South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-02

uy Ine DIVISION 10 Sl,4OO, O0OsDOO.
In variety OF work there IS moth
ing that comes in the way OF non
mobile construction that the Di-
vision did not handle. There were,
in addition to the environments. new
plants for making poisonous gases
and explosives, arsenals and forts.
proving grounds and aviation fields.
power plants and warehouses. docks
and great port terminals.
Many OF the Jobs are OF unprece-
dented magnitude. as, for example.
the s4O.OO0,O0O South Brooklyn
army supply base. 1t will provide
1000, 600 square feet OF storage in
two nine-story buildings, each 200
feet wide and $50 feet long. IN ad-
1900 feet long.
Moreover. the work Is not all OF a
temporary character. Many OF the
structures, such as the great port
terminals and the warehouses. are
OF permanent construction.
These achievements entitle the
construction division 10 take the
leading place among the great con-
world Moreover, their work was
driven through with unprecedented
speed. marking their achievement
as notable not merely for mGgni-
tude but for speed as well.
How the Job Was Done
Needles. 10 say, the accomplish
OF such a huge task economically
and efficiently and az the same time
at top speed required an cxtraor-
binary organization and exceptional
vision and administrative ability at
tho top. The organization drew to
itself the best brains OF the coun-
try in the field Of construction, and
those in charge wisely gave full
authority 20 the men in the field.
Except for obvious necessary hmi-
tations. the field man was ION
his own" and such wide authority
could safely be given because the
organization was hand-picked from
among those who had already dem
onstrated singular ability to put big
work through with economy and
speed. Not mere technical ability
was sought, but executive ability Of
a high order.
With this type Of personnel. and
this broad gagged delegation Of
authority from Washington, went a
policy, handed down from the top,
OF fair dealing with the various con-
tracing and manufacturing organi-
cations selected 10 do the work and
supply the materials. The construc-
ton division has done more in its
brief life to establish a fair contract
for government work than have the
contra ctors themselves in a whole
generation. The cost-plus-limited-
fee contract, as applied by the con-
struction division, guaranteed JUS
tice 10 the government and the con-
tractor alike, and when that con-
tract was challenged in the general
criticism OF plus contracts, a
board composed of the presidents
Of the leading engineering societies
Of the country studied the contract.
and approved it in the very highest
terms.
Further evidence OF the spirit OF
cooperation and fair play that char
acterized the work Of the division is
shown by its extraordinary labor
record. Though during its operations
its contra ctors employed 10000 men,
the labor troubles were negligible,
all of them being handled by a staff
Of FIVE men. some OF whom had other
duties beside.
Much more might be said about
the work, but time prevents its ex-
preston fully tonight. The men in
the division are fully appreciative of
the work OF their early leader, Gen.