The Colorado statesman., 1917-04-14
Marks New Relation Between
Uncle Sam and Business
Men of Country.
Observation-Disclosures
Sweeping Canvass to Determine Avail
ability of Manufacturing Plants
for War Purposes Directed
by Engineering Experts.

trial inventory which has been made
in every nook and corner of the Unit
ed States for the benefit of Uncle
Sam and which are now in the hands
of the council Of national defense, are
regarded as marking a new and vital
relation between the business men of
America and the federal government.
1t is understood that of the 30,000-odd
plants of sufficient size to tabulate,
returns have already been obtained
from 27,00O. This work was started
by the committee on industrial pre-
paredness of the United States naval
consulting board, and the figures have
been turned over to the national de-
fense council, organized by an act of
congress during the last session.
The information gathered is the first
fruit of the work of the army of 3d.
600 American engineers, members of
five eminent scientific bodies, who from
the field force of the committee or
ganized to find out for the federal
government the real industrial re-
sources of the nation in time of war.
Work Highly Systematized.
For this sweeping canvass the whole
country was highly systematized, with
directing boards of the leading engi
neers in every state. Many of the
states were split up into counties, with
chief field aids in charge. This mar
velous smOoth-wOrking organization of
unpaid experts has accomplished def
mite results, and the great inventory,
1G oh INr n ts nf chair
men, is moving swiftly and satisfac-
torily to its end. 1t is said that the
committee accomplished in six months,
with the voluntary aid of the engi-
neers, what it probably would have
taken the federal government several
years to obtain If it had not had the
aid of these engineers and the manu-
facturers of the country.
1t is said by the officials in charge
of the work that the manufacturers of
the nation, recognizing the highly
qualified and non-partisan personnel
of this movement, which has the
strong support of the president and
the military heads, have almost with
out exception responded with the
deepest interest in this close-knit
movement for a thorOughgoing indus
trial preparedness. They We're called
upon to give very comprehensive infor-
nation on the adaptability of their
factories, mills and mines to federal
uses from the hour of military mobili-
zation, the data to be held in the
strictest confidence for the sole scru-
tiny and benefit of the war and navy
u or hn
Manufacturers See Need.
A few manufacturers have doubted
the ability of their plants to aid the
government in war time, it is said.
They have almost invariably changed
their views however, when shown how
little doubt there is that on the out
break of a real war practically all con-
Germs not engaged in lines of work es-
sential to the national needs would he
stripped of their labor, either for the
army or for manning other industrial
plants vital for the supply of such
needs, and that in the event of hostili-
ties probably so per cent of the indus
tries of America would of necessity be
concentrated on producing the myriad
elements of twentieth century warfare.
1t was made very clear to such bust
ness men that in the last equation 1t
is to the material interest of every
American manufacturer to have deter
mined in time of peace and plenty just
what he can do for the republic in
time of emergency. Finally, there has
been made equally plain the necessity
for having the least possible shock to
economic and labor conditions on the
advent of war, and the advantage,
therefore, of having the greatest pos
sible number of plants kept at work.
The great European war has taught
the astonishing adaptability of national
Industries when properly inventoried
and organized. 1t has been learned,
for instance, that dye factory may
be transformed within n week or ten
DAYS into plant for the production of
high explosives.
In the state of New York alone, it
is said, some $4,000 firms have been
inventoried. In no case, so far has
the New York board met with definite
refusal to give the desired informa-
ton.
To gain preliminary information be-
fore the actual inventory work began
letters We're addressed to 800 of the
leading manufacturers. The responses
showed that almost unanimous desire
was expressed on the part of those
business men, many of them of inter
national reputation, to support the
work.