Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-30
LOCOMOTIVE WORKS
IS TAKING ON MEN
Will Manufacture Shrapnel for
English Army, Says Well-Au-
thenticated Report.
NEED 700 GOOD MEN AT ONCE
Preference Given to Old and
Trusted Employees-To Work
With Montreal Plant.
NEED 700 GOOD MEN AT ONCE

Skilled mechanics are being quietly
hired by the Richmond branch Of the
American Locomotive Company. and
the huge plant. which has been prac-
ticaly idle for the past year. will be
in blast within three weeks. officers
of the company refuse to discuss the
matter. but 1t is almost certainty
that the works will shortly begin the
manufacture OF shrapnel for the Eng
lish government. From we'll authcnti-
Gated sources IT was learned last nigh;
that machinery for this purpose has
been ordered. and is now en route
Only its installation prevents the open
Ing OF the plant at once.
Men are not being taken on promis-
ciously by the local branch. but only
picked former employees are being
asked to come back. 1t is understood
that slightly more than 700 in all will
he hired. and that the initial order of
war munitions will carry them on the
pay roll for nearly seven months. II
the war continues in Europe. 1t Is
more than prohabl that additional or
ders may be received. Then. too. the
installation OF expensive machinery and
the training of the men in this line of
work may mean that the American
Locomotive Company in the future may
bid on United States government sup
plies. and In this manner keep part of
its plant always In operation.
PLANT HALTED BY LACK
OF ORDERS FOR ENGINES
The Richmond branch has not been
doing much work for moro than
year, and the gradual curtailment Of
its force came to an end last summer,
when all manufacturing work was
halted by lack OF orders. The opening
OF the war and the consequent busi-
ness disruption In this country caused
railroads to stop purchasing new loco
motives.
Taking advantage of the lull, the
company has spent more than 100000
on the erection OF new machine shops
and other improvements to the local
works. This was done in anticipation
OF increased business In the future, the
company announcing that all engines
for Southern roads would be built here
in the future.
The American Locomotive Company
owns the Montreal Locomotive Works,
Ltd. Montreal. Canada, and has been
manufacturing shot and shell there
for several months. The orders which
start the local plant are the overflow
from the Canadian works, but II Is
known in financial circles that a mon-
ster contract from one or more Of the
allied governments Is about to be
awarded. and that large proportion
of the work will be done here.
Both England and France are said to
be interested in the order, and the
money now being loaned to these gov
ernments by American fnanciers will
probably come back to this country in
payment for war materials.
SPECIAL MACHINERY HAS
BEEN ORDERED. SAYS REPORT
Special machinery will be required
for the work. but this has been Sc
cured, 1t is said. and is now on Its way
here. The first batch of men will be
put to work Installing It in the build
ings. This machinery Is different in
many particulars from that used in
locomotive building. but much of the
machinery at the local plant can be
used for any manufacturing purpose
where metal is involved.
In event the shrnpnel Is made here.
It will. in all probability. be shipped
from here to Montreal. or some other
Canadian point. from which 1t can be
transmitted to Europe. Tho English
and French fleets have made ocean
travel practically safe for their mer-
chant vessels. while both have sufficient
war craft TO convoy shipments OF muni :
tions through the danger zones
Some months ago there was consid :
erable talk here about the organization
of n company TO erect a plant on Belle
Isle for the manufacture OF shrapnel
Local men, some Of them largely In
tcrestcd In the American Locomotive
Company. were concerned In the scheme
TREDEGAR WORKS MAKES
SHItAPNEL FOR UNITED STATES
The Trcdcgar Iron Works has re-
ceived tentative offers from several
governments. but has declined to do
any of the work for them. officers here
stating that they had sufficient work
for the United States government to
carry them on for some time The
Tredegar Company manufactures both
shrapnel and shell The announcement
rs To the Locomotive Works follows the
recent enlargement Of the Du Pont
Powder Works. at City Point, which
now has several thousand t,en at work.
going into tho business. it was said
that orders amounting to- $4,000, 00O
were to be contracted for. or course
some OF these contracts may have been
awarded, but the continuance Of heavy
fighting and the opening OF activities
on the western front as soon as the
weather permits means that much more
ammunition is needed
SIIRAPNEL KNOWN As
MOST DESTRUCTIVE SHELL
Shrapnel is one OF the most deadly
and destructive shells used by the war
ring nations. II is n mechanical de-
vice which cxplodes ut n given range
spreading hundreds OF steel cubes over
n considerable surface. Used In field
gun. II shrapnel Will travel nearly four
miles. or can be made to explode nj
any given point from the mouth OF the
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