The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-05-12
Structural Steel Arriues
For Ford Plant, Ballast
Also Delivered For Spur
Surveys Planned
For Expansion of
City
OPM to be Given
List of School
Needs

Structural steel is being hauled
by an Ecorse trucking firm to the
Ford Motor Company bomber plant
site southeast OF Ypsilanti to-
day in preparation for construction
forms later this week and nine
cars OF Stag for ballast in the spur
railroad running into the plant
we're received at the city depot
this morning
With rapid progress being made
on construction Of the plant, school
and city officials here are making
plans for accommodating the ex-
pected influx OF residents when
the plant opens.
Needs OF the public schools are
TO be contained in letter being
prepared by Superintendent Ernest
X. Chapelle for the Office of Pro-
duction Management in Washing
ton, D. c. today. The information
was requested by the federal
group in preparation for the ex-
pansion OF the city due TO defense
programs.
Superintendent Chapelle said he
would indicate that land was avail
able for the expansion Of Prospect.
Harriet and Hillcrest schools as
these areas are where the addi-
tional residents are expected to
settle. Woodruff School could not
b enlarged. indicated Superin.
tsndent Chapelle. The influx OF
residents would also tax high
school facilities and the erection
OF a new elementary school for
Central grade children is consid-
cred. The present building would
then be available for high school
pupils.
For schools, preliminary plan
has already been formulated
through the United States Com
missioner OF Education in which
the head OF the state department
OF public instruction would inves'
tigate and make personal recon-,
mendations OF communities need
ing assistance, according to Super
iDtendeBs chareiis. =
g. l.. Fisher. national resources
planning board member. and a rep.
resentative OF the defense hous-
ing group have conferred with
Mayor Ross X. Bower and City En-.
gineer r. Fred Older preparatory
to a survey OF municipal facili.
flies. The men visited the site OF
the new Ford Motor Company plant
and consulted city officials on the
facilities OF water and sewage
disposal plants.
A decided increase in applica-
tons for gas, water and sewage
connections already have been
received by Mr.. Older the past
few months; indicating, he said,
an increase in the population and
broader building program over
last year at this time.
The Lanham Facilities Bill. to
aid municipalities in the expan.
sion of facilities, passed the
House recently and is now under
discussion in the Senate, Congress
man Earl {. Kitchener wrote
Board OF Commerce Secretary Paul
Ungrodt in communication re-
ceiyed today. The aid would be
given 10 cities who are in areas OF
defense productions.
The Congressional Record re.
ports a speech made by Congress.
man Kitchener on the Lanham bill
before the House recently. The
speaker after explaining the 10000
population OF Ypsilanti told OF the
{l8I0Q0000 national defense pro-
ject now under construction for
manufacturing Army bombers. At
least $500 family housing units
would be needed in addition TO
those already available. said Con-
gresham Kitchener. 1T is utterly
impossible for the city TO assume
the additional burden OF caring
for this influx OF Industrial ma
tional defense workers. so far as
schools. hospitals, and possibly
some other facilities. are con.
cerned." said the congressman.
Allotments under the Lanham
bill would be made by the Public
Works Administration IN confer
ence with President Roosevelt.
Recommendations for financial aid
would come from an advisory
board OF representative OF gov
ernmental agencies concerned
Some Of these would be the United
States Public Health and Federal
Housing Administration. explained
Mr.. Ungrodt.