Gilpin observer., 1915-03-25

ming. The French war authorities
figure the average life Of an auto
truck is only seven days.
Thousands Of Buyers.
There are thousands Of buying
agents for the foreign governments
all over the country. but the two
largest blocks of contracts are COM
ing through Charles Schwab of the
Bethlehem Steel company and ]. Pier
pont Morgan, head of the great bank
ing firm.
Schwab has made two visits to Eu-
rope since the war began and has OBJ
tained contracts amounting to more
than $50,0OO.OO0. His Bethlehem
works are making even 12-inch guns
for the allies, but in addition to what
is turned out here he has sublet or
ders in dozen different cities Nor
gan is now the general purchasing
agent of the British government and
all orders go through his firm.
Every section of the country where
manufacturing is a large feature of
business is benefiting from war or
ders. although these orders in many
cases are not large enough to Offset
the depression in domestic trade.
Many orders are from governments
which never before bought in the
American market and American busi-
ness men believe they can hold this
trade after the war is over. They
argue that much of the work now
being done here for Great Britain, to
take an instance, has previously been
done in Germany, and that the bitter
feeling after the war will preclude
its being done there again.
A Philadelphia factory is making
swords for the British army Such
a contract had never before been re-
ceived in this country. In the past
British swords have been made in
Germany
In the Pittsburgh district, which
includes Bethlehem, many Germans
who formerly worked for the Krupps
are employed. They are now making
war material for the allies, although,
of course. they do not know this
definitely. The men in the factory
are not informed for whom a particu-
lar six-inch shrapnel shell is being
made.
Some odd items are reported. The
French government has paid New
England manufacturers $260.0OO for
snowshoes. One concern in Phila-
delphia is turning out folding saw
with wooden handles for cutting wire
entangleR:sts. When the war started
the armies used steel pliers for this
work. with the result that many men
were shocked to death by high volt
age electricity.
Factories turned to New Uses.
All sorts Of factories have been
pressed into commission to make
things useful In war. A company in
Bridgeport, Conn. which usually
makes cemetery monuments of
bronze. is now turning out forgings
for an auto truck concern which has
large order from the allied coun-
tries. Bridgeport, by the way. is en-
joying huge prosperity because most
of its industrial concerns are working
on war orders.
All through Massachusetts and
Connecticut war orders are helping to
overcome the depression OF the first
few months of the war The Fore
River Shipbuilding company Is very
busy. 1t is generally reported 1t is
making ten submarines for the Brit
fsh navy, these to be delivered at the
end OF the war. In addition, 1t is
making about 20 other submarines
Demand for many particular ar
ticles has been so great that the al
lied governments have signed con-
tracts at prices most attractive for
the manufacturers. In addition. It is
pretty well established that middle
men, brokers and agents are gather
ing in millions in commissions, some
Of which are exhorbitant
1t is said by a Chicago merchant.
for instance. that there is a well-or-
ganized band of extortionists, with
agents in all the big cities on both
sides Of the Atlantic and headquarters
in New York, which is exacting a toll
of from Is to 20 per cent on practical
ly every shipment of war supplies
that leaves the country.
In general the agents OF each gov.
ernment maintain that their nation
is buying right. while stating a belief
that other nations are being fleeced.
A well-known Russian exporter Of
New York city says the Russian gov
ernment is suffering the most heavily
of all. He has sent over a report for
wide publication in Russia in which
he says that already s20.00O,OOO has
been lost through the exploitation of
American commissioners and brokers.