The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1944-01-28
Production in 1914
Washington POST

washington FOSt)
Vice Chairman Charles E. Wilson of the WPB
says that military demands in 1914 will be bigger
much bigger-than those of l943 Just as the offensves
of the United States will be bigger" This annonce-
ment will surprise to many people who
have been led to believe that liberal provision
will be made in the coming year for essential civilian
needs There is, indeed, puzzling element in the
announcement For it would appear that the country
has about reached the limit of its overall productive
capacity judging from the almost stable level of the
Federal Reserve Boards industrial production induces
How, then, is it possible for a larger proportion of
the national output to be diverted to uses in
1914 if materials and supplies to be released
at the time for civilian use?
The cause of confusion is plain. Mr.. Wilson Is
comparing average overall production for the
entire year 1s43 with the anticipated average overall
production of the coming year. Judged by such
standards the American people will undoubtedly have
to put forth mech greater efforts and make much
greater sacrifices in 1874 than they did in 1943 How
such comparisons tend to exaggerate the onerous
ness OF the task Immediately ahead of us because
have been steadily increasing our output OF many
kinds of materials and equipment during the past
year. with the result that current production rates
for such goods are extraordinarily high. While Mr.
Wilson recently told the National Association of
Manufacturers that the 1914 overall production
schedules call for performance higher than
current rate he subsequently qualified that assertion
After indicating that revsons of the production plan
in prospect he added that in his opinion barring
unexpectedly early termination of the in the
European theatre such revsons will not substantially
reduce our 1914 production BELOW PRESENT LEV
ELS" Gaps ours)
There is no need to eXaggerate the magnitude of
the task ahead 1t will be a tough job to maintain
1914 production at current levels. Indeed
such an assignment would be beyond powers if
strikes should continue to play havoc with proucton
schedules other natural man-made disasters
impede the flow of materials from farms and mines
to factories.
The work Of the coming year is not aimed pri-
mary at increasing the total amounts of goods
produced for war use 1t entails rather shifting
If production emphasis. In some cases that will
entail raising production sights higher than they
In other cases it will mean reduction of
output from current high levels and sometimes drop
below the average level of the preceding year. For
example Mr. Wilson points out that next year I'VE
shall be saying to those responsible for aircraft pro-
dliction, keep the pressure on give us more At
the time shall be saying to the shpbuildrs,
Keep your production effort at present levels And
shall be saying to the producers of equipment for
the ground army, Cut down production In some
respects that will be harder program to carry out
than that calls upon all war industries for greater
output because there is likely to be good deal of
lost notion and loss of working time, resulting from
the shifts made necessary by constant revsions of
production plans.