The Benson signal., 1918-07-13
WILL LOAD $4,000
SHELLS EACH DAY
GREAT GOVERNMENT PLANT IN
NEW JERSEY TO START SHIP
MENTS BEFORE LONG.
IS LARGEST IN THE WORLD

Three Others Like It Being Construct
ed--Med.cal Department Has Mobile
Apparatus to Provide Pure Drinking
Water in France.
tFrom Committee on Public Information.)
N,lshington.-Quantity if not capac-
ity shipments will start soon from a
new government shell-loading factory
in New Jersey, one of four such gov
ernment plants each of which is larger
than any similar plant in the world.
When turning out $1,000 loaded
shells day under full operation the
plant will use 1000 tons Of shells and
explosives daily, the products of some
rs factories. More than 5000 work
men will be required. Plans contem-
plate the employment Of q large num-
Der of women. The marking Of shells
to designate size. load and range will
REQUIRE 250,000 operations each day.
The plant has total area of approx
imatc'y $500 acres. More than lOO
buildings, with an aggregate floor
space of 100000 square feet, will pro-
vide storage for shells and parts and
for material. A small city, with heat
ing and lighting plants, water and sew
Gge systems. hospitals, fire-fighting
plant and restaurants, was built to
house the employees. There is equip
ment to protect the health of those
who work with poisonous gases, and
school for instruction in the load
ing of artillery ammunition with high
explosives.
The operating plant consists of IL
shell-loading units, each independent
of the other, with equipment for load
ing 13 sizes Of Shells ranging from the
recently developed 7-millimeter to 16
inches. On two sizes Of shells the pro-
pelling charge also will be loaded, the
shell and cartridge case being assem-
bled at the plant. All other shells are
assembled in France.
In the construction of the she'll
loading units the problem was far
greater than one Of mere building. I'M
mensc fans have been installed to dis
pose of the poisonous fumes from the
high explosives. When unit Is IN
operation the air in the loading room
is changed every few minutes.
The American soldier in France gets
pure drinking water from mobile water
trains. The trains are under the ju-
risdiction Of the army medical depart
ment They are miniature water
works, which chemically treat, filter
and sterilize water. making it fit for
consumption. What municipal water
works do to insure healthful water to
the people of city these trains do for
the soldiers.
A number Of publication units with
attached mOtor-tank trucks constitute
n train. Each unit is a complete f1ltra-
tion plant, including laboratory. Ar
riving at stream It sets hose into
the water and pumps the water
through pressure tank. Before the
water passes through sand filter 1t is
treated chemically to rid 1t of disease
germs. The pure water oiS pumped
into tanks mounted on trucks, which
carry the water to the soldiers.
Each mobile water unit carries an
expert chemist, bacteriolQgist and
pumpman. There Is a complete lab
oratory in the front of the machine for
the testing of the water. Tests are
made every two hours or more often
when it is thought necessary. The wa
ter is lifted into the filter by a gasoline
spUnp engine and complete supply
0r,extra pipes and tools are carried so
that all repairs, either from accident
or shell fire, can be made on the spot.
The trucks are equipped with electric
tights so that the work can be carried
on at night Many of the chemists
nnd hacteriologists assigned to the mo-
bile laboratories were formerly con-
nccted with municipal waterworks and
filtration plants.
Every community will be combed for
war workers. War industries are short
nearly 100000 common labOrers and
Incll of workers in the coal-mining in
dlstry is imperiling all war produc-
ton. There is also a serious shortage
Of skilled labor. One of the largest
munition plants. turning out heavy
caliber guns, Is short 1000 machinists.
The war plants of Connecticut and
Maryland are undermanned $4,000 ma
chiniStS.
The United States employment serv-
ice will begin an intensive recruiting
of workers for war work from the non
essential industries. Employment Of
fices will be increased and the force
Of local agents and travelling exam
iners will be enlarged and sent into
every community that relief may be
given before the ban against private
lal'or recruiting goes into effect on
August !.
Nearly 100000 girls and boys have
volunteered for the United States gar.
den army in the department Of the
interior. Their service flag bears a
crossed rake and hoe with the letters
RI 9 & Gs in blue on field of white