Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-28
Detroit Industries
Helping Nation Win
War; Vvorknen Loyal

The tremendous part which the
automobile factories and other in
dustrial plants of Detroit are playing
in the prosecution of the war is
shown By figures obtained for the
Associated Press by the Detroit
Board of Commerce. According to
these statistics, war contracts total
ing $500. 100000 have been turned
over to the local firms since last
April. but Industrial leaders and
trade experts seem agreed that this
fact is secondary in Importance.
The leading spectacle in Detroit s
war drama has been the remarkable
speed with which many of these con-
tracts have been filled. 1t is believed
that no city in America got under
way more quickly; kept more free
from strikes and labor dssension;
protected its industrial resources
more perfectly from enemy plots OF
accomplished more when rail and
water facilities were lacking There
has not been strike of important
proportions in Detroit since the Uni
ted States entered the war. Several
attempts at incendiarism were
nipped in the bud and there has been
no serious fire at war products
factory.
Detroit men conceived the Liberty
Motor While motor experts were
perfecting this piece of machinery, a
local factory, nearly quarter OF a
mile in length, was being built. A
short time after the motor was APP
| proved by the government it was
being turned out in this factory.
On another occasion government
representatives came to Detroit with
contracts for s30,000,00o worth Of
ordnance A large Automobile COM
pany. accepted the task; spent more
than 81 100000 for building con-
struction and in comparatively
short time had installed the special
machinery which the government
had furnished. Manufacturing then
became routine.
Then proposition was made to
manufacture shells here. Several
business men held meeting, organ
lied a company and new industry
was founded.
Anti-submarin boat plans were
announced at Washington early in
February A few days later it was an
nounced here that contracts had
been lei for d plant. TO be built at
River Rouge, suburb of Detroit,
where hundreds OF these small boats
are to be launched The factory must
be ready by May 10, according to the
| contract. Between 10000 and 5000
men will be employed. and an
nouncement has been made that the
government will construct small
naval training station there, so crews
may be ready for each boat as soon
as it strikes the water. The boats
| then will strt for the Atlantic ocean
via. the Detroit river and Great
| Lakes
Months ago automobile makers
saw a threat of freight congestion.
Automobiles of every kind. from big
| trucks and ambulances to small,
high power officers cars were being
made; airplane parts were being
constructed and parts for new type
of ocean going vessel were being
| built in the same factories. The rail-
roads found the freight burden too
i heavy, so one Detroit automobile
| concern suggested to the government
| that its war trucks be allowed to de-
| liver themselves. Permission was
| given and the plan proved successful.
The cars not only delivered them
selves at seaports but carried capa-
city loads of freight.
Day after day long lines OF new
trucks stream from the heart OF the
city, and, according to investigations
made by the board OF commerce
| they make the trip to Philadelphia
or Baltimore in much better time
than the steam freight car service
Detroits two big shipbnildine
companies are, Of course, doing moth
] ing but war work. Their construction
| In 1917 was record breaker, and
| greater achievements are forecast
| for this ear The plants are building
/ vessels OF length that VIII pass
: through the Canadian canals and are
d :