Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-07-16
Worlds Greatest Ammunition
Plant Likely TO Locate Near
Metuehen, is Report.
REPORT OF LEASE OF LAND
Westinghouse Air Brake Com
pany and American Loco
motive Company are
Firms Mentioned.
REPORT OF LEASE OF LAND

|
Success in the manufacture Of a
certain chemical required In the
manufacture of explosives will mean
the erection of the worlds largest
munition factory on the north side
OF the Raritan river between Fords
and Metuchen, 1t was learned today
So great has become the demand for
munitions since advance of the Euro
| peal war, and SO ideal are the sites
| close to natural water courses in
New Jersey, that three corporations,
one claimed to be the largest In ex-
istence, are looking about Just west
of this city for factory sites. The
Westinghouse Air Brake Company,
| In collaboration with the American
Locomotive Works, have leased land
to the extent of four hundred acres
on the southerly side of Raritan
river, upon which they are about to
begin the construction of a munition
| factory. They had previously look
ed at sites about Fords, but went
across the river to procure cheaper
land
Charles A. Bloomfield. one of the
most extensive property owners
about the Fords section, Is authority
for the statements that three large
concerns are investigating for the
location of desirable sites upon
which to erect munition plants He
was also in position to know that
the Westinghouse and American
locomotive firms collaborated and
tried to get large tract for a pew
der plant near Fords recently. They
went across Raritan river and leased
| for two years kh the privilege .
iIf7e tesSfrs, a6ont lc9f fssfdrsd acres
OF land from Henry Wolff, OF South
Amboy, and Asbury Fountain. 1t is
declared unoficially that they pro-
pose to manufacture explosives, in
cluding the loading of shells for use
in the European war.
1t is stated upon good authority
that the Westinghouse and American
Locomotive companies will start i'm
med1ately to erect an enormous
plant on the property leased, which
is situated in the vicinity of what is
known as the poor farm. Repre-
sentatives of the manufacturers on
the ground, preparatory to starting
construction work, declare that a
sudden conclusion of the great con-
fiict abroad, would not hamper the
operations at this place, in view of
the fact that the concerns have a gi-
ant order from Europe which will re-
qufre fully eighteen months to fill.
Surveys have been made preparatory
1ox k,,tl n
structing railroad spur to the pro-
posed plant.
Bigger than Baldwin Co.
Just what enormous corporation
was negotiating for location between
Fords and Metuchen, Mr. Bloomfield
states he cannot divulge at this par
ticular time. He did state that 1t
was not the giant Baldwin Locomo-
tive Works, but said that 1t was a |
corporation which could buy and sell |
the Baldwin concern. He declared |
that the company had unlimited cap
ita1. Experiments are now under |
way in an effort to successfully man
ufacture an important ingredient to |
be used in manufacturing explo- |
siyes here. 1t is claimed that this |
chemical was formerly imported |
The success gained will determine |
to great extent whether the plant |
will be erected, as it is now pro-
posed.
Promises of Quick Action.
Likewise it is difficult at this time
to learn the identity of the other two
who are looking up muni-
ion plant sites in the vicinity of
Fords and westward in Raritan
,ownship. Secrecy is maintained
,or several reasons, it is claimed.
The principal reasons are to prevent
my sudden jump in valuations of
and and to prevent interference
rom interests of countries when I
he munitions may be used against.
Judging by the activity of the COM
,anies interested, there will come
Iuick action, and it is generally be-
ieved that at least one large NUM-
ion factory will be erected on the
lortherly side of the Raritan river
'efore many weeks have passed.
Most of the large property owners
long the northerly side of Raritan {
liver, stretching from Fords to a
oint near Bonhamtown, have been Y
ounded by representatives of these 9
ig companies, with respect to prices I
+ land and desirability to sell or
ease. 1t is expected that negotia-
ions under way for the past several
ays will be consummated in a short
me, thereby bringing to this coun-
7 its largest industry,
Property about this city, South n
mboy and elsewhere along the big T
ater courses In this section have Il
cen held to be most valuable for a
purposes, but they r
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