Arizona republican., 1922-04-30
LANSING PLANT
To Be DOUBLED
To BUILD STAR

LANSING, Mich. April 29.--Ground
has been broken for an addition to
the Lansing plant of the Durant Mo-
tor company which will double the
floor space of the local factory and
pave the way for daily production OF
400 Durant Star cars and 200 four
cylinder Durant machines.
Construction of this big. new addi-
ton win provide for the employment
OF two-thirds more than the number
Of men that had originally been
planned, 1t is announced by Carroll
Downes, vice. president OF the Michi-
gan company. Contract for the con-
struction work has been awarded to
the Christrnan Construction Co.
through its local manager, Harry
Conrad.
Start Production Soon
The Lansing plant will start the
manufacture of Star cars during May
and work viii be speeded up so that
the output will total 400 cars eakh
day by the last of August. The orig
inal plans called for the production
of only zoo of these machines daily.
but on checking up production figures
at the New York offices of the Durant
Corporation, it has been found that il
will be necessary TO double the output
here.
In addition to the manufacture OF
Star cars, production has been climps
ing rapidly in the output of the Du.
rant four cylinder cars and before
the end of the summer it Is planned
to make 200 OF these machines daily.
Contracts were signed with the
Auto Body company for the manu-
facture of all open car Jobs for the
new Star cars which will be made
here.
W. C. Jackson, head Of the Auto
Body company, has been in confer
ence with Durant officials and Is now
preparing for greatly increased out
put of bodies at the local plant. It is
assured that this Star contract alone
will bring all former employees and
probably many new workers to the
| Auto Body works.
May Mean New Factory
Though no definite announcement
has been forthcoming, it is predicted
by motor officials high in authority,
| that a closed auto body plant may
| locate in Lansing within the next Iew
months. This concern would manu-
| factlIre closed bodies for both the
Durant and Star cars and possibly
! for other machines
The Durant Motor company owns
| the property from its present plant
south to Michigan avenue. The prop
ertv has been suggested as the PROB
able location for such a new poay
plant. but plans to be influential IN
| bringing such a factory to Lansing;
| In addition, it is expected that tne
Durant company win announce otner
nlans within the next few days IN
yolving such contracts as cast iron,
drop forgings and other equipment
DESIGNED especially for the Star car.
Building Is Under Way
| The addition to the new i., iaceOly,
started is to provide an additional
wing. running westward approx
matelv 500 feet from the main bullu.
ing. This structure will be 100 feet
wide. two stories in height and OF tne
same modern, fireproof consiuction
| az the rest of the factory
| other additions to the present pls1,e .s1,,'
viii include a roof over the opel5 5
snace between the new addition ann am
the shipping room. This roof mii, .iii
r,ea enre 900 by 600 feet and VIII
cover shipping tracks and plaIlorii,et p ~
sddirg to- the working floor space q
tl,s rIant The company Is nov
cramped for trackage and mile an ~
. half of railroad sidings from Tue
belt line will be installed at once,