Evening star., 1933-05-31
Tennessee Valley Project
Called Great Dream Realized

Launching the the Tennessee Valley
development under Government au-
spices after years Of effort under the
leadership of Senator Norris Is called
the realization Of great dream. The
generation Of power, the manufacture
of fertilizer and other projects are sub-
jects Of comment, but the complete pic
ture, 1t Is admitted, Is beyond ordinary
vision. Selection of Arthur e. Morgan,
president Of Antioch College, to direct
the development inspires only favorable
comment, because Of his long expert
ence as an engineer Of managerial
ability.
Universal recognition Of its tremen-
dous moment" is seen by the Nashville
Banner, which AYERS that although
Tennessee and Alabama, in Q sense,
are the more immediate beneficiaries, 10
States are directly concerned in the
movement In its full scope" The Ban
ner further explains: Muscle Shoals is
the key Of the industrial and power
arch. but the proportions Of the struc-
ture as contemplated by the President
will touch more than 10000 square
miles Of territory His signature to the
Muscle Shoals bill possesses, therefore,
significance nothing short of epochal.
1t marks the assurance Of the creation
Of the most extensive and important
natural laboratory that the Federal
Government ever visualized or sought to
fashion. Forces, each Of which has
been recognized by The Government as
factor for the development of local.
ties and sections, will be co-ordinated
for the first time in one great project.
Power. while vitality important, it must
be recollected, Is only one of the great
objectives. Flood control, navigation,
refQrestation are correlated, and yet
distinct, and will be held steadily to the
front. Decentralization Of industry will
be resultant Of the co-ordinated activ-
ity of power, improved navigation, re-
forestation. flood control. Agriculture
and industry are to expand side by side.
Lands too poor for farming will be re-
forested and reforestation will stimulate
flood control. and flood control is basic
to the stabilization Of navigation"
While it Is clear there is no market
at present for the large increase in
power" says the Rochester Times
power will encourage industrial expan-
si.l1 may prove justifled-if it really is
cheap" The Charleston Is. c. Eve
ming Post adds: I'm the end it viii add
an enormous volume of electric power
to the resources of the Nation and espe-
cially to very wide area of the South.
The administration of this great plant
by the Government will involve many
difficulties and the experiment upon
which the Nation Is entering with sit
presents numerous questions Of far
reaching significance. They will have
to be met as they arise. We are fully
embarked at last on the big undertak-
ing"
On the question Of the cost Of power
the Asbury Park Evening Press de-
become the champion of every con-
sumner of electrical energy in the coun-
try by accepting the power trusts chal-
lenge. It will learn through the opera
ton of Muscle Shoals whether power
can be supplied at reasonable price.
And, this determined, 1t will compel pri-
vate operators to meet that price" Rec
ognizing the part that the Government
will play in future proceedings, the Oak
land Tribune offers the judgment:
There is the prospect that the plans,
as they are developed, will put many
men to work; also that it may put out
Of business other concerns which have
been in the field. Rescued will be q
project which has been started and
never completed; carried out will be
through several administrations Muscle
Shoals Is to have the chance to prove
all that has been said in its favor: a
part of the South Is to benefit imme-
diately because Of the work to be order
ed If the entire plan Is carried out the
first $50,0o0,00o viii represent small
fraction Of the costs"
''The jubilation Of the Muscle Shoals
district" states the Birmingham Age
Herald, Indicates the depth Of the
yearning of these people for the release
Of an agency which holds for them the
fulillment Of q hope long deferred.
Nov that the great day has come. y