Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-21
Gun Factory
Assured Work
For IS Months
Navy Is ChonneIing
$40 Million More
Into Installation
BY JOHN A. GILES
star stan Writer

The Navy has promised to
channel upward Of $40 million
In additional work into the
Naval Gun Factory in the next
year to keep it in business.
The action, following stories
In The Star calling attention
to doubt over the future of
Washington's largest industrial
plant, means that the present
work force of some $500 per-
sons is assured employment for
more than 10 months.
II the factory satisfactorily
completes the new work, key
personnel have been told that
can 'look ahead to 1862" at
least.
Present work at the factory
approximate $50 million an
nllally. The additional alloca-
tons Of work are designed to
bring the facility nearer to full
capacity operations.
Many Shops Idle
Most Of the money will be
used to get the idle shops hum
ming again. A far lesser portion
Of the first ALLEGATION will be
used for engineering. The
factory is expected to receive
official release of the funds
within the next week.
Additional work to be allo-
Gated the plant was outlined
to top personnel at a special
meeting. The work involves
guidance systems for missiles
and fire control devices which
are necessary for such opera
tons. Several of the projects
are highly classified.
Factory personnel. along
with business leaders and ALL
CIO executives. have been con-
cerned with the future OF the
158-year-old installation which
has a $50 million payroll.
A House subcommittee went
into the question of lack of util-
ization of such facilities while
the military spends billions
duplicating them for private OPP
erations. It was during those
hearings that Representative
Landlord. Democrat Of Mary
land, sharply questioned Assis-
tant Navy Secretary Fred A
Bantz in detail as to the fac
tory's utilization.
The Secretary called the plant
a sob shop" which he said was |
uneconomical.
Practically Abandoned
The hearings resulted from
earlier disclosures in The Star
Of the practical abandonment
of Indian Head Md Naval
Powder Factory which is now
called the Naval Propellant
Plant as the result.
Indian Head has Just been
awarded an additional So mil
lion and upwards of 500 work.
ers have been rehired.
A Friends of the Naval Gun
Factory" committee was formed
by representatives of business,
civic and labor organizations.
The committee sought an APP
pointment with Navy Secretary
Gates in order to ask permits
sion to make an independent
survey of the Gun Factory
Russell M. Stephens, president
of the American Federation of
Technical Engineers and CO.
chairman of the committee es-
timated the study would cost
$4,000.
The committee yesterday re-
ceived a reply from Mr.. Bantz
advising it could contact. his
aide for an appointment with
him.
Only a year ago the Navy
issued an order closing the Gun
Factory. 1t later was rescinded.
The Washington Board of
Trade was told last July to ex-
pect a cutback in personnel to
$500. 1t has been estimated
that the present assigned work
load would keep the factory
operating for only 18 months.
Rear Admiral T. v. Ahroon,
assistant chief of the Bureau
of Ordnance, told the special
meeting of some 100 factory
employees Thursday, that the
new assignment would be
"phased in" gradually over the
next several months.