Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-16
100000 LOSE
JOBS AS FORD
CLOSES PLANT
Great Factories Stop
When Coal Supply Is
too Low to Operate.
Automobile Maker Ad-
vises Employees to Save
Money Where Possible

Detroit. Sept. 15.-Henry Ford late
Friday took steps to close his Detroit
automobile plants, beginning Friday
night, thereby throwing upwards of
100000 workmen in the Detroit district
out of employment for an indefinite
period. He asked officials of the De
troit Street railway to re-arrange its
schedules to care for the night forces
at his various factories, who will be
dismissed at IL o'clock, it was an
nounced.
Announcement of the intended clos
ing came from officials of the street
railway company. No Official state
ment from Mr.. Ford or his executives
was Forthcoming late Friday, it having
been stated at the Ford offices that
the manufacturers announcement sew
eral weeks ago that he would close
September 16, would stand, unless
he altered his plans.
Tip to Street Railway
The railway company. 1t was an
nounced. was requested to concentrate
its cars at the Highland Park and other
Ford plants at II o'clock Friday night
to carry the shifts finishing work at
that hour, as well as those reporting
for work, to their homes. The day
shifts will be dismissed at the end of
the working day Saturday, the street
railway company was Informed.
simultaneously, it was announced,
a number of smaller manufacturing
concerns here that supply the Ford
plants with parts and accessories will
close. These companies employ up
wards of 10000 men. The Ford work
ers to be thrown out Of employment
total approximately 10000.
Mr.. Ford announced several weeks
ago that he would close his Detroit
piants September 16 because of the
coal situation. He denied q real coal
shortage existed and charged certain
coal brokers were demanding an ex-
orbitant price for fuel. He said that
rather than pay these prices he would
close his plants for an indefinite
period.
Ford Motor company foremen re-
ceived instructions Friday afternoon
to advise all workers under their
charge to "save their money and live
as economically as possible during the
suspension. Many workers said they
took this to mean the closing might be
protracted
According to word received by the
street railway officials from Mr.. Ford:
practically all operations in the Ford
plants viii have ceased by late after
noon Saturday.
Orders Are Posted
Mr.. Ford ordered posted in the
Highland Park plant late Friday
notices to all members of the day shift
that they were to turn in their tools
Saturday. large number of employees,
including shop fOremen, told news
paper men. From the same source 1t
was learned notices had been posted
announcing the Ford trade school,
where the manufacturer trains me
chanics, would close Saturday. This
school remained in operation during
the Ford shutdown of 1920 and 1871.
Mr.. Ford and his company executives
were in conference here Friday. 1t was
reported plan was being discussed
whereby a part of the tractor plant. at
Dearborn might be kept open. but
All attempts on the part of business
men and others here today to obtain
regarding his plans. met with failure;
an official statement from Mr.. Ford
Twenty five thousand Ford employees
scattered throughout the country out
side of Detroit will be affected by the
closing order, Mr.. Ford said, in his
first statement announcing the contem-
plated shutdown. In addition there will
be many others. he said at that time,
who will be obliged to lay down their
tools or work but part time. These are
workers employed by concerns de-
pendent upon the Ford company for
business Those directly and Indirectly
affected by the closing are variously
estimated by Ford officials 10 total
between several hundred thousand
and 100000" The estimate was made
several weeks ago when the manufac-
turer made his announcement