South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-29
CALUMET REGION IS
BIG MUN|T|ON CENTER
Thousands of Men Employed
in Manufacturing Supplies
For European Powers.

GARY. Ind. Nov. Z9.-The war in
Europe has shown that in case the
United States ever becomes involved
In hostilities northern Indiana will
be one OF the governments foremost
munition centers. No other source Of
supply is as far inland and no other
Is as secure from foreign invasion.
In the last few months the Calumet
district Of Lake county has been
turned into a vast arsenal. employing
thousands OF men 10 produce the
necessaries OF war.
IT is only recently that Calumet
region industries have been organ
lied in wars behalf. The call that
was heard in the east in 1914 did
not reach here until last spring was
we'll advanced. Purchasing agents
for the warning European powers
then turned westward and soon real
ized the potential productiveness of
the industries in Lake county. With
business assured the machinery in
many mills was changed. In some
instances IL was necessary to build
new factories import mechanical de-
vices unknown in this region. and
train skilled men in strange lines.
skies Glow at Night.
The skies Of the Grand Calumet
valley, somber during the day with
srsoke and glowing at night with the
reflections OF IL miles of steel works,
rolling mills. blast furnaces and coke
ovens, now also cover a gun cotton
factory. a nysol works. two benzol
explosive plants. two military acid
establishments. an artillery cap mill.
a military railway supply works, two
shrapnel casing and four sharpnel
bar mills. and two station for hous-
ing mounts destined for the cavalry
Of European armies. And these IA
cilities for destruction are tempered
by the presence Of one Of the largest
surgical instrument and hospital sup
ply factories in the middle west.
This IS a part Of Indiana's con-
tribution to the great war, but il
represents only small part of what
Lake county can do, If necessary.
II the United States should ever re-
quire il a half-dozen foundries are
ready 20 cast cannon. Shrapnel pro-
duction can be increased many times
the present output. Gasoline and
oils. so needful in war. cement for
forts and trenches, sheet steel steel
plates. dynamite, nitro-glycerin.
structural steel, motor cars. iron and
steel for all kinds of military pur-
poses, and everything for railroad
from rails and spikes 10 coaches
and rockets can be had here.
Learn Profitable Lessons.
The steel companies are the big
munition producers. and some Of
them have learned profitable lessons
as a result OF the war. Benzol, for
merly imported from Germany, now
is produced here in large quantities.
it is a valuable factor in dye-stuffs,
but just now its high price is due
10 the great demand for it's use in
making explosives. II is estimated
that the profits Of the two benzol
plants built this year in connection
with the coke ovens at Gary and In
diana HarbOr. at a coast Of $780,
600, will be thrice that sum for the
first u months.
The production of shrapnel bar
steel is a consider-,le industry at
Gary and Indiana 11arbor. and it is
said 10 be so profitable that il is roll
ed in preference to taking purely
commercial contracts. Two thousand
men are employed in finished shrap-
mel casing production ct Hammond
and East Chicago. Whiting is buster
than ever before turning out gaso-
line. kerosene and motor oils. Aetna
and East Chicago are the big acid
centers Of the region.
Aetna manufactures 10000 pounds
OF gun cotton every "a hours
Military Cattle stations.
The military cattle stations at Cal
umet park in Hammond and at
Clarke IN northwest Gary are an
other feature OF this region. At Cal
umet park the cavalry officers Of the
allies buy mounts TO be shipped
abroad. ClariIe's big feeding station.
which is now taking care Of thous-
ands OF horses a month. is frequently
used for the accommodation of cat
tie. France. Il is said is the destin-
alton OF all the animels fed at Clarke.