New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-23
Great Plant
Is Planned bv
tn d e b a k e r
Will Mean $4,000 Add.
tional Workers; Unusual
Expansion in Many Other
Lines in South Bend

Albert r. Erskine, president of the
Studebaker Corporation, recently gave
out details of a new automobile plant
at Sound Bend, which will mean the
employment Of from 10000 to $4,000
additional workers.. This in turn is
bound to mean an enormous expansion
in the Indiana town. What with their
families, there will be at least 10000
added to the population Of South Bend
and seven houses daily for the next
two years, involving an amount of
about $9,000,000, will have to be
erected to provide living facilities for
itself will when completed represent
an expenditure of $8,O00OOO.
About 20 per cent of the new
buildings have already been erected"
said Mr.. Erskine, $50 per cent more
Will be erected this spring and sum-
mer and the remaining 30 per cent
rapidly thereafter.
"By January 1, 1920, we expect to
be producing $50 automobiles a day.
and commencing October 1 next we
will rapidly require new employees,
consisting of about 5000 men and | 900
women.
"By the summer of 1920, we will
have completed the plant and be in
",
and Will require an additional 5000
men and 900 women.
"The new plant will be modern in
every respect, with every known i'm
provement of sanitation, ventilation,
light, comfort and attractive environ
ment for our employees, including the
landscape gardening of the yards and
the permanent employment of garden
erS"
Continuing. Mr.. Erskine gave some
remarkable figures of the past and
future expenditures Of the Studebaker
Corporation. He said:
81. Our records show that in the
year 1913 our average number of en-
ployes in South Bend was 5000 and
our payroll amounted to $2,306, 412
"2. For the year 1918, our average
number of employees in South Bend
was 4,513, and our total payroll 1884,
327
90. When the expansion plans here
tofore explained are carried out,
estimate that the average number of
employees will be increased to 10000,
and the average payroll will amount
to from $l7,00000O to $l80OO,O 900.
"a. During the year 1913 our pur-
chases of materials and supplies
amounted to $4,350,00 and in 1918
to S16,oO0,o0o When the develop
mcnt plans were finally completed
these purchases will probably aver
age $75,O00,O00 per annum. A fair
~ large amount of these purchases
will be made from local manufact-
urers and merchants, wherever prices
and deliveries permit.
"5 When the development plans
arc completed $50 freight cars will
be required daily to handle incoming
and OutTOinr frei~rht chirmertc
&c. Automobile dealers from all
parts of the world, statesmen and
other interested parties will visit
South Bend, probably to the number
OF 100 per day, when the new plant
IS in capacity production. These peo-
pie will come by automobile and train,
and frequently will spend several DAYS
IN the city, patronizing the hotels and
merchants, and through them the prod
ucts of other manufacturers of South
BEND Will become known and be adver-
used. rms Is one reason why we must
have new union station"
To take care Of all these increases.
Mr.. Erskinc urged at a public dinner
IN South Bend, whore the plans were
revealed, that South Bend and st. Jo-
seph County should embark on an
elaborate plan of civic improvements.
including the building of houses. bet
terment of streets and street RAILWAYS
and improved highways In addition,
there will have to be housing accom-
modations for the many young women
who VIII come to south Bend for cler-
zeal Jobs, so he sugge sted the build
ing of apartment houses for their
use. II is clear that South Bead. where
lIv'ng accommodations are none too
many right now, is on the verge If
terrific civic boom.