Evening star., 1941-02-21
Martin Plane Plants
To Be Largest in U. 5.
And Possibly World
Expansion at Baltimore
And Omohu to Provide
11e Acres Of Floor Spoce
BY JOSEPH S. EDGERTON.
Star Aviation Editor.

BALTIMORE, Md, Feb. 21.-On
completion of its current expansion
program, the Glenn L. Martin Co.,
oldest aircraft manufacturing con-
Germ in continuous service in the
United States, will be the largest in
the United States, if not in the
world, it was revealed today by
Glenn L. Martin, president OF the
firm, in announcing the signing Of
new Government contracts cover
ing the new facilities.
Before the end of this year the
company will have in operation
three huge factories, two at Middle
River. Just east of Baltimore, and
one at Omaha, Nebr. These plants
will provide a total of 5,l92, 725
square feet. or more than 119 acres,
of floor space.
The total plant space of the COM
pany will be definitely greater than
that of any German aircraft fac
tory, Mr.. Martin said.
Project 40 Per Cent Complete.
Expansion work now in progress
here at Middle River is costing
approximately $24000,000 and will
bring the Middle River plant value
to more than S32,500,000, Large
scale additions to the main plant,
together with the building of an en-
tirely new factory and airport and
a new Navy assembly building, are
far advanced and should be finished
by early summer. Work on all OF
these projects as a whole is 40 per
cent complete.
Building operations have been
started at Omaha with grading Of
the site Pouring of the founda-
tion will begin May l and the build
ing will be finished by November 1
and in operation by early winter.
At this factory Martin will as
semble bombardment airplanes from
subassemblies and parts supplied
by automobile factories and other
on-aeronautical enterprises. It's
capacity will be 100 BPS high
speed bombers per month.
The entire Martin plant in Balti-
more and Omaha will have a pro-
ductive capacity of S36 000,0 900 worth
of airplanes per month by June l,
1912. when all facilities will be CON-
pleted and in full operation. Pres
ent capacity is a little more than
one-sixth of this amount, totaling
S6,200000 worth of production in
January. This increase in produc-
ton capacity of nearly 600 per
cent will be accomplished within
less than 18 months.
Will Employ $4,000.
The Martin factories at Balti-
more will employ $4,000 men by the
spring of 1912, as compared with
1900 now on the pay rolls. The
number of men to be employed at
Omaha will depend on the extent of
subcontracting eventually done AS
much of the actual manufacturing
work as possible is to be carried
on outside the Omaha plant, in
automobile and other factories in
many States.
Expansion of the Baltimore fac
tory already has resulted in acute
housing and traffic congestion,
which may limit any further ex-
pansion and make necessary further
suocontracting
The Martin company now is build
Ing 400 homes and apartments of
the low-cost housing type in a
beautiful forested area on the shores
of Middle River and will follow
these with 600 additional buildings.
The Federal Government is CO.
operating by preparing to construct
an additional 1000 homes, making
a total of 5000 houses and apart
ments which will be available for
Martin employees. AS a result of
this mass home building program,
it is possible for the Martin COM
pany to rent five-room houses with
the most modern conveniences for
S27 per month.
Although the Martin company
will add $4,000 employees to its pay
rolls during the next 18 months,
there will be no appreciable new en-
ployment undertaken before July l,
company officials warned today.
They are trying to prevent the mi
grafton of applicants to Middle
River until the new factory space is
ready for them. Despite the fact
that present factory space is almost
completely manned and relatively
few employees can be taken on be-
fore July /, the company personnel
Office is handling an average of
1000 applicants in person each day.