Evening star., 1940-07-29
U. 5. Plans 10 Erect
SearchIieht Plant
As Defense Move
Sl7,096,222 Contracts
Awarded for Tank
Engines and Equipment

Awarded for Tank
Engines and Equipment
The War Department is preparing
to ease the bottleneck in anti-air-
craft searchlghts and rejecting
mirrors with construction of 4
Government plant to cost about
$4,000 near Cincinnati.
\ Authoritative sources said today
the pant will be constructed by the
Army Corps of Engineers and will
be operated by private industry.
This arrangement is similar to the
proposed construction OF a smoke
less powder plant near Charlestown
Ind. which will have A production
OF 100000 pounds daily and be oper-
ated by the Du Pont company. In
all, the Government plans to con-
struct 10S plants to manufacture
defense materials, which cannot be
obtained readily from private in
dustry.
Meanwhile, the War Department
announced the award of contracts
totaling $l7,096 ,222, including Diesel
engines to be used in tanks, amnu-
milton, beds. cots, woolen comforters,
shaving brushes toothbrushes and
other items of equipment for pos
sible use by conscripts.
Ofiicials explained that only one
company. which is IN the New York
industrial area, is equipped to turn
out the metal mirrors required for
the hish-powered searchlights, which
can reach higher than the 10000
feet flown by combat planes.
Plant ut Fort Belveir,
The Engineering Corps already has
one small pilot plant in operation
for the lights at Fort Belvoir, Va.
Started last September, the small
plant has been producing since jan
uary 8 mastermolds for construction
OF the mirrors. which range up to
so feet In diameter.
The Ohio location was selected
for strategic reasons rather than be.
cause 1t is near the source of raw
material. All companies ENGAGED
now in manufacturing supplies for
the Air Corps are centered near New
York, where they would be vulner.
able to attack by air. Since the
rnodium allow used in making the
mirror Is produced in small GUAM
titles in this country. and since
little is needed for the huge mirrors.
1t was considered feasible to con.
struct the plant behind the Ale
gheny Mountains.
The searchlights will be used in
fixed fortifications. such As the
Panama Canal fortified areas. and
for mobile anti-aircraft units. Sew.
eral types also will be. made which
will serve in determining the flying
ceiling for the Air Corps in night
operations.
The Diesel engine contract, total
ing s2,915.255-largesf 81 in the group
went to the Guiberson Diesel En-
gine Co., Dallas, Tex. Tanks hitherto
have been powered with air cooled
aviation type of.engiries, but 1t had
been announced that designs OF the
20-ton medium tank were to be
changed because of European war
experience. The War Department
also ordered air-cooled engines from
the Continental Motors Corp.
Muskegon, Mich, for $1,342,6sl.
-@-"'" Equipment Ordered. ''"''"
The ordnance orders totals:i $l0,.
45o, o,6o2. Those issued by the Quar-
termaster Corps included 1896, $50
for construction Improvements at
various Army plants, and $2,145, sol
for articles of clothing and equipage.
Orders for the folding cots, totaling
nearly $3.50 900, went to four COM
panies. The contracts included 81, 900
for shaving brushes and $l,10o for
toothbrushes. Also included was an
order of 500 900 for razors and safety
blades, which the Army does not
supply to its regular soldiers.
Eighty five trucks are to be pur-
chased. Of which 70 will be one
quarter ton four-wheeled drive
trucks, tbs smallest truck in use by
the Arms War Department ON
Csals declined to discuss this type
Of truck, but it was believed they
might be lcw-slung vehicles which
could be used as munitions carriers.
The order went to the American,
HantamtCar Ca.. Butler. Pa. which
manufacturers the American YER
sion Of the Austin car. The con-
tract for the 10 small trucks totals
$l71, ,1S5.
The Corps of Engineers issued
orders totaling $3l6,57S, which in
cluded numerous earth-boring ma
chimes: probably suitable for trench