The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-09
Factories of City Manufactured
Many Products for Use of Army
and Navy During Time of Strife

. would have been impossible. Through
out the war it was necessary to form
organizations to speed up, and at
times insure. the production of vari
Gus required articles.
Local persons, aware of the need of
organization for wartime production,
met with business men of 10 counties
adjoining Wayne and formed the
Richmond sub-region war resources
committee, No. 10. This action was
taken at the request OF the govern
ment, in July. 1918. This committee
was continued until the signing of
the armistiee. Nov. II, 1918.
Elect Robinson Chairman
H. r. Robinson, of the Swayne-
Robinson company, of this city, was
chosen general chairman of the Rich
m0nd division. Other officers Sc
lected included F. ]. Bartel treasurer;
Z. NJ. Haas, secretary; and Shuman
Jones, assistant secretary The Rich
mond committee acted in co-opera-
tion and under the supervision of Ed
win c. Gibbs, regional supervisor, with
headquarters in Cincinnati. 0.
Immediately following the organiza-
ton of the local region, 245 industrial
firms in the 10 counties not only or
ganizezd and financed the efforts of
this region, but enthusiastically and
Loyalty offered their services and the
output of their plants to the service
OF the government. The 10 counties
forming the region included Black
ford, Union, Delaware, Rush, Henry,
Jay, Fayette, Randolph, Franklin and
Wayne.
Aim of Organization
The part taken by the industries Of
, this city in the production may be
divided under the following four
heads:
% The furnishing of the regular
standard products of these industries
directly and indirectly to the govern
ment.
(2) The contracting by the indus
tries to furnish special parts or prod
ucts to the government, directly or
Indirectly.
co The cooperation of the en-
ployes and the executives of the vari-
Gus industries to further the interests
of the United States in the war.
ca The formation by the business
men of the 10 counties adjoining
WAYNE of the Richmond sub-region
war resources committee, No. 10.
Under the first heading Wayne
county was able to perform quite a
service, due to the fact that large
part of it's industries products was in
that class of preferred materials
which the government needed. These
products were agricultural nipple
ments, underwear, gloves, clothing,
machine tools, gas helmets and food
supplies. These products were fur
nished in large quantities during the
entire war period.
Sneci,I Darts Made
A large number of special parts
were made in this county. These
articles come under the second head
ing. Parts furnished included air
plane propellers, balloon valves, brass
oil containers, tables, chests, field
ovens, tractor parts and several other
government requirements. Among the
foremost in the production of special
parts were the Wayne Works, Starr
Piano company, United Refrigerator
company, SwayneRobinson company.
and the Johnson Auto Sheet Metal
Works.
Co-operation OF employees and execu-
tives of the various Industries was
especially noteworthy. Practically all
who voluntee their services or
were called into service were special
lists in their particular line. Among
the executives who played an import
ant part were James A. Carr of the
American Seeding Machine company.
who filled the position of chairman of
the allied purchasing committee, CO
operating with the war industries
board; Walter H. Bates, of the same
company, who acted as trade adviser
of the war board. He was one OF
eight men who made the rules gov
erning the report of all merchandise.
And H. R. Robinson, as general chair
man of the 10th subregion war re-
sources committee.
Others Volunteered Service
In addition to these men, there were
several more of the executives Of
Wayne county industries who volun-
teered for service in the various de-
partments of the United States gov
eminent
Forming of the war resources COM
mittee proved one of the biggest as
sets in local government production.
This committee co-Operated with the
resource and conversion committee
board of Washington. whose purpose
was to obtain to the fullest extent the
full cooperation of these industries
in supplying the much needed mat
rials of the United States.
Blue prints were sent by the gov
eminent to the local committee, Civ
ing specifications and required meas
urementS of needed articles. Bids
were made by the manufacturers di-
rect to the government.
Among the factories Of this city
contributing its products in the in
terest of winning the war were the
Starr Piano company, Swayne Robin
son compan ny, .Beebe Glove company,
johnson Sheet Metal company, Rich
mond Malleable Castings company,
and the Najen Helmet company.
While the following tells Of the
work produced by these companies.
its by no means intends that these
concerns were the only ones in this
community that contributed loyalty
and patriotiCally in support of the
government Every one of the 245 in
dustries that were listed in this re-
gion did its part, with but one pur-
pose in mnd-patriotism
Develop Gas Valve
Diagrams and details of equipment
of tho factories comprising the Staar