The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-07-30
Thousands of Plants Say They
Can Make War Munitions
in Emergency.

~
WASHINGTON, July 29.-The colos-
sal task OF making an industrial in
yentory of the United States, state by
state, in an attempt to mobilize Amer
icas resources for war, is now vir-
tually completed, according to an an
nouncement today by Chairman How
ard E. Colin of the committee on in
dustrial preparedness of the naval
consulting board of the united states,
who has the work in charge. Just
how the plants over the country can
adapt their equipment to produce the
thousands OF things from shells to
shaving brushes necessary for the
governments use in a national emer-
gency has been worked out with the
most extreme care through field re-
ports from engineers and chemists
who are members Of the American So
ciety OF Civil Engineers, the AmerI-
can institute of Mining Engineers, the
American Society of Mechanical En-
gineers, the American Institute OF
Electrical Engineers, and the Ameri-
can Chemical Society.
Legislation Completed.
CoIncident with the announcement
comes the statement from Chairman
Coffin that Congress has practically
completed the legislation which will
carry out the committees entire pro-
gram for establishing firm and en-
during foundation for the nations de-
Tense. This will provide for the send
ing of annual educational orders to
American manufacturers in order TO
teach them during peace how to turn
out the military and naval supplies
needed in an emergency. An indus
trial reserve will also be created, so
that in time of war the skilled me-
chanic may be kept at work where
his services are most valuable instead
Of being sent to the firing line
Both the inventory and the legisla-
ton growing out Of it are the result
Of remarkable three-months cam
paign made by volunteer, unpaid
organization Of business men and en-
glneers. 1t marks a new era in the
relations Of the engineer, the manufac-
turer, and the citizen generally in the
safeguarding of the national govern
ment, as we'll as a much closer co-oT-
dination between various government
tai agencies. In many states unde-
yeloped resources have been CLASH
fed and given publicity and new in
dustries are promised sa result OF
information gathered.
Business men the country over re-
ceived the investigators with the
greatest courtesy and cooperation. In
only few cases did they refuse to
give the desired Information, and then
usually under a misunderstanding OF
the committees plans, which were
quickly cleared up. Over 10000 con-
Germs, each doing an annual business
Of over 100000 were classified, in
addition to many smaller plants with
equipment peculiarly suited to turn
put material for the fighting line. AT
the time Of the Mexican crisis, Chair
man Coffin sent out urgent kilograms
to the chairman Of all state boards
urging all possible haste, and Secre-
tary Of War Baker detailed five regu-
larv army officers, two OF them men,
bers of the general staff, to the com
mittee headquarters in New York. In
Btances from the state reports follow:
From Alabama, Chairman Sewell.
while reporting a considerable apathy
toward military affairs, says that the
TRANSFORMATION, manufacturing and
particularly mineral problems, with
especial reference to coke deposits
for high explosives, have been gone
into carefully. He believes this will
be of incalcuable benefit in classify
ing great undeveloped resources, par
Licularly in northern Alabama.
Arizona, the first state to complete
its returns, offered splendid co-opera-
ton, according TO Chairman John Q.
Greenway, who said the manufactur-
ers looked upon the annual education
al orders with great favor.
Colorado will be greatly benefited
by the survey, according to Chairman
Il, B. Moore, as local industry will
be able to develop much greater elias
ITCHY and many new resources till
now unknown will be developed.
Chairman Samuel Ferguson, OF Con-
necticut reports that manufacturers
there at first looked askance at the
Milan owing to previous unsatisfactory
business relations with the govern
ment, but that this had been broken
down by personal contact.
A permanent cooperation, new in
government affairs, between the mil
ttary service, the technical bureaus
of the government, and the commit
fee, has been the direct result in the
district Of Columbia, according to
Chairman Parsons. The development
of a charcoal industry in Florida,
where now almost none Is produced,
is foreshadowed in the report OF Chair
man McLan Of that state.
Illinois presented one OF the heav-
lest tasks Of the survey, for in Chi
cago alone over 500 chemical and
metaIlurgical plants had to be inven-
toried Chairman Frederick K. Cope
land spoke enthusiastically OF coop
Grafton extended by the Chicago Asso-
citation OF Commerce and the Illinois
Manufacturers Association. Indiana,
according to Chairman Barnard, can
supply enough canned food for any
army that the country could ever put
into the field. In addition, there are
large supplies of meat, bareback, and
a;....i.. nr ,rnll nc mid and autumn.