Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-27
INDUSTRIAL HUB
HERE AFTER WAR
Peace Treaty Will Not End
Operation of the
Big Plants
HOG ISLAND TO co ON
Westinghouse Plant Develop.
ing Into One of Country's
Wonderful Workshops
HOG ISLAND TO co ON

Philadelphia's future as the 'tndustrial
center of America has been ass,-ed by
the war
While the casual reader may get the
Impression that many of the scores
OF plants that have sprung into being
in this city and its vicinity during the
last eighteen months are of mushroom
growth, meant only to last until the Ger
{ mans are beaten. the fact is that a
operate indefinitely.
Hog Island. for4nstance. will keep on
making ships for many years after the
peace treaty is signed. So will the
{ yards at Bristol, Chester and Whining
ton. AS for the munitions factories.
plans are already prepared for turning
those big organizations into constructive
channels.
One of the biggest permanent plants in
the district will be that of the Westing-
house Company, at Essington. There
are made the Westinghouse system of
marine engines. which can he especially
adapted to submarines as well as used
on any kind of cargo boat or warship.
These engines are n complete unit,
hhciuuiis steam bOS. turDlneS. reduction
gear case and condenserS. and are so
Ocompact that they weigh much less in
proportion to the power produced than
other similar machines
FOR many years these engines were
built at the big Westinghouse plant at
East Pittsburgh. but some time ago. be-
fore it seemed likely that this country
would be drawn into the European
maelstrom, it was decided to erect a new
plant on the Atlantic coast just to turn
out the marine systems.
Labor Market Advantage
Philadelphia was picked because of
the available supply of skilled labor, the
port and railroad facilities and the fact
that an adequate site could be purcha sed
at reasonable price. The location OBJ
tanned is between Lester and Essngton
and has the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road on the west and the Pennsylvania
Railroad on the east, with the Delaware
only few yards beyond the Pennsy
tracks
AT present 1000 workers are employed
there. When additions to the plant now
under way are completed between IL, 900
and $4,000 will be needed, and eventually
the company counts on having 10000
employees on the payroll.
The Westinghouse Company. being on
the ground early. before the rush to buy
Essington sites had started, was able
to purchase 500 acres stretching be.
tween the Delaware and Darby Creek
One hundred and ten acres are now in
use.
1T was planned to start work on the
plant in the fall of 1916. but II proved
difficult to get machinery. raw ma
terlal and labor because of the great
demand from munitions plants and the
high wages paid by these "war-bride'
concerns.
But when the United States entered
the war, the Westinghouse people went
to the Government. explained what their
engine could do, and their claims were
promptly indorsed by naval experts and
won the cooperation of Uncle Sam
Ground was broken for the first building
OF the plant April 1. 1917. This was
completed August Is, just four months
and half later. And the building has
been built to last. Even casual glance
will prove that to the most skeptical
The first casting was made November
20 last year, and the first completed
engine was turned out and shipped
March %, this year, to one of the sub
marine bodybuilding firms
The other buildings of the plant hat
been rushed to completion just as rapidly
as was the first one, the internal railroad
system put in and the time and labor
saving Devices for which this plant is
noteworthy, even In this day of eff
cheney, plus in the operation of all fac
tories.
Now Providing Homes
Now the company is turning it's at
tention to providing homes for its work
ers. Two hundred houses are bein,
erected on the strip to the west of tn,
Pennsylvania Railroad. There will b,
graded macadam streets, cement side
walks and every modern comfort ant
convenience, such as electric lights ant
fine sewage system. At another par
of the property big dormitories are goint
up for the single men, each capable o
accommodating 500 employees.
Every man will have his own room
There will be showers. lavatories anc
1ounging rooms. The companylis CO
operating with the Hog Island peopl,
in the relentless battle against mosqui
toes that has been going on now fo
nearly two years, and has come prett.
close TO exterminatng these pests.