The Crittenden Automotive Library

Topics: Henry Ford

FORD PLANS A CITY 75 MILES IN LENGTH

Publication: The New York Times
Date: 12 January 1922

Proposes to Make Muscle Shoals Greatest Industrial Undertaking in America.

BIGGER PROJECT TO FOLLOW

Would Have Farmers Harness Every Creek and Brook That Crosses Their Property.

DETROIT, Mich., Jan. 11 (Associated Press).—If Henry Ford obtains possession of the Muscle Shoals project in Alabama he will take immediate steps to make that part of the South one of the industrial centres of the country, The Associated Press learned today.

The Muscle Shoals plan of Mr. Ford contemplates one of the greatest undertakings in the history of industrial America, it became known, and includes development of the property as a model and the eventual extension of the system to many other parts of the country.

Mr. Ford's proposal includes the building of a city seventy-five miles long in the Muscle Shoals region. It would be made up of several large towns or small cities. This is in line with the manufacturer's view that men and their families should live in small communities where benefits of rural or near-rural life would not be entirely lost.

Mr. Ford's proposal to the Government includes leasing of the property for 100 years. But before the expiration of half that time he proposes to turn the completed project over to the people of the district or to the Government in such a way that no one in the future will be able to make a personal profit from the undertaking. He will arrange that neither he nor any of his heirs may realize any monetary benefit from the Muscle Shoals plants or the power developed, it became known today. He proposes to make the project, if the Government gives its consent, the outstanding achievement of his career.

Start of a Greater Program.

The Muscle Shoals project, however, is only the start of a greater program, it became known. This includes the development of water power facilities in many parts of the country by which persons in those communities would derive power to run manufacturing plants, light their homes, and run machinery on the farms. One detail of the plan is the harnessing by farmers of every creek and brook that crosses their property.

Mr. Ford expects to leave here about noon tomorrow for Washington to confer with Secretary Weeks regarding his proposal of leasing the Alabama plant.

If the Government accepts Mr. Ford's bid, work at Muscle Shoals will be started at once. The nitrate and other plants would be run by steam power pending the time the great dam, that will require about two years to build, has harnessed the water at this point. Then would follow rapid development, in the opinion of Mr. Ford, until within a comparatively few years an industrial centre greater than Detroit would have been built up.

Mr. Ford believes the Muscle Shoals plan, if consummated, would be the start toward development of the Mississippi River Valley. The manufacturer believes this valley could “run the United States,” if the water now going to waste could be utilized.

Believes It Could Support Government.

Eventually, in Mr. Ford's opinion, the Government could derive enough revenue from these power projects to support itself, thereby revolutionizing the financial system of the country.

Mr. Ford has bent the greater part of his energies during the last few weeks to whipping into shape his plans to develop the Alabama district if he obtains the lease from the Government. He has held a large number of conferences on this matter and his program is known to be ready. This program includes definite steps toward development of water power in every part of the country. The manufacturer does not believe it practicable to carry power for long distances, and therefore has evolved a plan to provide each district with its own project.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.—Renewing his charge that “the fertilizer trust” was seeking to defeat the Muscle Shoals development project, Senator Harris of Georgia called the attention of the Senate today to a circular which, he said, had been sent out by the National Fertilizer Association of Philadelphia and which was captioned “Cost to Taxpayers of Ford Muscle Shoals Offer.”

“I simply wish to call this to the attention of the Senate,” said Senator Harris, “to show that the fertilizer trust has been from the very beginning of the Muscle Shoals development trying to defeat it in order that they may maintain high prices of fertilizer which the farmers of the South and West must pay.”