Evening star., 1933-04-10
Roosevelt Asks Legislation
to Garry Out Development
of Basin and Shoals.
STRESS PLACED ON NEED
TO PLAN HUGE PROJECTS
Message Proposes Federal Corpo-
ration Having Initiative Of
Private Enterprise.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

President Roosevelt today urged Con-
gress to make provision for the further
development of the great Tennessee
River basin and Muscle Shoals.
In special message, which was read
in both the Senate and House today, the
President proposed the creation Of the
Tennessee Valley Authority cor
poration clothed with power of govern
ment, but possessed of the fiexibility and
initiative of private enterprise"
The President laid particular stress
upon the need for planning such great
development projects. The Tennessee
River project is to be but one Of the
pieces in the whole plan for re-employ-
ment in the Nation advanced by the
President.
The further development of the Gov
ernment's Muscle Shoals power plant,
and the development Of other power
plants on the river which flows through
several States. is part Of the plan.
Norris Sponsors Measure.
The veteran Senator George w. Norris
Of Nebraska, who has sponsored Muscle
Shoals legislation for many years, will
father the measure in the Senate, and 1t
will be introduced in the House by Rep
resentative John ]. McSwain Of South
Carolina.
The Presidents message to the Con-
gress follows:
1.-THE continued idleness Of q great ma
tional investment in the Tennessee VAL
ley leads me to ask the Congress for
legislation necessary to enlist this project
In the service of the people.
"It Is clear that the Muscle Shoals
development Is but a small part of the
potential public usefulness of the en-
tire Tennessee River. Such use, If en-
visioned in its entirety, transcends mere
power development: 1t enters the wide
fields Of flood control, soil erosion, af-
forestation, elimination from agricul-
ture use Of marginal lands and dis
In short, this power development Of
war days leads logically to national
planning for q complete river water
shed involving many States and the
future lives and welfare of millions. It
touches and gives life to all forms Of
human concerns.
Duties Ass Outlined.
II. therefore, suggest to the Congress
legislation to create Tennessee Valley
authority corporation clothed with
power OF government, but possessed Of
the fexibility and initiative Of q pri-
with the broadest duty Of planning Tor
the proper use, conservation and de-
yelopment of the natural resources Of
the Tennessee River drainage basin
and its adjoining territory for the gen.
eral social and economic welfare Of the
Nation. This authority should also be
clothed with the necessary power to
carry these plans into effect. It's duty
should be the rehabilitation Of the
Muscle Shoals development and the
coordination of 1t with the wider plan.
Many hard lessons have taught US
the human waste that results from lack
OF planning. Here and there few
wise cities and counties have looked
ahead and planned. But our Nation
has Just grown 1t is time to extend
planning to wider field. In this in
stance, comprehending in one great
project many States directly concerned
with the basin Of one Of our greatest
rivers.
This, In true sense, is q return to
the spirit and vision of the pioneer.
II We are successful here, we can march
en-, step by step, in like development
OF other great natural territorial units
within our borders.
"(Signed)
FRANKLIN d. ROOSEVELT"
Bill Expected Tomorrow.
A bill to carry out the proposal of
the President viii be sent to the Capt.
toll. Senator Norris said that the meas
ure might not be received until to-
morrow.
It is expected, however. that the bill
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