The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-01-06

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RIGA.
A hundred years ago the
Muscle Shoals rapids in the
Tennessee river, where it dips
into Alabama, constituted a
legislative problem in Wash
ington.
Under Woodrow Wilson there was
built across these rapids a huge
dam; and in it we're installed power
generators to manufacture war
nitrates.
Muscle Shoals actually was
never given a steady job, and since
war days it has stood there. the
dynamos practically idle, while a
nearby town was Illuminated with
kerosene lamps.
Drive Started by Norris
Meantime, the generation of hy-
dro-electric power became one of
the leading industries in the coun-
try; but the charges made for this
electric energy manufactured from
rushing water were criticised wide
ly and questioned.
The financial pyramids built upon
these charges grew until there came
a federal investigation. This made
more important the question of
whether or not the charges de-
manded f consumers for electric
energy were equitable.
Years ago Senator George w.
Norris, the Republican progre i've
from Nebraska, proposed to use
Muscle Shoals as a handy yard
stick, already in the governments
| hands.
Senator Norris included in his bill
the provision that the government
should experiment in the nitrate
plants at the Shoals to determine il
more and better and cheaper ferti-
lizer could be made.
Died in Coolidge's Pocket
Congress agreed with Norris, ana
it passed his bill. But President
Coolidge tucked it away in his
pocket, and there it died.
But Uncle George" undismayed
by defeats and advancing age. kept
up his fight with logged determl-
nation.
In the Seventy-first congress he
relntroduced his bill, and the sem
ate passed it. But the house, then
under Republican control, passed
another bill which provided that
the government should give up its
power and nitrate properties to some
private corporation, through a lease
for fifty years Senator Norris
won in the conference, after max
ing few concessions.
Vetoed by Hoover
Thus, the bill which went to the
White House in 1880 provided for
these things:
l. Government operation of the
governments own power properties
at Muscle Shoals.
2. The lease of the nitrate plants.
with the stipulation that they be
used to manufacture a specified
amount of fertilizer.
3. The construction by the gov
eminent of Cove creek dam in East
Tennessee, not only as a reservoir
to help control floods in the Mis-
sissippi, of which the Tennessee
river is a tributary. but also to in
crease two-fold the power capacity
of Muscle Shoals below.
4. The construction by the Gov
eminent Of transmission lines so
nearby cities and towns and other
political subdivisions might benefit
by receiving the cheap surplus
power from Muscle Shoals.
President Hoover vetoed the bill.
Roosevelt to Inspect Project
Last session, the house passed
another Muscle Shoals bill that
pleased no one. The state agricul-
ture committee reported out the
Norris bill again, but the senate did
not act.
In the present session, no action
is scheduled on Muscle Shoals. but
within few days President-Elect
Roosevelt, in company with south
ern senators, will inspect Muscle
Shoals, preparatory to taking up
this legislation in the next congress.
Senator Norris was invited to &C
company the party to Alabama, and
he expects to go.
The new effort to put Muscle
Shoals to work will come at a time
when the prospective sale of cleo
tricity within transmission distance
Of the plant will be less than was ex-
pected, because of hard times.
Cheap Power Is Seen
However, engineers believe that a
sufficiently large number of Gus
toners for cheap power will soon be
available
In that connection, Senator Nor
ris contemplates that farmers or
others who want to buy the power
will be able to organize, as drainage
or levee district farmers are now or
ganized, to build power lines to their
homes from the big transmission
lines. The Reconstruction Finance
Corporation may be asked to help
by financing these power districts.