The Washington herald., 1918-07-11
WILLDISPERSE
WAR PLANTS
Decentralization to Avoid
Congestion Planned,
Says Holland.

Perhaps chief among the reasons
why the United States steel Corpora
ton established its plant at Gary. In
diana, and also why the managers
deemed 1t expedient to buy the Ten
nessee Coal and Iron Company. whose
headquarters are at Birmingham. Ala
bama, was that there would be great
economy in the manufacture and dis
tribution of the products IL the plants
were not concentrated within one dis
trict, but were established at various
convenient points throughout the
country.
The example thus set seems to have
been adopted by the government in
establishing new centers for war in
dustries. When we were first pre-
pairing to meet our responsibility as
one of the allies Of Great Britain.
France and Italy, the greater part of
the war industries were established in
New England. New York, Pennsyl-
vania and in some sections of the
midwest Detroit. it is true. main-
tanned supremacy and will continue
to maintain it, i'm the manufacture Of
motor cars that are to be made avail
able for war purposes.
Prevent Further Congestion.
But it was early realized that for
two reasons it would be advisable to
prevent further congestion of war in
dustriaI plants in the East and in
stead OF that to locate them in vari-
Gus parts Of the country. One of these
reasons was that were war industrial
plants exclusively established near the
coast they would offer tempting op-
poTtunities were an invading army or
a great enemy naval force to ap-
rToach American shores.
On the other hand. were plants to
he established in the interior and es-
pecially in the Appalachian Region of
the South they would be remote from
danger of attack. Another reason was
based upon experience, for it was dis
covered that the congestion of NUM-
tiOn plants in a small Eastern dis
tTict. tended greatly to increase the
embarrassment of railroad transporta-
ton. Therefore the country is about
to witness the establishment of many
large war industrial plants in other
parts of the country. and in fact. re-
sional districts have been agreed
upon so that this plan can be more
easily carried out
The War Industries Board in CO.
operation with the Fuel Administra-
ton has perfected p plan whereby
there may be established in other
parts of the country than the East
many war industrial plants. One dis
trict which comprises the New Eng
land States. New York City and its
vicinity. the Eastern half of Pennsyl-
vania and all of New Jersey and Della
ware. now contains nearly aXof the
Important war industrial plants. Now
the government authorities have per-
fected plaEs which will prevent fur
ther increase in the volume of war
orders and in the number of esta b.
lishments handling them in this dis
trict.
In statement recently issued by
these government authorities il
was said that the congestion of wal
industries in the comparatively
small eastern district had been sc
great as to occasion Embarrassment
often something like embargo, in
supplying these industries with raw
material and with fuel. For in
stance. substantially the chief
amount of coal to operate these wal
industries is mined in the Appala-
chan coal district. 1t must be
transported. therefore. for a dis
tance of 500 or 500 miles from the
coal fields to the eastern district
The number of railways available
for that purpose is not large. and
railway sCTN ice can be only par
TALLY supplemented by shipments
from Hampton Roads.
Therefore. no matter how much
coal is mined in the Appalachian
coal region, no more of it can be
transported to the congested district
than the railroads and the coal
barges can carry.
Into the south.
In many parts of the South the
government authorities will estab-
lish Industrial activities so that the
eastern district may be relieved of