The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-26
Crippled Turn Out Artificial Limbs
in Unique y. S. Relief Factory Here
BY TRISTRAM COFFIN
Times stan Writer

nON WILSON, pleasant
II Young man from Terre Haute
is what you would call working
humanitarian.
His business is making wooden
legs and he got one Of the biggest
kicks Of his life when Robert
Foltz. 44Os Caroline-av. an elderly
man who lost leg in an accident,
received the first leg manufac-
tured by the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration wooden leg
factory at 1893 Madison-av.
Mr.. Foltz was so elated over the
new limb that he took a siX-mile
iaunt 10 try it out. Mr.. Wilson
thought that an experience like
that made worth while the life
long study he had made Of wood
en- leg manufacture.
For 40 years Mr.. Wilson's father
and then Mr.. Wilson have been
manufacturing wooden legs as a
commercial business.
Several months ago a represent
alive OF the Governors Unem-
plOvment Relief Commission
called on Mr.. Wilson and asked
him how he would like 10 take
charge Of plant 10 build arti-
fetal limbs which would be given
free to persons on relief rolls.
ITO an average business man,
Il perhaps such proposition
would have called for heated
words about the government
usurping the place Of private
business"
That wasn't the way Mr.. Wilson
thought about II.
When understood that it was
a humanitarian enterprise, was
for IL right away" ne said in his
earnest way. i believe that this
project is one OF the finest ever
set up BY the Federal Emergency
Relief Administration.
We aren't taking anything
away from the artificial leg bust
ness. because the people for whom
We make the legs would never
have the money TO pay the 500
To $50 that the legs would bring
on the market. BY giving ham
dicapped men artificial limbs,
they are enabled to obtain jobs
and be taken of relief
In large rooms. smelling pleas
antlv Of wood and glue, at an
abandoned furniture factory. 1893
MadisOn-av, IS men are now cary
ing wooden legs to fit the meas
urement of relief clients"
Some OF these men are them
selves without legs. All suffer
from some physical handicap.
When production is stepped
up. later on, 80 to 80 men are
expected to be put to work. A goal
of 1000 legs has been set for the
year. Fourteen legs have been
completed already.
Although few people realize it,
there are approximately 5000
Iegless persons on relief rolls,
kept from earning their living
because Of the handicap. The
government is giving them an
other chance at independence.
THE Madison-av plant is the
Il only FERA wooden leg plant
in operation. 1t is the only fac
tory in the nation at which I'M
skilled labor is used for mass pro-
duction Of artificial legs.
The customers come to the plant
to have their fitting taken. Dur
ing the three or four weeks of
construction the client is given
several fittings.
In the words Of Mr.. Wilson: In
all my experience of making
wooden legs have only seen two
men who could wear the same
leg"
Red willow and bass wood Is
used because it is light, durable
and strong. A leg will last six or
seven years. on the average. Most
of the legs will be semi-woOd and
aluminium. Special tools and vices
have TO be used in order TO carve
the measurements exactly.
Both the Governors commission
and the United States Department
OF Education are enthusiastic
about the project.
But those who are most in IA
vOr OF the idea are the men who
will get the legs-they and Mr.
Wilson.