The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-13
REPAIRING DATA
ON BACKBONE OF
NATIONS DEFENSE
hartman Howard E. Coffin
Gives Out Progress in
All States
ENGINEERS WORK
HARD ON PROJECT
labama's Report Shows Many
Plants and Industries of Great
Value to the Country in
Case of War

f Washington, July 2e-The colossal
SIX of making an industrial inventory
Fl the United States, state by state, in
l attempt to mobilize Americas re-
spurces for war, is now virtually COM
II eted, according to an announcement
Pday by Chairman Howard E. Coffin
ii the committee on industrial pre-
4aredness of the naval consulting board
AZ the United States, who has the work
"a charge. Just how plants the country
yer can adapt their equipment to pro-
Hlce the thousands of things from
&lells to shaving brushes necessary for
Nle governments use in national
emergency has been worked out with
Sle most extreme care through field re-
Forts from engineers and chemists who
sgre members of the American Society
n Civil Engineers, the American Insti-
Ute of Mining Engineers, the Ameri-
Nan Society of Mechanical Engineers,
ne American Institute of Electrical
Engineers and the Americal Chemical
pciety
n Coincident with the announcement
omes the statement from Chairman
pmpleted legislation which will carry
gut the committees entire programme
1or establishing d firm and enduring
.pundation for the nations defense.
a his will provide for the sending of
anual educational orders to Ameri-
an manufacturers in order to teach
hem during peace how to turn out the
Military and naval supplies needed in
N emergency. An industrial reserve
4Till also be created, so that in time
4 war the skilled mechanic may be
81 ept at work where his services are
host valuable instead of being sent
b the firing line.
Both the inventory and the legisla-
on growing out of it are the result
M remarkable three month campaign
lade by volunteer, unpaid organiza-
on of business men and engineers. It
hanks a new. era in-the relations of
ne engineer, the manufacturer and the
! tizen generally in the safeguarding
IL the national government, as well as
much closer coordination between
arious governmental agencies. In
Many states undeveloped resources
ave been classified and given pub
city and new industries are promised
5 the result of information gathered.
SPLENDID COOPERATION
Business men the country over re-
seived the investigators with the great
st courtesy and cooperation. In only
few cases did they refuse to give
,le resired information, and then usu-
lily under a misunderstanding of the
ommittee's plans, which was quickly.
y cared up. Over 10000 concerns, each
Ding an annual business of over $780,
30 were classified. in addition to many
mailer plants with equipment pecu-
arly suited to turn out material for
he fighting line. AT the time of the
ilexican crisis, Chairman Coffin sent
Tut urgent kilograms to the chairmen
Il all state boards urging all possible
saste, and Secretary of War Baker de,
'liled five regular army officers, two
.f them members of the general staff,
ID the committee headquarters in New
ork. Instances from state reports
blow:
From Alabama, Chairman Sewell,
lille reporting a considerable apathy
|owards military affairs, says that
transportation manufacturing and par
scularly mineral problems, with espe-
4 al reference to coke deposits for high
Explosives, have been gone into care
billy. He believes this will be of in
.alculable benefit in classifying great
Fndeveloped resources, particularly in
Iorthern Alabama.
Arizona, the first state to complete
\ S returns, offered splendid co-opera-
Ton, according to Chairman John e.
areenway, who said the manufacturers
boxed upon the annual educational
riders with great favor.
a Colorado will be greatly benefited by
he survey, according to Chairman K.
y. Moore, as local industry will be able
p develop much greater elasticity and
hany new resources till now unknown
Fill be developed Chairman Samuel
ferguson of Connecticut reports that
there at first looked
skance at the plan owing to previous
Unsatisfactory business relations with
he government, but that this had been
Eoken down by personal conact.
4 A permanent cooperation, new in
Government affairs, between the mill
Ary service, the technical bureaus OF
he government, and the committee, has
1een the direct result in the district OF
folumbia, according to.~chairman Par
IONS. The development of a charcoal
Industry in Florida, where now almost
one is produced. is foreshadowed in