Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1949-01-07
Activity At Camp Perry Will
Aid Local Prosperity; New
Peak May Be Reached


eastern Ottawa County will reach
a new record high during 1949,
according to survey of area in
dustrial executives conducted this
week by the News. Slack periods
in two local plants are expected
to be of short duration, and more
workers will be hired by Uncle
Sam and at least one local indus
try.
Most industrial executives this
week predicted that their present
personnel peak would remain sta
tionary. Not one of the executives
expects to be forced to lay off more
workers during the year, although
unforeseen circumstances natural
ly could cause such action.
Helping to boost the employ
ment peak during the year will be
slightly increased hiring at the
Erie Ordnance Depot, employment
of 40 more workers at the Port
Clinton Marine Company plant,
anticipated hiring at Camp Perry
and big boost in construction
work.
Biggest construction job con-
templated is the $375,000 elemen-
tary school building, to get under
way in April. Work on the
$lS5,000 filter plant at the water
works was started Monday by the
Mosser Construction Company,
Fremont, where a few local lab
orers will be employed.
Increased employment at Camp
Perry should result if the National
Rifle and Pistol matches are re-
turned here in September ard if
the Second Corps Area approves
the plan to send over 1000 Anti
Aircraft National Guardsmen to
Camp Perry for s1mmer training.
While nothing official has been
announced regarding the local
state reservation, it is foregone
conclusion that 1949 will see much
more activity at Camp Perry than
in 1948.
f. O. ID. Outlook Good
There will be no reduction in
personnel at the Erie Ordnance
Depot through July /, in fact more
workers are to be employed, Col
onel J. f. McInerney, commanding
officer, stated Tuesday. The fis-
cal year at f. o. d. does not end
until that date.
Colonel Mclnerney expects the
employment situation at Erie
Ordnance Depot to remain firm
during 1949, although that de-
pends on the budget allocated by
the Army for the next fiscal year.
No cut in the appropriation for
f. o. D. is contemplated, Colonel
McInerney stated.
"Our employment ceiling has not
been reached. We are still hiring
workers, especially artillery re-
pairmen," the commander added.
At the present time, 1174 civil
lians and 80 military personnel
are employed at the Erie Ordnance
Depot. The monthly payroll is
100000. Port Clinton business
firms also share partly in the
$4,000 materials budget each
month.
AS many local persons are en-
ployed at EOD, Colonel McIner-
ney's optimistic predictions are
indeed good news to the commun-
ity.
Standard Outlook
While auto model changes neces-
STATED g small temporary lay-off
last week at the Standard Products
company, Division Manager L. S.
Larson is hopeful of a pick up by
March and expects the average
employment of 800 persons to re-
main stationary during 1949.
Our business is dependent on
the auto industry and we expect
this seasonal slump to be remedi-
died by March," Mr.. Larson stat
ed. He added that prospects for
continued employment of the pres
ent staff is good. Yearly payroll
at the Standard Products company
is $2,O00,000 and the company's
Importance in Port Clinton's econ
omic future cannot be over-esti-
mated.
Record Year at L. S. G.
While there is a leveling off in
product demand, B. E. Welty. man
ager of the local U. S. Gypsum
Company plant, predicts full en-
ployment during 1949.
Mr.. Welty stated that 1948 was
a record year for the industry and
that he expects 1949 to be another
banner year.
Between 500 and 600 workers
are employed at the local U. S.
Gypsum plant, and the annual pay
roll totals $1,500,000.
To Hire More Workers
Joe Zetzer of the Port Clinton
Marine Company stated that pres