Evening star., 1951-12-14
143.Wing AT Plan
May Cause Doubling
OF Aluminium Output

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The Government is considering
further expansion Of aluminium
production. thereby raising output
to more than twice the pre-Korean
supply to meet the demands Of
the projected 143-wing Air Force.
If the expanded aircraft pro-
gram gets under way. it will mean
that the aluminium shortage will
continue through the final quarter
of 1852. according to Manly
Fleischmann. Defense Production
administrator.
Discussing his approval of tax
benefits for q "a. .000-ton aluminium
plant to be built by the Anaconda
Copper Co. and the Harvey Ma
chinery Corp, Mr.. Fleischmann
said yesterday military demands
for materials for the second
quarter are bigger than expected.
within the last few days." he
said, "the military services have
placed before us substantially
larger requirement figures than
had heretofore been established.
These requirements have In
creased the necessity for speed
ing up in every way possible the
construction program for provid-
ing aluminium and may, in fact.
require us to seek additional
sources of supply as rapidly as
possible"
$4,000 Tons A Year.
The pre-Korean aluminium out
put was at the rate of 692. 900
tons a year. The expansion pro-
gram now under way will furnish
an additional 5000 tons. The
Anaconda Harvey plant at Kalis-
pell. Mont, completes the cur
rent expansion program.
Erection of plants to produce
aluminium will mean an addi-
tional cut out Of the structural
steel supply. This is now so tight
that the National Production Au-
thority announced today that
only 10000 tons were allotted
general commercial construction
for the first quarter Of 1852 as
compared with requirements that
had been put at 81, ,995 tons.
The Government already has
aided. through tax benefits, alu-
minum production facilities esti-
mated to cost $647, ,795. 900. The
tax benefits permit q company
to write of in five years plant
costs which ordinarily would be
deprecated over a 20-year pc
riod.
Revived Plants Not Counted.
Additional aluminium plants
put back into operation after be-
ing closed do not figure In this
total.
DPA disclosed that. as of Nom
day. tax certificates had been is
sued to 4,732 applicants on prof.
ects having a total value of sos
billion. These include facilities Of
all kinds deemed necessary to the
defense program.
An analysis of the applications
approved through October 19I
showed that Ohio industries re-
ceived more certificates for rapid
tax writeoffs than those OF any
other State. In Ohio, 421 COM
panies received certificates forI
projects involving investment of
O total Of $727 million.
Bigger Pennsylvania Plants.
Pennsylvania concerns receiving
certificates were fewer In number
-405-but the total cost was
greater-$1.2 billion-while 375I
certificates went to California
companies representing proposed
investment of 1866 million.
The NPA announced allocation
of $50, ,285 tons of structural steel
In the first quarter Of 1852 forI
industrial expansion. This COM |
pares with total Of 54S.44 tons
requested.
OF the total, 81 per cent wa,
assigned to direct military and
defense supporting industries.
This total. 313.651 tons, also ISL
20 per cent of the entire 1.425 ,000l
tons Of structural steel estimated
available In the first quarter OF
1852.