New-York tribune., 1918-03-11
Ten Munition
Districts Fixed
To Speed Work
War Department An
nounccs Decentraliza-
ton Plan
Samuel c.. Allen
Gets Post Here
Organization Will Put Gov
ernment in Closer Contact
With Maker
Especial Correspondence

WASHINGTON, March 1o.-The War
ment:
In order to bring about decentraliza-
ton and closer contact with manufact-
urers of war munitions, General
Wheeler, acting chief of the Ordnance
Department, has divided the country
into munition districts, with headquar
burgh Cleveland, Rochester, Boston,
New Maven, Detroit, Cincinnati, Chi.
cago, New York City and Philadelphia.
In each of the cities where a district
office is to be established one of the
leading business executives has been
selected to be district chief of the pro-
ductiOn division of the Ordnance De-
partment.
AT the head of the Pittsburgh office
the production division will have Ralph
NJ. Dravo, a member Of the firm of
bravo Brothers, steel constructors. Mr..
Dravo's Offices at the present time are
in the Diamond Bank Building, at Pitts
burgh, but he will establish g central
office for the production division Of the
Ordnance Department within the next
few days.
District Appointments
Offices follow:
Cleveland-Samuel Scovil, who re-
signed as president of the Cleveland H.
Eliminating Company to take the posi-
zion offered him by the production di-
VISION. His present offices as presi-
dent of the Cleveland Illuminating
Company are in the Plymouth Building.
Rochester-F. S. Noble, one of the
chief executives OF the Eastman Kodak
Company.
Boston-Levi II. Greenwood, of the
Wakefield Rattan Company.
New Haven Waldo c. BRYANT, presi
dent of the Bryant Electric Company.
of Bridgeport Conn.
Detroit-Fred ]. Robinson, president
Of the Lowrie e. Robinson Lumber
Company.
Cincinnati Charles L. Harrison. of
the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.
ChlcagoIE. A. Russell, vice-presi-
dent of the Otis Elevator Company,
with present Offices at 600 Jackson
Boulevard
New York-Samuel G. Allen, chair
man of the Lima Locomotive Works.
His present Offices as chairman of the
Lima Locomotive Works are in the
Albemarle Building, 11O7 Broadway.
Pm iladelphia-John c. Jones, of the
Harrison Safety Boiler Works. Phila-
delphia.
Plan by Colonel Tripp
Colonel Guy E. Tripp, of New York,
formerly chairman of the Westinghouse
Company and now chief OF the produc-
ton division of the Ordnance Depart
ment, worked ous the details of the
plan for decentralization and closer
contact with the manufacturer distp;ct spiei
General w. S. Peirce, head Of the
bureau in which is the finance division
OF the Ordnance Department, and Col
onel 3. w. Dunn, head of the inspec
ton division, have arranged to follow
the same decentralization plan and will
have their field forces in the same dis
trlct headquarters as the production
division. - wv ~ ''o''
Colonel Samuel McRobcrts, formerly
vlce-presldent and executive manager
OF the National City Bank, who has
been at the head of the procurement
division of the Ordnance Department
Tor some time, will cooperate with w.
district officers. VIZ
The plan which has been worked ont
IS one of the logical departments of
the reorganization Of the ordnance do
partment some time ago. 1t not only
! brings the department into direct con-
tact with the munitions industries so
that the work can be followed IN more
/ closely, but it also assures better in y
sDection facilities, quicker payment for
work done, and more exact information
as to the progress of the work on ali
the implements of war.
The territory covered by the different
districts has been clearly outlined bv
the department. and the comparatively
rev industries which are not embraced
IN these districts will deal directly with
the production division in Wash;n~to,n,
as heretofore
The various production division dis
trlcts as at present established cover
territory as is outlined below:
The Chicago district comprises the
State of Indiana north of the boundary
line of the following counties: War.
rem, Tippec;noe, Clinton, Howard.