Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-01-29
HAD A MODEL GOVERNMENT
Permanent Settlement Around
U. S. Nitrate Plant Presented
Unusual Problems.
BY GARRETT SMITH.

sprang into being almost overnight
around the great new government am
monium nitrate plant down on the
open cotton and corn fields at Muscle
Shoals on the Tennessee River during
the last year OF the World War. Here
was a problem In city building. munic-
ipal government and community vel
fare that has seldom been eQualled
and the success Of its solution has
never been excelled.
The Job was in the hands of the Air
Nitrates Corporation which had been
organized under the direction of the
Ordnance Department to build plant
and city at Muscle Shoals. Early I'm
January, 1918, this new town mad a
few temporary buildings and a popu-
lation of 300. This had jumped by the
middle Of August to more than 21,OOO
A population multiplied by 20 In
months.
In the management OF the new
towns and army environments that
sprang up during the war the old
time evils that attended the growth or
mushroom cities have been avoided
by the application of modern welfare
systems. But nowhere were condi-
lions more difficult than at Muscle
Shoals. Here was a malarial region
threatened at the same time with
other deadly disease epidemics. Trans
portation was lacking. No. nearby
labor was available and the general
labor shortage was Mt its most acute
stage. Costs of labor and supplies
were leaping over night. Furthermore,
Muscle Shoals differed from all the
other new war towns inasmuch as Il
was to be permanent.
New Government Devised.
The managers, besides city govern
ment, had to handle the entire retail
business Of the town. A camp super
visor's department was put In charge
OF the maintenance of all buildings,
fire protection and sanitation. The
camp supervisor looked after every
thing from the mending Of q lock to
the remodeling of groups Of buildings
or laying sewers or steam mains. For
the bachelor contingent q commissary
y.
The business department managed
the stores. canteens, motion picture
theaters, pool parlors, tailor shops,
dry cleaning establishments, barber
shops, newsstands, a hotel, u vegetable
farm and q hog farm where 1000 hogs
were raised on the wastes from eat
ing places. 1t maintained q slaughter
house where these hogs were put
through the regular packing house
course. 1t operated laundry which
cleaned 7.493 pieces day. Then
there was a real estate department
that rented and managed the family
quarters and housing department
which assigned to quarters everybody
excepting the families.
Under separate Jurisdiction from its
community director were the police.
The health department, in charge Of
u physician from New York city,
started with small office In one of
the temporary buildings. and was
soon full grown and splendidly
equipped. Conditions were favorable
to disease. The winter was the
severest on record In northern Ala
bama. The men were compelled to
work either in deep snow or mud above
their knees. AS result pneumonia
epidemic developed among the Negroes
that spring. Later In the year
typhoid epidemic was threatened.
Moreover. the site Of the plant was In
the heart Of the malaria district But
the pneumonia epidemic was checked.
the typhoid threat nipped In the bud,
and malaria stamped out.
A Health Record Established
The little irst-aid hospital present
Iy grew to a complete modern institu-
ton with a nurses home and a sep
arate dispensary for dental, eye, ear,
nose, throat, genito-urinary clinics and
q surgical dispensary for first-aid
work.
During the eight months when the
death rate was not affected by the In
fuenza and pneumonia epidemics the
general health rate was 12.4 per thou
sand per year, which is lower than In
most cities In the same latitude and
climate. and the pneumonia death rate
during the epidemic was lower than
In most army cantonments.
Much of the success Of the health
administration il due to the establish.
ment OF the Muscle Shoals sanitary
district by the United States Public
Health Service.
The education and welfare depart.
nent also had q vital wGk to perform
There was a school population Of over
1000. The Secretary Of War created
the community organization branch
Of the Ordnance Department which,
with advice and aid Of some Of the
greatest school men Of the country.
prescribed the courres Of study and