New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-10
100000 Plant Urged
Could Turn Out Sub
marine a Week.
LABOR PLEDGES
WARTIME HELP
Manufacturers Modelling Into
Supply Corps, Naval Advisory
Board Is Told.

Plans for laboratory equipped
with machine shops and other manu-
featuring facilities large enough to
turn out a finished submarine In one
week were submitted 70 the Naval Con
sulting Board by Thomas A. Edison nj
a meeting at the Navy Yard yesterday.
The eighteen out of the twenty
three members Of the organization
working in the interests Of national
preparedness who were present. ap-
proved Of the entire scheme. Blue
prints and specifications by Mr. Edi-
son will be forwarded to Congress.
The cost Of the plant will be $1,000
OOO Later il is TO be enlarged until 10
represents an investment Of s5,OOO,OOo.
Another matter Of great importance
considered was the plan submitted by
Howard r. Conn, who announced that
he had begun the mobilization OF every
industry in the country. In the event
Of war he explained 10 the board, the
government would know where It's sup
plies were coming from.
samuel GomperS, declared Nj. Cofhn,
had pledged the cooperation OF INC
American Federation OF Labor IN per
fertine the plan.
Twenty-three Buildings for Plant.
The Edison laboratory. 20 be con
struotod on o site yet 10 be chosen
Will consist Of twenty-thrce buildings.
at will be big enough 20 build any
thing UP 10 q submarine he told the
board. IF my methods are adopted
there Is hardly anything that cannot be
constructed in sixty days.
Take the engine OF submarine, for
instance. Under the present methods
!. takes about five months TO turn out
"a finished. tested product. Here we
will put 500 men 20 work on IT, oach
able 10 DO his part IN from forty eight
90 sevonty-two hours. 10 viii be run
rirg I'm six DAYS This laboratory viii
be for quick results.
81 was recently told by an admira
that f. special kind Of gun carriage he
wanted took q year TO build. From his
description ! believe that II could be
made FOO the laboratory IN scrcnty-two
hours"
The tools 10 be installed in the lab
oratory will he OF tho universal type.
Mr Edison declared. enabling the user
10 do many kinds Of work ON the same
machine. -
The Edison laboratory will he merely
f place for experiments for completing
devices and testing them so that plans
and specifications can be turned over
20 manufacturers.
Owe will be able % test an engine
under submarine conditions Mr. Ed
son declared. Eve will run II a. twice
the required speed until something
bteaks; then we viii fix that and run Il
81. double speed again until somHthina
else breaks. Then We VIII slow Il down
20 half the specd and have it running
perfectly II the desired speed for use
i'm submarine. That is my way Of test
ing things As a rule. | generally run
things to destruction"
Thomas Robins. secretary of the
Naval Consulting Board, discussing Mr.
Ldisou's plans, said:
"The navy has always done and Is
now doing a large amount Of expert
mental work. but IL is naturally given
secondary place and side-trackcd for
more pressing things. New submarine
engines. for instance, are now tested on
Sis vessels The laboratory would at
ford a place for experimental work,
without Subiecting vessels TO danger ln
chance of failure"