The Omaha guide., 1955-11-04
No Comment

If you could have attended the Congressional hearings on auto
nation you would have headr convincing testimony that automation
Is absolutely essential for the Nations industrial development.
Attenuation has been pictured by some a a scare word. some
thing to be feared. ;. something that will throw millions out of work
by replacing them with machines.
Actually automaton should be regarded as a miracle word. some
thing which will raise the standard of living for the United States and
for the world. :. and something that actually will increase overall
employment.
Just what is automadon? Well, you are going to be surprised
at some of the information developed during the hearings before a
subcommittee OF the Joint Congressional Committee on the Econo-
mic Report.
Attenuation really got its start, the subcommittee was told
millions of years ago when our ancestors got tired of doing every
thing with their hands. One day one Of our Granddaddies discovered
that jagged pieces of flint were better than his bare hands for doing
certain work.
This sounds elementary today but at that time it vas a revolu-
tionary development And, believe it or not, that was the real begin
ming of automaton.
Ever since then people have sought ways to increase their eff
cieny and output by using tools and machines instead of muscles.
As a result, modern America has led the world in the application
Of scientific progress to the satisfaction of human wants and has con-
stantly opened up new frontiers for the betterment of all mankind.
From our beginnings In the dawn of the steam age, we have ad-
vanced steadily into new worlds-of electricity, of the internal COM
buaion engine, of powered flight, of communications, of transporta-
ton, of electronics and, now, of atomic power.
Now there have been developed ingenious control mechanisms,
such as the electric eye, mechanical brains, and other intricate cleo
tronic and radiation devices, which can direct and control the opera
ton of machines.
The production engineer has at his disposal a variety of machines
and devices for controlling them which, when put together in proper
sequence, can turn out a continuous flow of massproduced products
or materials without human hands touching them during the manu-
featuring process.
This is "automation". It is a new word. Yet these control de-
vices arr not new. The essential features of automation have been
applied in a number of fields for many years, such as petroleum re-
fneries and the production of certain chemicals, some kinds of food,
paper and the refining of ores. The production of cigarettes is an al
most wholly automatic process. The dial system for telephones and
vending machines for selling various forms of merchandise are other
examples.
1t would be idle to contend that automation will not bring about
major changes in the economy. If it did not, there would be no
purpose in all the work of the scientists who are developing this tech
biological concept and the production engineers who r conceiving
ways to put it to work in the service of the American people.
But it is estimated that the reallocation problem arising out of
automaion will involve only about $780, 900 jobs over a twentyyear
period. This is hardly alarming when we recall that as great a shift
was accomplished in four years, with very little difficulty, during
the reconversion period following the World War II peak.
Remember that, by 1875, it is anticipated the population of Ameri.
ca may rise to as much as 20 million people. To provide for this
additional so million, and to continue to improve our living standards
as they have improved in the past, we should aim at producing twice
the volume of goods and services by that time that we enjoy today.
However, our labor forces will have increased only by onethird,
even assuming there will be a many people wanting work in proper
ton to total population as we have now.
Obviously, unless we can bring about a so percent increase in the
average output of goods or services by the Individual worker, re will
not reach our goal.
To reach our goal we must make the breakthrough into automatic
operation as soon as possible. The faster we can do so. despite the
obstacles, the more rapidly we will reach our objective.
Life in American then will be richer, better, more rewarding-
with greater opportunities for the young, increased satisfaction for
adults, and more tranquility and comfort for the aged.