News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1918-07-17
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 1t Being Construct
ed-MedicaI Department Has Mobile
Apparatus to Provide Pure Drinking
Water in France.

! Apparatus to PROVIDE Sure Drinking
Water in France.
| (From Committee on Public Information }
ashington.-Quantity if not capac.
| ity shipments will start soon from a
new government shell-loading factory
| in New Jersey, one Of four such gov
eminent plants each Of which is larger
| than any similar plant in the world
When turning out $1,000 loaded
| shells a 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 eontem-
plate the employment Of large num-
Der Of women. The marking of shells
to designate size, load and range will
require 100000 operations each day.
The plant has total area of approx
imately $500 acres. More than 100
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
age systems, hospitals, fire-fghting
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 10
shell-loading units, each Independent
of the other, with equipment for load
ing ID sizes of shells, ranging from the
recently developed 7-millimeter to 16
inches. On two sizes of shells the pro-
polling 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
mense fans have been installed to dis
pose of the poisonous fumes from the
high explosives. When a 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 jul
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 healthfuf water to
the people of city these trains do for
the soldiers.
A number of publication units with
attached motor-tank trucks constitute
a train. Each unit is a complete filtra-
ton plant, including laboratory. Ar
irving at a stream 1t sets hose into
the water and pumps the water
through a pressure tank. Before the
water passes through sand filter it is
treated chemically to rid it of disease |
germs. The pure water is pumped |
into tanks mounted on trucks, which |
carry the water to the soldiers.
Each mobile water unit carries an |
expert chemist, bacteriologist and |
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 1t is thought necessary. The wa
ter is lifted into the filter by a gasoline
pump engine and a complete supply
Of 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
lights so that the work can be carried
IN at night. Many of the chemists
md psychologists assigned to the mo-
,ile laboratories were formerly con-
lected with municipal waterworks and
plants.
Every community will be combed for
var workers. War Industries are short
Iearly 100000 common laborers and
ack of workers in the coal-mining in
ustry is imperiling all war produc-
lon. There is also a serious shortage
f skilled labor. One of the largest
lunition plants, turning out heavy
aliber guns, is short 1000 machinists
he war plants of Connecticut and
are undermined $4,000 ma
hinists.
The United States employment serv-
e will begin an intensive recruiting
I workers for war work from the non
ssential industries. Employment Of
ces will be increased and the force
I local agents and travelling exam
lers viii be enlarged and sent into
very community that relief may be
wen before the ban against private :
Dor recruiting goes into effect on :
ugust 1. |
Nearly 100000 girls and boys have
aunteered for the United States gar ,
N army in the department Of the :
terror. Their service flag bears a +
ossed rake and hoe with the letters !.
S. S. G. in blue on q field oswhite :
1