Evening star., 1918-01-13
The work of the Council of National
Defense, created by Congress In a\sec-
tion of the Army
Council Of Defense bill a couple OF
Organization. snaa;,, a.s ago. ,se.. Is .. ..

work. Strange enough, the impression
seems to have gone abroad that the
council is nothing but purchasing
body. Nothing is further from the
truth.
deavored to lmake available to the
United States Nhe best Thought and ef-
Tort or American industrial and profess
sional life for the successful prosecu-
tion OF the war 1t has become tru-
sentially war OF the mechanic and the
machine, and 1t is the realization of
this truth that has been throughout the
inspiration of the policy pursued by the
council and its subordinate bodies, OF
which there are several.
The direction of the machinery of
American industry for the national de-
fense necessarily involves the creation
or an organization of great flexibility.
The swift changes in strategy and rap
id Improvement of war machinery, at
tended by the equal speed with which
implements of warfare are scrappeil
and replaced at the front, have been re-
nected by corresponding rapid trans
formation and stimulation Of the in
tions at war. These ever-changine
developments have necessitated almost
unprecedented flexibility in govern
mental organizations. The history of
riG IA sL thiee months OF the war in the
United States has proved no exception.
There have been constantly recurring
demands for increases in personnel and
new efforts in unexpected objections
nave mad to be met as the war pro-
gressed. It has been the effort of The
organization of the Council of National
Defense to hold itself in constant read
mess to meet such new demands and
70 shirt Its ground and expand its ia :
cNities in the interest of the national
r,.ar.,
OF necessity must continue. in process
OF evolution rapid enough to keen
abreast with the changing current Of
the times. and vet conservative enough
TO prevent confusion or lack Of prorer
coordination and control In a neen-
liar sense # has felt itself called nnor
to be constantly ready to fill in the
Eaps and assist the regular denart-
ments or the government in their suc-
cessfui effort to exDand and carry the
ne, new ana huge burdens nut unon them
ny the country's need. FIexibflity must
remain the essence of spirit with which
the council carries on it's work accnrd
ing to officials Of the body.
X X
Officials of the geological survey
state that the past year has been one
of great activ-
Activity of Portland ity in the Port
Cement Industry. anstrv hna esr.m. pradnn m
tion and shipments from practically
all mills have considerably exceeded
those for 1916. and prices are now
higher than they have been for the
past twenty years. The present strong
demand for cement is reported by the
officials to come principally from small
consumers. many of whom are in agri-
cultural districts, although. as usual,
much cement is going into roads and
pavements.
The war in Europe has apparently
yet much aTected the for
taken a moderate quantity. but the
demand directly for military purposes
seems not to have been notably great,
although it will doubtless become
greater as the war progresses and as
the United States takes larger part
in it.
1t is stated, however, by officials of
the survey that the prices of cement
have been greatly Influenced by the
war. The increase in the cost of fuel
crease in the selling price of cement.
1t is reported that OF late the fuel cost
per barrel for burning clfnker in the
Lehigh district has been greater than
the entire cost of manufacturing ce-
ment three years ago. Everywhere, as
In the cost of labor. mill supplies. ma
chinery. bags and other essentials to
the cement industry is proportionately
greater than the increase in the selling
are not obtaining large
profits.
Though wages are generally good.
there is scarcely a cement plant which