The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-06-09
MANUFACTURERS
WILL EXCHANGE.
TRADE SECRETS
Continued from page ID


| in Washington, the demand for dupli-
Gates of this scale are SO great that
the chiefs are unable to furnish them
fast enough. Though doing every
thing within their power, more appro-
| priations will be needed from Congress
before such accurate measurements
may be broadcasted throughout the
| nation. Until that time the measure
ments of less than 1.10OO of an inch
| will vary
In Bridgeport, industrial heads
| have already been visited by members
| of the industrial department of the
Fairfield County association and the
Society of Mechanical Engineers. Sew
| eral factories here which have accur-
ate measures have agreed to permit
other Industries to check their guages
| from these.
| Munition factories in this section of
New England have taken an even
broader patriotic step. Many of them
have agreed upon a necessary inter-
change of trade secrets upon which
| large business have been to a certain
extent developed
cit has been found by the govern
| ment navy ana war departments that
certain processes and patents stand in
the way of large production of NUM-
tons. Factories possessing secrets
are unable to expand sufficiently to
| produce all that is required for war
| purposes. Factories have been ap-
| pealed to divulge these secrets to
other manufacturers that the conduct
| of the war may proceed smoothly.
The Society of Mechanical Engineers
has taken up the matter vigorously
and the appointment of Mr.. Harris as
chairman of a committee to interview
the big Industrial captains has re-
| suited.
Speaking of the situation at Wash
| ington today and the handicap of such
secrets, Mr.. Harris said: There are
many trade secrets that are urgently
needed to expedite the manufacture
of war materials. The demand on the
| owners to produce these goods for the
Army and Navy has not been met. In
some instances where an individuals
business has been built entirely upon
his own invention and personal know1-
edge which If disseminated would ruin
| that business it is hardly fair to ask
divulgence of the secret. yet patriotic
demand would seem to necessitate
that measure. Congress will be asked
| to solve the problem and reimburse
those who should be paid for their
knowledge. On the other hand some
of the larger Industries under trust
| control in, the guise Of patriots have
representatives at Washington who
eagerly advise congressman and de-
partment officials with the sole view
| Of aiding their own industries.
"Such case is seen in the heat
treatment of steel. The ordnance de-
partment of the United States has
been seriously affected by the deter
mination Of certain steel manufacture
ers not to reveal the secret process
by which steel needed in thel anger
artillery is treated. The steel mills
controlling these secrets are not them
selves capable of turning out the
quantity of material needed.
"It probably will be necessary for
the government to take over these in
dustries because the owners are frank
in stating We shall not divulge our
secrets unless the government forces
us to- do so.'
In speaking of Bridgeport factories
Mr.. Harris declared that as soon as
conditions here favor and material to
complete orders can be gotten from
supply sources, Bridgeport will have
its quota of government contracts.
THE great fear of factory heads
in this city is that they will in the
manufacture of munition supplies for
get the time when peace shall come.
To prevent shutdowns during the
transition period from war to peace
industries here already have begun
to add gauges for peaceful production
for every machine utilized in wartime
| work. By keeping their staff of err.
~,
| work 1t is hoped to make the change
with ease
It was learned from other sources
that the industrial committee of the
Chamber Of Commerce, also headed
by MIR. Harris as chairman. has out
lined and undertaken the following
| work:
Take an analysis Of the industrial
census taken by the Counsel Of Ma
tional Defense in this city. in order
to make possible the Intelligent as
sistance of industries for both war
and unusual production.
Take an analysis of production diff
ficulties arising under war condi-
| tons. This analysis looks forward to
solving the fuel production problem
| by studying alternate sources of sup
| ply and routes of shipment and to
PAONA0S LII SOAlCCt1oA III ISSSIN0
supplies.
Take a census of executive and en-
cheering and other skill, with a view
to planning so that the men needed
for national service may be spared
with the least Gripping of indus
tries. In line with this is the CEN
sus and classification Of skilled and
unskilled labor. with a record of the
training and experience available. In
cluded in this is the census of women
In industries with study of the
fields in which women. can replace
men without overstrain.
James F. johnson, director of the
State Trade Educational shop on John
street, it was learned today is already
making preparations whereby wom-
en- may be taught in the shop and
in other factories throughout Bridge
port to operate light machinery. Edu-
cationa1 pamphlets designed to train
workers to become foremen and in
spectors in their line is also being
gathered.
A special committee is now working
out plans for the special protection
of industrial plants, power sources,
etc.
INTERPRETERS ARE ONLY
PERSONS TO SEEK PAY