Arizona republican., 1920-07-11
CELEBRATE OPENING OF NEW STUDEBAKER
 PLANTS IN INDIANA
South Bend Observes Holiday In Honor of Opening of New Plants-Great $2O,O00O 900 Factories Now In Pro- duction On New Stakeholder Light Six-70O0 Workers In Line In Big Parade ThrOugh City

The $2o000000 plant of the Stude- baker corporation, the newest and de- clared to be the most modern automo- bile factory in the world, was officially opened June 26, with the city of South Bend observing a public holiday in honor of the event.
 Starting with a parade of 1000 workers in the morning, the celebra ton continued throughout the day and late into the evening At the end Of the line of march the employees and their families, numbering 30,000 gath cred at a large amusement park char tered for the occasion wher they feast ed and Joined in more than a score oi field day events.
 Since these plants have been erected to produce the new Studebaker light six complete, with an eventual capacity Of 500 cars a day, brand new light six direct from the factory headed the great parade, followed by the 100-piece Studebaker band, President A. R. Erskine and other officials of the com pany office and plant employees and leaders in political, financial, automo- tive, religious and industrial circles from all parts of the country.
 The real festivities began upon reaching the large amusement park, where contests wefe held for em- ployees, their wives and the kids, 7 with $1.500 worth of prizes for the NlnnELS- SopGCldl lEdluI tS WGiG l4G award of a ton of hard coal to the largest family on the grounds, a wagon for the youngest baby and S10 to the heaviest man. Dancing and seven act circus and vaudeville show were added attra
 Some idea Of the amount of food consumed by the 300Oo celebrants is contained in the following figures given out by H. S. Vance, in charge of the affair: 10000 bags of popcorn and peanuts, 36 900 rolls, 1,250 loaves of bread, 10000 doughnuts, 10000 ice cream cones, 800 gallons of ice cream, 15,0o0 pounds of roast beef and pork sausage, 1.500 watermelons, 1000 cases of soft drinks, 500 pounds of, coffee, 200 gallons of cream and 1,500 pounds of sugar.
 In the evening a dinner to the guests who attended the affair was given in the main plant dining room, with f500 present. President ErsIzine was toast master and the Rev. John Cavanaugh of Holy Cross college of Brookland, D. C., the principal speaker
 The new plants represent the largest piece of automobile factory construc- tion within the past 12 months. They are also noteworthy in the unusual speed that was shown in their erection. Ground was broken on March 19, 1919, and today, 15 months later, the plants are in full operation
 E8p6FIS WHO aTI1NGQ LOudE ana went through the new plans referred to them as models in construction from the standpoint of efficiency in motor car production and the ideal conditions provided for the workers.
 The buildings completed have a total floor space of 1906, ,799 square feet. Tn their erection and equipment SITS, ,2eI pounds reinforced and structural stee were used; 100000 feet of lumber 6O,SS3 cubic yards of concrete; 131,SS1 square feet of glass; 1,350,000 bricks; 10000 barrels of cement; 153 mi|es o electric wiring; 6,64O feet of watel mains; 3,0S1 feet of tunnels for carry. ing steam, water and electrical trans mission lines to and between the vari ous buildings: 1S.oS0 feet of surface railroad track and 1,52S feet of de pressed track for handling materials
 The method of assembling cars il the final assembly building is last wor' in efficiency. Tn connection with tn remarkable conveyor system in opera tfon materials stored on upper floor are dropped to each station along tn assembly line. piece by piece, in th number required for each individua car. This system not only increase the speed with which cars may b