The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-02-04
BOMBER PLANT

Continued from Page one)
thousand lots IN the vicinity OF
Melvindale and Lincoln Park. The
latter have sewer, Sidewalk and
water facilities. These lots have
been offered for sale twice by the
state and have not been purchased
but are expected TO be put np for
/. sale again soon.
transportation Problem
Should the homes be built there.
however, a serious transportation
problem is anticipated. One SO
luton was suggested in Detroit
Tuesday at a meeting called by the
Detrtt Chamber Of Commerce and
attended by municipal and indus
trial leaders from surrounding
communities.
Conversion at 1900 apiece OF 5000
idle haulaway trucks In Michigan
into buses" for transportation OF
workers was proposed T, Melville
Rinehart, of the Detroit Board Of
Commerce, said the vehicles were
in fairly good condition" and could
be converted in a comparatively
short time with lumber and canvas.
Tentative approval TO the plan
was given by Guy A. Richardson. OF
the division OF local transportation
in the Washington Office OF De-
tense transportation, who met with
industrial, transportation and de-
tense officials.
Committee Named
To consider transportation prob
lens a committee of Washtenaw,
Macomb, Oakland and Wayne
County men was named. Paul I'm
grodt, secretary of Ypsilanti Board
OF Commerce, was appointed to rep
resent Washtenaw County.
Urgency OF disposing OF the mat
ter within 10 days was stressed by
Captain Oscar A. Johnson, Ford
Motor Co. transportation director,
who said workers already are go
ing into the bomber plant.
William 5. Bullock, DSR general
superintendent. said his surveys
revealed that the situation in De.
troit could be solved by addition
Of 500 new buses to run directly 20
the bomber plant. The DSR, not
allowed to operate outside the city.
would have TO gain special permits
sion for the plan. Many present
thought ii would be impossible to
obtain the 500 new buses.
Another suggested plan was that
workers should be transported by
buses to Dearborn and then entrain-
ed to the bomber plant. Jesse l..
Mckee, Michigan Central Railroad
vice president. said 1--WE are pretty
busy handling freight and trans
porting troops and | don't think
there are enough railroad cars
available for this project"
State Highway Commissioner G.
Donald Kennedy besides asking for
a federal inquiry into rubber ra-
tioning for defense workers urged
the group to gain War Department
permission to construct superhigh-
ways in outlying districts and speed
highways in the city as means Of
solving defense transportation
problems The state highway de
partment is pushing construction
OF roads in the area, he indicated.
Suggestion was made that the
federal government might take
over highways during the morn
ings and evenings for exclusive use
of bomber traffic.
Inability TO obtain accurate fore
casts on employment and housing
requirements is the reason for lack
of planning In the bomber plant
area, state Defense Council ofiieials
state.
Special Coordnator
Michigan Council Of Defense ap-
pointed Tuesday Everett DeRyke,
Milan publisher and until recently
executive director OF the council.
as special co-ordinator OF bomber
plant surveys. He will take charge
Of issuance OF comprehensive re-
ports and recommendations. Mr.
De Ryke expects to have a report
ready for the Council March !.