Smyrna times., 1946-05-23
DOVER AVERTS
POWER CRISIS
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tional Latex Corporation and any
other enterprise in Dover. AS the
largest employer in Dover, the
suspension of employment at Play
tex Park alone would Immediately
have been reflected in the loss to
the community of a huge payroll
and in grave losses to every mer-
chant in the area. The Interna-
tional Latex Corporation, antici-
pating this situation, and deter
mined not to allow this national
catastrophe to deprive its employ
ees of their means of livelihood,
had already been securing the
country for oil-fired boilers and
power plant equipment. The per-
sonnel of the company had been
working "a hours a day, day in
and day out, telephoning, tele-
graphing and comforting all over
the United States with government
officials, manufacturers, and power
experts. Time after time they
were told there were no boilers of
this type and size in the United
States, and that none would be
available for at least 8 months.
Despite this, the company had To-
Gated three new boilers which
were about to be shipped out of
the country. The company then
proposed to the City Council that
it be given a few days in which
to complete the purchase of the
boilers, transport them to Dover,
install them at Playtex Park, and
pipe the steam to the City's tur-
bines, so that it could generate
electricity, not only for the Inter
national Latex Corporation, but
also for general distribution of sur
plus power to other users. The
Council set deadline of 7:30 p. m.
Monday, May 13, by which time
the first of the boilers had to be in
operation, failing which, the black
out would go into effect. This was
an almost impossible schedule.
Nevertheless, "a hours after the
emergency Council meeting, the
first 10000 pound boiler was de-
livered at Playtex Park and by
four o'clock the following morning
it was installed on its foundation.
From hour to hour, day and night,
complex and costly machinery
poured into Playtex Park from all
points of the compass, by rail, air
and motor express. The expense
to the company was enormous.
During this time, executives of the
Company never left the plant, and
were in constant touch with offici-
ais of the Army, Navy, and War
Assets Administration in Wash
ington, New York, and other
cities, coordinating the efforts Of
over 200 engineers, technicians,
transportation experts, city and
federal officials, heavy equipment
riggers, pipe filters, steam filters
electricians, brick layers, welders
riveters, and plumbers. At TOO
p. m. on May 13, exactly a halt
hour before the report was due tc
the City Council, the first boiler
capable of producing approximate
ly 5000 pounds of steam per hour
went into operation, and the City
Council postponed its plans for ar
emergency blackout. In an inter.
view with Messrs. Heinze, Finsen
IDOppCl SlCllly GONSSucilt cuN oIhCi
members of the Company's Man.
agement Committee, full credit
was accorded to Mayor Wallace
Woodford, the City Council, ant
the employees of Internationa
Latex Corporation, for the splendid
cooperation they gave the com
pany in securing and installing 6
power plant in the record time Of
5 days. Thus, through the decis
i've and courageous efforts of the
International Latex Corporation
the city and the company were
spared the paralyzing shutdown
which affected and still confront!
the rest of the nation.