The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-04-19
Army to Have
Say in Future
of Willow Run

Washington. u. G.. Apr 10 80
Speedy decision on the future oi
Willow Run Bomber Plant will be
made here It was indicated today
by Army officials. The Army Is
planning immediate and complete
survey to determine possibilities
for future government use OF the
plant. No disposition OF the fac.
tory TO private enterprises Is pos
sible until the Army gives com
plete release. When that occurs,
the Ford Motor Company will have
the first option, IL was stated.
With but few hundred bOmbers
To build before cessation OF prOduc
ton at the Willow Run plant, II was
revealed that the heaviest lay.off
will occur In the next three weeks,
unless enough persons quit to maze
it unnecessary to lay-off great mum.
bers OF workers.
Nearly 800 employees quit OF
their own accord Wednesday and
an. unrevealed number were re-
leased by the company, which con
trolls the schedule OF lay-offs.
Many OF the workers declared
that they would not wait TO be fired
but would quit at once. This was
particularly true OF the women en-
plOycs.
The War Manpower Commission
appealed to the workers TO remain
on the job until their departments
were closed, and assured them that
the VINO would expend every eff
fort to ind new employment for
them IN critical war industries.
Peak production at the Willow
Run plant WAS reached In March
1914, when 1862 planes were built
This peak was made following
! regular schedule, the potentia
peak was never attained.
There has not yet been an ap
preciable exodus Of workers from
| the city.
Although there has been slight
increase in passenger traillC out oi
the city via bus. particularly south
bound, the railroad company ha'
not noticed any increase In fares
The Automobile Club OF Michi.
gan has received some inquiries ms
to routes. and similar travel data
the past two days, but workers al
the club claim that the persons
IRY.tHtpfr hgI nNHnnHnH tho
normal turnover. Many OF their
clients. however. have indicated
that they would be laid on within
the next few days.
In view OF the cut back and lay
off the executive committee OF the
day afternoon. to discuss the reac
ton and effect the sudden an
nouncement would have on resid
ents OF NpsitHnti Although admit
ting that there would be many
problems OF reconversion in the
city the committee was certain
that the future of the city was Sc
cure and unlimited. I'm asking for
the cooperation OF the residents
as well as OF industry and com
merce. the committee stressed con.
hdencc as the keystone to future
development OF the city
In a prepared statement. the com
mittcc reminded the people that
"Npsilanti received a severe shock
whom il was struck by the impact
" war expansion four years ago
The same thing will happen now
that the process of four years ago
has reversed itself II Is our judy.
mcnt That II Npsilanti's leaders
pursue the same safe course that
they followed during the past -four
years. tho community will con
tinue its forward march In spite Of
temporary obstacles which will be
brought about by conversion back
to peace-timo pursuits. Ypsilanti
Is strategically located In an area
Of the State OF Michigan and the
nation where It's forward progress
should be inevitable"
The boards assurance for the m
turp security Of the city was based
on many facts, some Of which
were
We are part OF one or the
most highly developed and essen
tial industrial areas in the world.
During the past four years our
community and business facilities
have not been over-evpanded.
"Our Industries have few CONVEX
sion problems and can employ hun
dreds OF people as soon as men
and materials are available lin fact
we can optimistically face the pros
poet OF the employment OF 1900
more industrial workers within our
city limits than are now employed.
Public projects have been plan
ned by both state and local govern
ment to help cushion an unemploy-
ment shock
1T is generally believed that the
Bomber Plant will be used for
peace time purposes and that i
will contribute to the future pros
perity Of this area