The Elbert County tribune., 1917-03-16
People Of Connecticut Take Up
the Work With Great En-
thusiasm.
HER SONS QUICKLY RESPOND
From All Parts of Country conneetI-
cut Men Sign Upstate Leads In
Production of Munitions and
In Preparedness.


Of war, showed such enthusiasm in the
work that the fondest hopes of Gov.
Marcus II. Holcomb, originator of the
plan, have been far surpassed.
Early in February the governor sum
moned the mayors and first selectmen
Of every city, town and village in the
state to conference in Hartford and
the speedy execution Of the governors
plan for military census.
Enrolment blanks were rushed
through the state printing plant and
within 4S hours the governor had up
pointed men in each community to act
as census officers.
A week later everything was in
working order and the census was well
under way. Old men, middle-aged men
and even boys came forward and
signed the blanks without waiting for
the census takers to look them up in
their homes. In some of the outlying
communities the census officers made
the rounds of the Isolated farmhouses
in automobiles. signing up every avail
able male.
AS fast as the blanks were signed
they were rushed to Hartford, where
a corps of trained insurance auditors.
with recording machines, tabulatee
and distributed them under the proper
headings meanwhile keeping accurate
account of the number received. In
this way as fast as the blanks came
In the count was kept up to the min
ute.
The system was installed and
worked out within "a hours after the
governors call by well-known Hart
ford insurance actuary, who took com
plete charge of the execution of the
work.
Connecticut's Sons Respond.
From all parts of the country Con
necticut's sons have either returned
or sent for enrolment blanks. Mer
who have not been in their native
towns for years except for the holi
days have of their own volition re
turned and signed up. Each seems
anxious to do his bit in some way.
The scope of the work to be ac
complished has been considerably wild.
er than was at first intended and the
blanks have been broadened to take in
any qualification which the applicant
may have which would be valuable in
case of war.
If man has any serious disabil.
ity he will not be taken for actual
field duty but If he has certain quail.
ifications which do not conflict with
his disability. he will be assigned to
post where he can best be used.
Factories are quickly being surveyed
for war. Machinery placed in reserve
is being set up. Plans for quick build
ing of additions to warehouses and
docks are ready to be carried out at
moments notice.
Railroad bridges In Connecticut on
the through line from Boston to New
York are heavily guarded by militia
men. All big railroad shipping points
are swarming with augmented forces
of railroad detectives and armed
guards. The strategic value of the
railroad route from New York
through Bridgeport, New Haven, Mid
dletown and Willimantic is obvious
veillance and extra rolling stock is be
ing assembled in the yards at New
Haven. to be used when needed.
The huge munition plants OF
Bridgeport, New Haven and Water
bury are, as in the past, under heavy
guard.
Connecticut considers herself the ar
senal of the nation and it is fully alive
to its responsibilities. Bridgeport fol
instance, produces cartridges, fuses
shell cases. artillery, rifles and many
tools necessary to the manufacture OF
munitions of all kinds.
Leads in Munitions.
New Haven turns out practically the
same line of goods as Bridgeport
Hartford is the home of factories
which turn out automatic revolvers
machine guns, rapid fire guns. gun
making machinery, and the city also
houses the state arsenal.
New Britain turns out all sorts OF
machinery, shell cases, fuse cases, sad
dlery, etc, while in Middletown great
plant is running day and night making
cartridge belts, holsters ana uniform
cloth for the United States army ex
clusively.
In the little town or ,sockfall the
woolen mills there are preparing tt
enlarge their facilities for making
blankets.
Yachtsmen throughout the state are
getting their craft in share to be uset
as patrol boats and submarine chasers
Connecticut has led the country botf
in production of munitions and pre-
paredness of practical kind and tn,
outcome of the census is watched witt
great interest by official Washington
and the rest of the nation.