Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-27

under the direction of Col C. E. Phipps
of the British army, have their offices
here in the Bethlehem Steel Company's
building. Every day they may be seen
in their big touring cars on their way
to the proving grounds at Redington'
three miles down the river. Here lyd-
dite and shrapnel are tested In the
guns. Nothing Is left to chance.
The magnitude of the war bride
industry is a matter of much specuia-
ton and no official figures. Various
orders which have been placed in tins
country at from one to six billion dol
lars. The reason for the wide variation
is that the contracts are of several
whether the war continues or not.
Some of them contain clauses which
would render them void tomorrow II
peace were declared. Others undoubted-
estimates place the total value of all
contracts that must be filled at be-
tween one and two billion. Bethlehem
Steel alone is said to have orders ag-
gregating S30O,000,000.
Apart from it's immediate value as a
stimulus to business. and it's ultimate
value as a training and preparation in
making munitions of war. what is to
be the effect of the war brides on
America? There are two opinions
Some of these say that with both Eu-
rope and the United States increasing
their facilities in iron, steel and other
lines to the utmost, there is bound to
be reaction when the war is over and
there is no longer market for NUM-
tions. They point out that although
nearly everything from a chicken coop
to a cathedral has been destroyed in
Europe, all sides have agreed in pre-
serving and improving factories. When
the war is over. all Of these factories
will go to work with all their might
to make up their losses. There will be
overproduction and decreased home
consumption. and the surplus will be
dumped in the United States.
The more optimistic school of
prophets declares that all the manufac-
turing resources
ALI Resources of the world will
Will Be Needed. b b! nea''a and re-
equip Europe When no more shells
are needed there will be an immense
demand for structural steel and all
other building materials to replace the
towns and cities the shells have de-
stroyed. Men will need tools and ma
terials of every sort.
There is reason to believe that the
guiding Intelligence of Bethlehem Steel
does not expect a reaction after the
war-at least SO far as their own
plants are concerned. This company is
spending about $40.00O,0V0 in extern
sions and Improvements large part
OF it right here in Bethlehem. And
these extensions are being made per-
manent. There are more than 100 shops
in the Bethlehem plant. which extends
for two miles along the Lehigh valley.
Only two of these structures have the
appearance OF being temporary. They
are shrapnel factories and are built
of wood. Everything else is of steel
and brick. and new steel frames are
springing up everywhere on the prem
Uses. A new foundry site of forty acres
was added to the company's holdings a
few days ago. The whole village of
Shimerville is owned by the company
and 1t is to be replaced by factories
The Bethlehem Steel Company is today
the largest manufacturing organiza
ton in America, equipped with scien-
tific engineering department. and it
does not seem to be anticipating any
shrinkage.
Another undoubtedly good effect of
the war orders is that they will carry
American goods to all parts of the
world. Munitions, of course, are only
a part of the industry. Our exports
of machine tools. for example, where
with the European countries will make
munitions for themselves. are now
four fold greater than they have ever
been. American trucks and automo-
biles are proving their merit across the
seas, no less than American shrapnel
and lydditk shells. This wide distri-
button Of the things they make best
facturers a lasting prestige in the
markets of the world