Evening star., 1923-04-05
WARNS AGAINST BIC
AUTO TOWN BOOM
West Virginia Official Finds
"NeW Detroit" Plans to
Lack Backing.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Speclal Dlspatch TO The Star.
MARTINSBURG, w. Va, April s.
A small shack used as office building,
a trench evidently dug for a founda-
ton, and one carload each of stone
gravel. cement and steel are now the
only remains of proposed $4,000, 900
automobile manufacturing plant
which was to bring a boom of $72,-
100000 dimensions to property valu-
alton at Ridgeway, hamlet on the
border line between this county and
Frederick county, Virginia.
State Auditor Bond has investi-
gated the project, fostered by Will
liam Jordan of Pittsburgh and De-
troit, and A. NJ. Hoffman of New
York. and issued formal statement
III which he warns investors against
having anything to do with it.
Build Hope Ipon Hope.
For three months the county had
been building hope upon hope that
the announcements of 4 $4,000 600
added valuation to property and an
automobile plant to cost from $1,000
600 to $6.000,000 would he realized
First opportunity for action on the
project came to the auditors office
about three weeks ago when it was
reported that lots at RidgeWay
which was to be renamed New De
troit' were being offered for sale to
people within this state. Such re
ports gave the auditor grounds for
investigation. He personally came
to this county, went over the propo-
sition. and left for Pittsburgh to hunt
William Jordan. The auditors state
ment indicates he could neither OBJ
tain information by mail, nor locate
the men concerned.
Find No Backing.
The state auditor begins his state
ment with the charge that the pro-
Ject lacked financial backing. IF
there is any financial backing of the
proposal of one NJ. A. Hoffman and
one William Jordan" said Auditor
Bond, TO build an automobile or
other factory at Ridgeway. near
Martinsburg, in Berkeley county. an
investigation made by this depart
ment has failed to reveal it,"
After outlining the preliminary ac-
tiNitles of the two men who went to
Martlnsburg in October, 1922. and the
boom stories that emanated. the audi
tor explained the state blue skv de-
rather closely, but did not attempt
to question the proposition until it
was found that Jordan had gone to
Wheeling and was Offering lots for
Sdle dl ftluSeWdS.
Payment Not Made.
The department then invest gat ed
the matter" his statement continued.
| and found that the only option held
was on d tract of 165 acres Of land
taken in the name of Martinsburg
attorney, and assigned to Jordan.
The price to be paid for the tract was
$1,000. but so far as this office has
been able to ascertain no deed has
been delivered, and the first payment
of $1,000 required by thc option has
not been paid. The option expires
within few days or has already ex-
pired
The only development on the tract
al RidgeWay was the erection Of a
small shack or Office building and the
digging of a trench for the supposed
foundation for the proposed plant.
deep and eleven inches wide and are
apparently of a building 90N900 feet.
There has been unloaded at this point
one carload of stone, one of gravel,
one of cement and one of steel.
Promised Jobs.
THE people of Martinsburg were
advised that a contract had been en-
tered into with the firm of Plihl &
Miller. engineers of Pittsburgh. This
company has advised this department
that they have no general contract
for this plant.
complaint was made to this de-
partment that Jordan was offering
real estate for sale at Wheeling and
that he offered the lots at $4,000 each.
The purchaser was to pay $1,000 in
cash and he would then be given a
job at the Ridgeway plant at wages
of 81 per hour. The deferred pay
mentS on the lots would be taken out
of his wages. So far as ! have been
able to ascertain, neither stock in the
proposed company nor any real eS-
tate was sold in West Eirg mia
"Since this department was unable
to get in touch with Jordan and since
Hoffman has failed to give the infor-
nation requested from and promised
by him. 7 feel that the attention of
the public should be called to this
propOsition.''