The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1942-02-20
ROAD COMMISSION
TELLS Of ACTION
On DEFENSE LINES

In recent address delivered before
the Melvindale Exchange club, Harry
n. Shuptrine, bridge engineer of the
Wayne County Road Commission, told
something about the work along de-
IenSe lines being conducted by the
Commission.
Touching upon operations and main
tenance, ShupStrine said:
To the usual and necessary opera
ton and maintenance of the various
facilities under our jurisdiction, which
must be continued undated, are added
many problems which must be organ
lied for to meet conditions peculiar
10 war uncertainties and defense nee
eSSities.
Our first step in this direction was
the formation Of defense committee
OF seven members, including the super
!ntendentS of all the major cOnStruc-
ton and maintenance divisions of the
Road Commissions activities. This
committee has accordingly proceeded
with setting up and organizing the en-
tire personnel Of the employees Of the
Road Commission to meet the various
aspects Of the problem which includes ::
l. Deputized and armed guards sell
ected from our own employees who have
been placed on A-hOur guard service
at various key points, such as bascule
bridges, certain grade separations, dis
pOsal plants. etc.
2. Setting up and segregating by
fencing or otherwise certain areas de
Signated by the war department or
| others as defense areas. These include
the areas to which armed guards have
been assigned.
3. Organization of 10 emergency
| crews personnel, equipment and as
Signment of duties and methods of be-
ing called out on duty. Included are
| crews. equipment and materials for
| such specialized work as emergency
| bridge and grade separation repairs,
| sewer and water main emergencies.
| sewage disposal plant work, airport
| emergencies, etc.
4. Issuance of special passes TO de-
finite persons without which defense
| areas under the Road COmmiSSiOn's
| jurisdiction cannot be entered.
3. Coordination Of our activities,
resources and methods with those of
similar agencies and arranging for
fullest cooperation with such agencies
| including the FBI and state, county
and city defense organizations.
t. Detection Of subversive activ-
ties and avoidance of sabotage or ap-
prehenSiOn Of SabOteurs.
Z. In addition to the 10 emergency
crews, % men are now taking courses
in first aid conducted at our Wayne
yard
&. Conservation and discovery and
collection OF scrap metals.
g. Investigation of actual needs for
| critical materials 10 avoid buying I'M
| necessarily, to conserve such materials
ON hand, and TO permit adoption of
| proper substitutes where possible.
| 10. A list Of all our equipment has
been filed with the U. :. war depart
ment so that such equipment will be
available for service if and when need
ed by and demanded by government
| authorities.
! IL. The adoption of method
| providing for a continuing and regular
sale Of defense stamps and bonds.
AS Il result of this intense attention
to organization against present and flu
| ture eventualities. we are on the alert
for sabotage, and are READY 1or emer'
gencies.
| In the meantime, the Wayne county
| airport has now been leased TO the
l.. S. army air corps and is being used
| in the ferry service Of newly built
bonlbers and sighting planes.
The airport is under military con
troll under guard Of detachment OF
soldiers. All civilian applications fol-
airplane work are handled By the army
authorities at this airport.
Needless to say-in spite of their
Importance to US many Of our men
are being indicted into military ser
vice. To date. we have lost at least L.
good men in that way. one ct whom
heard the initial explosion At Pear
lEarbor and another at Manila. Several
are at one or the other Of the coasts
and O. hers are cadets in the air corps