Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-28
Forbes
Auto Factories
U. S. ArsenaIs,
Says Economist

Says Economist
BY b. c. FORBES
II this country Is becoming the
arsenal Of democracy Michigan
Is becoming the arsenal OF Amer
lea"
Defense developments here must
be seen to be comprehended. They
tax ones imagination.
The automotive industry has on
hand and under negotiation gov
ornamental contracts far trans
cending two thousand millions OF
dollars.
Take Ford alone. data cover
ing other motor companies will
be presented in bseque I
columns)
One new development. for a
bomber plant which may stretch
for a whole mile and also an air
port, embraces a site four miles
square. Incidentally. ! am told
that. apart from his present far
flung industrial areas embracing
the Rouge River and other activi-
ties near Detroit, Mr.. Ford has,
over the years, acquired no less
than $4,000 acres. making him one
OF the largest land owners in
America. You can ride mile after
mile and see dam after dam, arti-
fetal lake after lake. with here
and there industrial plants making
automobile parts. all the handi-
work OF Ford. A vertable Ford
empire has been created.
CONTRIBUTIONS DEPICTED
What Ford is contributing 10
national defense was thus outlined
10 me by responsible executives
Seventeen miles west OF Dear
horn, on countryside OF farms
and scattered woodlands. the steel
skeleton OF the Ford $4,000, O0O
bomber plant is rapidly going up.
Trees are coming down, stumps
yanked OUT and a spur track Is
already being run across from the
Michigan Central. The plant is
located on a site Of four square
miles.
The Consolidated B-24D bomber
which will be manufactured here
regarded as the most formidable
bomber yet developed. weighs II
tons. can carry four tons OF bombs
al 300 miles an hour. Cruising
range. more than 5000 miles.
JOBS FOR $4,000 MEN
This vast undertaking will en-
pioy around $4,000 men.
The OPM announces that Ford
will be offered a contract 10 dc
complete assembly job and run
the -bonahers right off its own as.
Sembly line.
Another plant. which will pro
duce an initial order OF 1925 Pratt
and Whitney sirplane engines anc
spare parts. is being rushed Il
completion inside the grounds o.
the Ford Rouge plant. When ir
full production II will turn ou'
one engine an hour. MACHINERY
and equipment now are being in
stalled by craftsmen working lC
hours a day. six days week
Negotiations are under way for
a 400-foot addition which. to-
gether with equipment, viii double
production.
Ford engineers have developed
new airplane engine OF original
Ford design. II will he ready for
final tests next month. Tests al
ready indicate that this engine
will set new low In the ratio
OF weight 10 horsepower. II IL ex'
pected 10 develop from 1900 tc
1900 horsepower, 10 the altitude
OF $4,000 feet. Outstanding fea'
lures will be an injection gasoline
feed instead Of a carburetor, anc
a supercharger off the exhaust. II
is liqujd-cooled.
STUDENT TRAINING school
An aircraft apprentice school
10 train 1000 students AZ one time
IL being established. In all Fore
schools. 5000 men and boys are
being trained. Facts about the
nrys United States Nary SeTSie'
School, provided and equipped b,
Ford. were given here yesterday.
Ford is building large mag
nesium alloy foundry to- suppl,