Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 45, Number 309, 9 November 1920 — Page 25

Factories of City Manufactured 6, Many Products for Use of Army , and Navy During Time of Strife

Without the production of necessary equipment for the United States army and navy, success in the World war would have been impossible. Throughout the war it Was necessary to form organizations to speed up, and at times insure, the production of various required articles. Local persons, aware of the need of organization for war-time production! met with business men of 10 counties adjoining Wayne and formed the Richmond sub-region "war resources committee, No. 10. Thj3 action was taken at the request of the government, in July. 1918. This committee was continued until the signing of the armistice. Nov. 11, 1918. Elect Robinson Chairman H. R. Robinson, of the SwayneRobinson company, of this city, was chosen general chairman of the Richmend division. Other officers selected included F. J. Bartel, treasurer; E. M. Haas, secretary; and ffliiman Jones, assistant secretary The Richmond committee acted in co-operation and under the supervision of Edwin C. Gibbs, regional supervisor, with headquarters in Cincinnati, O. Immediately following the organization of the local region, 245 industrial firms in the 10 counties not only organizezd and financed the efforts of this region, but enthusiastically and loyally offered their services and the output of their plants to the service of the government. The 10 counties forming the region included Blackford, Union, Delaware, Rush, Henry. Jay, Fayette, Randolph, Franklin and Wayne. Aim of Organization The part taken by the industries of this city in the production may be divided under the following four heads: (1) The furnishing of the regu'ar standard products of these 'ndustries directly and indirectly to the government. (2) The contracting by the industries to furnish special parts or products to the government, directly or indirectly. (3) The co-operation of the employes and the executives of the various industries to further the interests of the United States in the war. (4) The formation by the business men of the 10 counties adjoining Wayne of the Richmond sub-region war resources committee. No. 10. Under the first heading Wayne county was able to perform quite a service, due to the fact that a large part 'of its industries' products was in that class of preferred materials which the government needed. These products were agricultural implements, underwear, gloves, clothing, machine tools, gas helmets and food supplies. These products were furnished in large quantities during the entire war period. Special Parts Made A large number of special parts were made in this county. These articles come under the second heading. Parts furnished included airplane propellers, balloon valves, brass oil containers, tables, chests, field ovens, tractor parts and several other government requirements. Among the foremost in the production of special parts were the Wayne Works, Starr Piano company, United Refrigerator company, Swayne-Robinson company, and the Johnson Auto Sheet Metal Works. Co-operation of employes and executives of the various industries was especially noteworthy. Practically all who volunteered thcMr services or were called into service were specialists in their particular line. Among the executives who played an important part were James A. Carr, of the American Seeding Machine company, who filled the position of chairman of the allied purchosing committee, cooperating with the war industries board; Walter H. Bates, of the same company, who acted as trade adviser of the War board. He was one of eigtit men who made the rules governing the report of all merchandise. And H. R. Robinson, as general chairman of the 10th subM-egion war resources committee. Others Volunteered Service In addition to these men, there were several more of the executives of Wayne county industries who volunteered for service in. the various departments of the United States government. Forming Of the war resources committee proved one of the biggest assets in local government production. This committee co-operated with the resource and conversion committee hoard of Washington, whose purpose was to obtain to the fullest extent the full co-operation of these industries in supplying the much needed materials of the United States. P.lue prints were sent by the government to the local committee, giving specifications and required measurements of needed articles. Bids were made by the manufacturers direct to the government. Among the factories of this city contributing its products in the interest of winning the war were the Starr Tiano company, Swayne-Uobin-son company, .Reebe Glove company, Johnson Sheet Metal company, Richmond Malleable Castings company, and the Vajen Helmet company. While the following tells of the work produced by these companies, its by no means intends that these concerns were the only ones in fhis community that contributed loyally and patriotically in support of the government. Every one of the 245 industries that were listed in this region did its part, with but one purpose; in mind patriotism. Develop Gas Valve Diagrams and details of equipment of the factories comprising the Staar Piano company were furnished the go eminent, upon request, shortly following the entrance of America into the war. In response, the government sent inspectors to the plant, who pronounced such equipment and plant very desirable for war production. Commencing early in June "and continuing until the- armistice was declared, woodworking of every type, airplane parts, such as wings, rudders, stabilizers and propellers, filled the Starr factory. Great quantiea of toggles, battens and load rings were produced by the plant, culminating in the gas valve, regulating the gas in the ordnance observation balloon. This valve, which was of great value to the government, was developed, produced and patented bv the company. At the tinie of thei

armistice such large quantities t of of these gas valves, (U well as .airplane parts, were in production that all commercial production of the company was repressed. Ninety-five per

cent, of the plant was engaged in warj wors. uraers lor compjeieu iikiuiuk planes in which to install the Liberty. Eight motor were being received at the signing of the armistice. By order of the government, land along the Pennsylvania railroad west of the city was acquired for an airplane landing field, and on the day the armistice was effected workmen were on the ground starting to prepare the ground and build hangars for the completed airplanes. About 800 operators were in war production in the plant at that time; 247 were in the service from the factory plant and from the different warerooms of the company scattered throughout the country. Held War Contract Swayne, Robinson and company made a contract with the United States government in the fall of 1917 and production on the same was continued uninterruptedly until the end of the war. Material involved in this contract was different eizes of rectangular brass oil containers for gun caissons, gun battery wagons and tore limbers. The amount involved in this, contract was about $500,000. A second contract was made indirectly with the United States government through the Midvale Steel and Ordnance company of Phi'adelphia for a somewhat similar product, but made of sheet steel instead of brass. Both of these contracts were delivered to the full extent of the contract, almost without exception, on contracted delivery dates, and without rejection or refusal of any parts delivered to thf government. Made Helmets Beginning in the summer of 1917 and continuing until the latter part of 1919, the Vajen Helmet company of this city furnished a large number of Its products to various branches of the government for use in war work. The Vajen helmet is a self -contained type of helmet used as protection against gas smoke and fumes. It differed from the army gas masks by rejison of it furnishing an independent supply of fresh air to the wearer while the gas masks filtered a certain percentage or impurities from the air which is breathed. It is a standard product of the local company, and when the government needed such devices the output was promptly turned over to war uses. The United States shipping ' board emergency fleet corporation equipped almost a thousand of its vessels with this helmet, and other government orders included the Great Lakes naval training station. Fort Mc Henry, Md., United States ordnance department, shell-filling plant, Edgewood, Md., and the following army cantonments: Camp Meade, Md.; Camp Sherman, O.. Camp Devens, Ayers, Mass.; Camp Mills, N. Y., and Camp Funston, Kas. Make Rifle Grenade's Rifle grenades were furnished in larne quantities by the Richmord Malleable Castings company. From the start of its contracts in January. 1918, SO per cent of its entire outpu went to the government. Approxi mately 300,000 rifle grenades were; shipped the government during tiie; contract. ! Workmen of the plant pledged thirj patriotic support and sent the pledge; to President Wilron. One of the! treasured records of the war now in j tne possession or me company iiuacknowledgement received from the president following the sending of the pledge. From nine to 10 months were devoted to filling government contracts by the Beebee Glove company. The company had contracts with individual concerns for seven or eight months ahead. These contracts were temporarily cancelled and government orders given priority. Gloves and mittens totalling 120.000 dozens of one number and 50,000 dozens of another number were shipped during the contract. Wherever possible the company encouraged giving girls work in departments so as to release boys and men for war service. Made Gun Stoppers Suspension of work jn touring bodies was found necessary by the Johnson Sheet Metal company in order to help in supplyirg the government with necessary equipment. Beginning in July, 19 IS. the company furnished about 9,000 ambulance water cans, 1.500 sponge cans for bread-making in armv cantonments. 900 six-quart oil cans, and stoppers for four-inch field gutis. The United States Refrigerator company made tables for hospitals. Wayne Works Contracts The first order received by the Wayne Works was in the summer of 1917 for ration and provision carts. Work on this order was begun in August, 1917, and the plaiy; operated its vehicle department and forge shop to practically full capacity on this order until the spring of 191S. Its record as to quality of production and promptness of deliveries was so satisfactory to the government officials that without solicitation an additional order as large as the original specifications was placed. Production of this order was immediately begun and although the company had be,on given until Jan. 1, 1919, to complete the work, the last shipment on the second specifications left the plant in October, 1918. The company received high commendation from the government for its efficiency. In December, 1917, the company secured an order for government army field ovens, these being large asbestoslined ovens in whicft 000 loaves of bread could be baked at a time. The sheet metal department was turned over entirely to this work, and a large order received in December was finished and completed in September. 1918. The majority of the carts and' practically all of the ovens were crated for export and shipped direct to tidewater points. It is an interesting fact that Major Comstock, of this city, who was inspector general of his division, found Wayne-made products in service in the fall of 1918 just back of the front lines. In the early spaing of 1918 the-company had taken a large order for cartridge chambers, bombs and other ordnance material, in .conjunction with

i - . p ' " Honored by France and Italy ; 1 ' 1 " - - - '-'r' ' ' ' ""

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M Si vta James A. Carr.

Called to Washington early in 1918, James A. Carr was appointed to be chairman" of the allied purchasing committee. He and his associate members made purchases for the allied governments totalling billions of dollars. In Recognition of his service, the French government made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and the Italian government conferred on him the decoration of officer of the 'order of Saints Maurizio e Lazaro. i. ; : 200 Army Mechanics Prepared By Auto and Tjuck Training School Organized for Richmond

Of the services rendered by Rich-' mond and Wayne county to prosecute the World War, the Richmond Commercial Club Training Detachment was an interesting one. In June, 1918, the Richmond Commercial club signed a contract for an automobile training school, to bo conducted by the government, and for the purpose of training nun for service in truck or automobile departments of the army. Eefore the armistice was signed in November, over 200 men had received 60-day courses of instruction, and a building costing over $30,000 had T)een built with full proi visions for caring for 1.000 men in an eight months contract which had just been signed. Government instruction schools had been in operation in many parts of the country, and when Kenneth V. Carmen, formerly supervisor of vocational training in the Richmond public schools, but who was at the government's request in charge of starting training camps in the south, emphasized the usefulness of such a school in Richmond, th? officers of the local Commercial club decided to start one here. Plan of Operation The plan by which the Commercial club operated the school was one of neither profit nor loss. The government, paid a certain amount for each man receiving instruction over a 60 days period, and it was so regulated that at the end of the course the. club would have back just exactly what it hail cost them to provide barracks, rations, and other equipment. Under the first contract made by the club, the old building on North Tenth street, formerly an oil mill, but then owned by the Hoffman Leaf Tobacco company, was obtained from the present owners free of charge. The company's only provision was that the building be returned to them at th? end of the training periods in as good condition as'it was when leased. This provision was inserted because changes were necessary to make the building comply with army regulations. A hot air furnace was installed on each of the three floors, and army inspectors provided the required measurements for air space and ventilation. Toilets and shower baths were placed in the building according to the best methods of sanitation. Overhaul Old Engines The basement of this old building was used for a repair shop, in which old automobiles and parts of engines were overhauled and repaired. Trucks were torn down and re-assembled; all under the supervision of competent instructors. Officers' quarters were located on the first floor of the building in one section, while in other parts of the two other factories nearby. This work was started and in progress at the time of the armistice, when orders were received by the company to discontinue further production. In the spring of 1918, 1n conjunction with the Piatt Tron Works of Dayton and the C. L. Best Gas Traction company of Dayton, the company took a contract for large quantities of the sixton army trucks. This work was in full progress at the time of the armistice. War wprk for the allies was started by the National Automatic Tool Company in May. 1915. From that time until Dec. 1919, practically the entire output of the plant was 100 per cent in the interest of winning the war. Of the 350 employes. 40 were women. The company had 75 of jts-men in the service. Machinery produced by the factory was used for the manufacture of machine guns, rifles, revolvers, gun carriages. Liberty airplane motors, Liberty trucks. Liberty tanks, Liberty tractors, ship windlasses, munition wagons, submarine engines and valves, emergency fleet engines and valves, torpedo boat destroyer engines and valves, and many other, waj necessities. ' .

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CAPT. C. E. ROBERTS 1 floor were the kitchen and dining I rooms. The second and third floois j were used as dormitories for the enI listed men. Practically S3 0.000 was expended by the Commercial club in convening the old factory into fitting quarters. All of this money, however, was returned to the club by the government, in its regular payments for each man served. i Captain Roberts, an army officer ! of experience and tact,' was sent from Camp Sherman, by th? govcrnnn n. jtoitake charge of the camp. His fj ficient and capable methods of hand1 ling the men were praised by citizens, j While a true dkipiinarian, he had the : respect of the school, as well as of .citizens of Richmond. ! Men Are Drilled ! During the time ho had charge of jthe school, July 1. to late in. November, the men und-r him received practical, as well as theoretical instruetion j in automobile work, and were drilled each day in a drill lot especially prepared. Three government trucks were -sent by the government to the school, to familiarize the men with truck driving and repairs. Calls Vere issued to local people to send in their auto mobiles if they needed repairing. In 'most cases it was asked that the cars ! be left at the camp tor the winter, su I that the men wodld have plenty ef j time for instructive work. Many iocal j cars were repaired free of charge in j this manner. j A drill ground just north of the old ' 1 .. 1. . I - . ; . udiiaiivs was .iseu lor some lime, nut finding the lots inadequate, a number of lots belonging to Harry C. Starr, lying just south of the Whitewater river, and east of North Tenth street,, were graded. Upon this ground the men of the camp received the major portion of their drill experience. Clear the Ground Beneficial results from the work done on and around this drill ground are still . to be appreciated. Much undergrowth which had spread in the swampy land near the river was cut out and removed by the men in training. This was done to eliminate mosquito breeding nests, which were likely to cause spread of disease. Before the end of the first contract of four months between the government and the Iocal club, it was evident that new quarters would have to he supplied to care for more men. With this idea in view the ground adjoining the old barracks on the south was secured and erection of a modernly equipped barracks started. This building provided a basement and two floors. Three furnaces were installed in th building, and very improvement and convenience over the old building was supplied. The second contract made by the. club with the government was for eight months, which provided for four courses of 60

days each. In this time it was ex-t Ofcted to (It 1,000 men for active ser

vice. , This second contract was to have started Nov. 1, 1918. . No Money Lost Signing of the armistice on Nov. 11, however, stopped the starting of this newly equipped training school. The building that had just been erected at a cost of $30,000, was sold to be torn down at $500. No deficit was sustained by the club, however; as an auditor and district inspector representing the government went over the accounts, making allowances for expenses and settling for differences. That the camp was a success from the standpoint of training for the soldier, and of benefit to the community has not been questioned. Records kept by Captain Roberts showed that an average of 12 pounds were gained by the men during each 60 days oottrse. As a precaution against a possible small rationing of the men, government Inspectors regularly arrived for inspection of the menu and Mtchen equipment. During the siay of the camp the men took part in parades and other civic programs and arrangements. At one time tne club treated the men to a picnic. After the camp was abandoned, the captain and a platoon of men stayed for nearly a month to take charge of packing and storing of the remaining supplies. The committee m charge of this camp, representing the Commercial club, were Howard Dill, chairmon; George Seidel and J. T. Giles, then superintendent of the Richmond public schools. CLEMENCtAU WAS STRONG CHARACTER OF RANCE Georges Clemenceau is a French statesman of strong personality. For several years he was a resident of America as a school teacher in Connecticut, but returned . to Fiance in 1869. He etered political life after the war of 1870-71. Owing to his great i power as a debater, he was one of the! most influential members of the Chamber of deputies. He has probably made and unmarlp morn mmitri than any other Frenchman of recent ! history. He was the editor of L'Homme Libre, ah influential French newspaper, which for a time he styled L'Homme Enchaine because of censorship difficulties. He became prime minister on Nov. 17, 1917, witli a program calling for a vigorous prosecution of the war. a rigid'suppression of treasonable intrigue, and a more liberal po'icy as to nqlitical censorship of the press. To LJm is given credit f the final determination of France win the war. The Industrial Welfare Commission of the State of Oregon recently issued orders fixing the hours of labor and a minimum wpge for minors ar.d women :n mercantile, manuf icturing, personal ervice. 1: undry, telephone and te?e'.r; ph and public housekeeping occupations.

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Two Years Have Elapsed Since the Signing of the Armistice

We Join in this Celebration with Hearts full of Thanksgiving and , Honor

The Miller-Kemper Co:

Lumber, Fine

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National Commander Col. F. W. Galbraith, On September 29, 1918, Colonel Frederick W. Galbraith, Jr., command ing the 147th Infantry, Thirty-seventh Division, performed the act of heroism which won for him the Distinguished Service Cross. Two years later to the day on Sep tember 29, 1920 Frederick W. Galbraith, Jr., was elected national com mander of the American Legion. Mr. Galbraith enjoys the distinction of having been both soldier and sailor in the course of his career. His early surroundings did not lack for military atmosphere, for he was born in Watertown, Mass., where a large government arsenal is located, and later at tended grammar school in Springfield, Mass., where there is a United States armory and from which city the American army rifle derives its name. Mr. Galbraith was graduated from the Nautical Training School at Boston, Mass.. in 1S93, and served as apprentice coxswain, third mate and second mate aboard American sailing ships following his graduation. In 1S98 he went to Cincinnati, becoming treasurer of the Western Paper Goods company. The national commander was commissioned major in the First Infantry, Ohio National Guard, in 1916, and was promoted to colonel the same year. In 1917 he was assigned to command the 147th Infantry, and remained at th? head of this Thirty-seventh Division unit throughout the war. The regiment was composed principally of the First and Sixth Infantry Regi

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Two years of Feace. Happiness and Plenty, and again the country .joins in the rejoicing. And to do honor to those living and dead who made this-peace possible

We Furnish

Millvvork & Builders' Supplies

We invite you to come and see us at our offices and yard at North West Secdnd street, between the Pennsy and G. R. & I. railroads. Phones 3247 and 3347

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of American Legion ments, Ohio National Guard. Commander Galbraith won the Distin- -guished Service Cross and the Croix de Guerre for heroism in action during the Meuse-Argonne offensive. He also participated in the St. Mihiel attack and served in the Baccarat and Ypres-Lys sectors. His citation for the Distinguished Service Cros reads: "For extraordinary heroism In - action near Ivoiry, France, September 29. 1918.' When an enemy counterattack was imminent, he went into the front lines under a violent artillery and machine-gun barrage, and by the coolness and certainty of his orders and the inspiring example of his personal courage reorganized his own command and took command of other units whose officers had been lost or diverted in the confusion of battle. Knocked down by a shell, he refused to be evacuated and continued his position and disposing the troops to a successful conclusion." At the first state convention of the American Legion held in Ohio. Mr. Galbraith was unanimously elected department commander. When his successor J. R. McQuigg was elected at the 1920 convention, the title of past department commander was conferred upon Mr. Galbraith and it was provided that he should be a delegate to all ' future conventions of th American Legion of Ohio. During the last year Mr. Galbraith. in addition to being Ohio department commander," saved as a member of the national executive committee of the Legion. EACH LEGION POST WILL HAVE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY An auxiliary unit .for each post of the American Legion in Indiana is the goal set by the department executive committee, and plans are under way for a drive to reach this goal. The executive committee instructed each of its members to appoint an organizer for his congressional district. This organizer, who will be a member of the woman's auxiliary, will visit each community of her district where there is a post of the Legion, and aided by members of the Legion, wiy endeavor to form a unit of the auxiliary in that community. Mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of Legion members are eligible for membershin in the auxiliary. The dues are 25 cents a year. There are now 50 chapters of the ' auxiliary in Indiana, with a membership of over 2,000. There are 308 rosts of the Legion, with a membership of about 40,000. FOLDING AIRPLANE WINGS John Weiss, of New York, has invented a foldable airplane wing which makes it possible to house the machine in a very small space, eliminating the danger of broken tips, smashed stays or struts.