recent power developments in the
valley.
One further development which ha.
been urged upon the Government II
connection with the Muscle Shcal.
plants is the proposed Cove Greek Dan
| in the Clinch River. This dam will bt
225 feet high with a reservoir of 8;
square miles 1t was estimated a veal
or two ago that it would cost $4,000.
/, 0O0 With a reduction in prices, this
dam, it is said, may now be constructed
at S30,000,000. 1t would more thar
| double the amount of primary electric
power now available at the Wilson Dam
Muscle Shoals, and at all other dams or
the Tennessee River below it. Also i
will contribute greatly to the navigator
, of the river. It will aid in controlling
in large measure the floods on tht
| Tennessee.
The construction Of the Cove Creel
Dam would insure a more even flow o
water and a more even development
of power throughout the year at tn
Muscle Shoals plant.
Wartime Value.
Senator Norris of Nebraska, who TO
years has fought for Government op
Grafton of the power and fertilize
plants at Muscle Shoals on more ex
tended scale. is expected to reintroduc
! his bill for Government operation at tn
| coming session of the new Congres:
His bill was twice defeated by the fail
ure of the late President Coolidge an
/ of President Hoover to approve of 1t.
His proposal is for the sale of powe
| to Municipalities, counties, State an