The Iron Age 1918-06-20: Vol 101 Iss 25

late RON ACE New York, June 20, 1918 paar TWIST DRIUS Production Achievements of a Great Drill DETROIT TWIST DRILL COMPANY ---DETROIT, MICH TABLE OF CONTENTS - - - 1611 ADVERTISING INDEX - - - 438 Buyers’ Index Section $19 Contract Work Section.. 4 Clearing Houss . x : ean Help and Situations Wanted 400 as 2 Wanted Section......... 395 Business Opportunities. . 397 Professiona SOA = ! & June 20, 1918 NAGAR Bi awe ee St. ee. PLANaTe r ST.LOUIS STOCK OF. thy bE a PRODUCTSYS Hf dit 4 fet e OT ONLY #70 FILUTHE REQUIREMENTS: oF GENERAL MANUFACTURINGINDUSTR > BUTALSONTOIMEETHHENEEDS 7 INDUSTRIES PECULIAR a0 THE Sau TAND'SOUTHERNUSTATES® T7 dd 0 ies a Se 0) F Oe Nee PVT STRUCTU frit eS aS a 73 #dbiss, S15, a cect Lio Duss Ublslblaay New York, June 20, 1918 ESTABLISHED 1855 VOL. 10!: No 25 SS ae eee eS a7 rt Se gE 4 tes ae, GL hr ers ta a = hy, by RSS Charles Lundberg iS Wii! Where Small Chain for Bi- eycles, Etec., Is Assembled, the Tables are Staggered, Thus Giving the Operatives Better Light, and Using Space Economically. The drop lights hang in ball bearing sockets and consequently ulways perpendicular are N THE construction of the new plant of the within the organization itself. Methods of rout- | Diamond Chain & Mfg. Co., Indianapolis, is af- ing, perfecting operations to effect a saving of a forded an example of building a factory around’ second, or fraction thereof, here and there, the a business with a fidelity to detail that is seldom avoidance of waste motion, and the well-being of equaled. It is safe to assert that no home builder employees were thought out, and efficiency and ever gave more thought and study to his contem- scientific management as they existed elsewhere plated domicile than did the department heads of were carefully studied. Several plans were drawn the company, and the manner in which they to illustrate suggested lay-outs, production sys- achieved their object and the plan they adopted for tems and routing. The better to visualize the moving a busy organization with its great equip- buildings as it was finally determined to build ment from five separate plants to the new and cen- them, small models were made. The final de- tral one may be helpfully agentes: The company cision was to build two parallel buildings of -re- has about 1000 employees and between 600 and 700 inforced concrete, one of four stories and the machines. The new factory stands on a site of other one story, as illustrated herewith. The six acres at West Street and Kentucky Avenue. qualifications which the buildings should possess Diamond chains are made for automobiles, bi- were broadly as follows: cycles, motor trucks, tractors and general power i atalino aciditet aati lacs ieee transmission. It follows that the parts of all the Must be capable of extension of any part or all the product are more or less similar, yet about 200 °"*., .. ne of standard desian so that building can be cor different models go through the plant, a fact that verted to other manufacturi: rae »pecarily : . : a Must be of economical construction was necessarily kept in mind during the determina Sines ‘cite signee eeaiaeemeaiae tion of a building lay-out and system of routing Must be well designed for daylight lighting which would follow straight lines to the utmost Siaae te eee ne eae degree. Must have the minimum number of harmful or disagree 70a : roara : ‘ sm « able conditions (such as furnace room heat exhausting It was foreseen years ago that progress and 2) aajoining department) consequent growth would eventually demand larger and better housing for both machines and The main building is 60 x 460 ft., and the employees. The study referred to was begun one-story structure is 80 x 300 ft. They are sepa 1585 1586 Applieation of Diamond Roller Chain on Motor-to-Lineshaft Drive. The chain is here shown with its protecting cas: rem@yed. In the ceiling are inserts on approximately 3 ft centers, to which hangers, etc., may be bolted rated by a courtyard 20 ft. wide and connected by two passageways, each 20 ft. in width. It may here be stated that 20 ft. is a standard in both buildings, all bays and distances between pillars being of that width. The floor space of the main building is not impaired by stairways or elevator shafts, these, as well as locker, wash and toilet rooms, being contained in projecting bays, two of which are at the front of the building and three at the rear. All columns in the main building are round, and mushroom out to a flat ceiling, leaving no crevices or corners in which dust may settle or projections to cause shadows. The ceilings are studded with 10,000 inserts on approximately 3-ft. centers, to which shafting, etc., may be bolted. The four-story building was made 60 ft. in width for the reason that experts have decided upon that width as the desirable maximum for a multiple-story building where good lighting is desired. The windows are of metal frame with factory-ribbed glass, except that a line of clear glass was placed at eye level, permitting the employees to look out, a privilege which is sel- dom -abused and which, as others have agreed, makes for more contented people. On the facing page is a diagram showing the de- partments and the order in which materials pro- gress from the raw stock room to the storeroom for parts and finished chain. Auxiliary to these are four other departments. From the raw stock room, adjacent to the receiving department, both Handling Heavy Machinery with an Electric Truck THE IRON AGE June 20, 1918 being in the one-story building, material goes to the punch press, forming, milling and screw ma- chine departments, these being termed orginating departments. These are on different floors, the heavier presses being on the first for obvious rea- sons, but the routing is so arranged that on all floors the flow of chain parts in process of manu- facture is in one direction, this being preserved until after their assembly and double inspection on the fourth floor; the finished chain then de- scending to the first floor, at one end of which is the storeroom for finished chain and parts, this room being adjacent to the shipping room. Dust, Heat and Gases Segregated The washing and rattling, hardening and an- nealing, bluing and polishing departments, with well-designed intent were placed in the one-story building, so that the remainder of the factory might be entirely free from any possibility of dust, heat or gases, though it may be said that every precaution has been taken to keep free of these elements the departments in which they Deteil Bo. Items 8 TOME Remarks : Start: Fini + Machines, toole : May 7 : Way 20 SBarting to De ap. (see + end benches ‘ : heet #1) 41] pulleys d4acbine 8 t : @no countershafts to d« Shop t ’ : taken with sachines, ana Tool crib t t : @ll to be mowed in sucn Belt ‘ $ : : order that the machine | Teol Roo $ $ t : sho out will be ea- | Control : ' t : tlefied first by placing | Office ' : : : machines in east and carpenter ' ‘ t + then working #est toward Sho; ‘ : ' elevator. 148 10 lathes with Cc. 8. 5 loads jrinders and drill press 1 * Shaper with Cc. &. Ss Planer anid omell eiller sith ¢. 5. i e large ailler 1 «@ Seal. siller @ 2 Gril) presses e Benches etc $ °® 5 grin@ers ana Ce 3 2 loads Lethee and C. S. 2 » Miller 6 drill pres 1 ° Benches & etc 1 ° Contro: Office 1 - fool Crit ze Le 1 sew, benches etc n Tool barien & belt 1 “i Electrician = To ti. l------------- 27 leads @ 5 track and trailer loads / day « 9 days j Extra time to set each. & coun | - ter shafte eet. 5 days. Tetal time = 12 days. sinning ac it Reproduction of Schedule Sheet for Moving the Plant originate. The washing and rattling is done by automatic machinery, the sawdust used in the rattlers, for instance, being drawn from railroad cars by a suction system, and screened before be- ing distributed to the machines. There are three coal-fired, case-hardening fur- naces, built by the American Incandescent Heat Co., so heavily encased in insulating brick that the temperature of the furnace room is very little above normal. In front of the furnace doors, as shown in one of the accompanying illustrations, is a conveyor which carries the boxes to the quench- ing tanks. The case-hardening boxes are packed on tables, the tops of which are on a level with the furnace doors, and as the tables have castors and can be pushed up to the hearth, a minimum of handling is necessary. When a furnace is emptied the boxes are drawn upon the conveyor which dumps the heated boxes on a grid which separates the case-hardening compound from the parts, the latter dropping into steel baskets submerged in quenching tanks. The baskets of quenched parts June 20, 1918 THE IRON AGE 1587 Rear View of the Diamond Chain Plant In the one-story building re the heat treating, washing, rattling and polishing departments, this arrangement eliminating possibility of dust, gases or heat invading the main manufacturing building The three bays shown contain elevator tairs and lavatories are then raised by a hoist on a monorail and car- manufacturing department and the main office. The ried over containers into which the parts are’ shipping department, the last in line of progres- dropped by releasing the dump bottoms of the’ sion, was located in proximity to the sales and baskets. The oil in_ the order departments. Still an quenching tanks is cooled by [— — other feature kept in mind passing it through coils in a | was to create a design which water tank. ae would allow the enlargement The one-story building, RECEIVING unlike the main structure, is of beam and girder construc- of every department without entailing any general rear- rangenient of the routirg. ° MILLING tion, every alternate bay hav- Twelve Ri Detethate P . . : } j welv isers istri ower ing a monitor for light and | ielaia renin cians ccncinannns ” ventilation. In addition to MACH. SHOP } WASHING . | | In the distribution of elec the departments named, this aaa oo attri \. [igeyeoian | tric power to the four floors, building will also contain fa- ceeae ae ae J Sail ream it was found expedient to use einen ‘ ° é MU | 7 | , . : cilities for inspecting raw EQUIPMENT) yanoenine "| WASHING. twelve risers, six on each side material before it is ac- aus << of the building, the wires be- cepted. ing carried in steel conduits. In laying out the various (imspecrion | The outlet boxes are regularly departments, the following, OF spaced at the sides, not oppo- among numerous other things, | a | site each other but staggered. were kept in mind: The main- || tigezone oie | Each riser can carry 100 hp., . ° ( TRA TK { ° tenance, including the car- orcas oir and all or any part of it can . | ARNO MPC DEPT ie | penter and machine shops, | be taken off at any floor. The electrician and storeroom for (eR) Caan Cee Deoous arrangement permits of great supplies, was placed on the Pn et CHAIN | CHAIN | flexibility in the distribution second floor where all would | |“3gemm) SNe Snape of power, and obviates the be most central to the produc- Na necessity of long exposed con- ° ° . MAIN OFFICE NSPECTION . . ing equipment. The engi- | (CENTIR WITH on duits or wires. One reason neering department was_ | |sroeémow *SSEMBLEC , « . | AND SH/PPING) that the flat slab ceilings do not lend themselves to carry- ing embedded conduits. All motors are suspended from and also with the main execu- the ceilings, there being fifty tive offices, inasmuch as it 7\5-hp. and fifty 5-hp. 220- has frequent calls to consult volt alternating-current mo- with the latter. The produc- | ee ee tors throughout the plant. tion and shop administration | cuaea nan Diamond roller chain is used on all motor - to - lineshaft offices were placed where they an | would be central with the ee drives instead of belts. and placed at one end of the build- ing on the second floor so that , cami it would be central with the ! } CHRIN for having twelve risers was manufacturing department SHIPPING DEPT Order of LVrogression from Raw Ma terial to Finished (“hain In all twenty-one main departments are indi cated The arrangement of depart ments is as follows One-story building Receiving and Inspection departments employees co-operative store raw stock depart ment: hardening department rattling department Four-story building First floor General office shipping room, punch press department and part stores Second floor Factor offices, exper mental department, supply tore, Cal penter shop, sprockets, electricians, belts, forming, machine hop and to room, milling, drilling. gaging, rean ing, countersinking Third floor Mue tual service sectior tutomatic screw machine department Fourth floor Bicycle inspection, automobile inspe tion, spinning. bicycle chair ‘ Stockroom in One-Storyv Building ne ito isse vy art f the New Offi 1588 illustration of it is shown herewith (the chain case being removed). In arriving at a determination in regard to artificial lighting, many kinds of lamps, shades and lights were tested, by photometer and other- wise, and the decision was to use 100-watt Mazda lamps in the shops, the glare being eliminated by the use of deep bow! shades. In the offices and the drafting room indirect lighting is used. The drops which carry the Mazda lamps are supported by ball sockets, and therefore always assume an absolutely perpendicular position, a little thing, perhaps, but one which gives a pleasing effect when the length of a shop is viewed. All the 20 x 20-ft. bays throughout the plant are lighted by four drops, and as a result of care in plac- ing machinery, they are interfered with in only a few instances by shafting or pulleys. The wir- ing of the building was so calculated that two to three times the horsepower now required for power can be carried and twice the current necessary fo lighting. The Diamond Chain & Mfg. Co. employs many women and girls and has given close attention to their efficiency as well as to their comfort and well-being. At the assembly tables, where the parts of large chains are placed together, the women are so placed that they do not face each other, this eliminating a tendency to unnecessary conversation. Each operative has to her right and left the parts to be brought together, and a man at the proper time pulls the chain along to the rivet spinning machine, where the parts are permanently fastened together. Shouid an assembler find a_ defective part, it be- ing a part of her duty to scan each piece she picks up, she drops it in one of two or three tubes or chutes directly in front of her, whence it is de- posited in a container conveniently placed under the opposite side of the table. The tables at which small chain is assembled are staggered with rela- tion to the windows, giving the operators better light, while the long tables do not project too far toward the center of the room. Wherever possible rivet-spinning machines are used instead of ordi- Where Assembling Is Done, Girl Workers are Seated in a Manner that Discourages Unnecessary Conversation In the aisle is shown a can in which parts are handled To be noted is the arrangement of hoist and monorail which enables one man to empty can on table THE IRON AGE June 20, 1918 nary riveters, much noise being thereby elimi- nated. Convenient Handling a Large Factor Throughout the shops, effort is everywhere ap- parent of the intention in the handling of the small parts which enter the company’s product to maintain a convenient level at which the pieces are handled. Metal cans or containers, for in- stance, are 18 x 18 in. square and 32 in. in height, the latter dimension being the height of the work tables. On one edge of the top of the cans are two prongs which project over the top of a table, and when in this position the cans are lifted from the bottom by means of a chain hoist on a mono- rail, one man thus being able to dump the con- tents of a can (about 1000 lb.) on a table with very little effort. To make the die blocks of the punch presses of the same height from the floor as the metal boxes, the presses are mounted on wooden platforms, correspondingly high chairs or stools being pro- vided for the operators. As they are finished, pieces are simply brushed aside and fall into the container. To stimulate foremen in keeping their depart- ments in spic and span order, with all unused tools in their proper places, aisles clear, contain- ers at their prescribed stations, etc., they are paid a bonus for excellence in this respect, and once every two weeks, executives accompanied by the foreman make an inspection and for whatever is found out of place or untidy, in violation of the rules, a deduction from the bonus is made. To carry material from one department to an- other, trucks of the lift type, drawn by electric tractors, traverse the aisles of the shops at high speed. The aisle space which must be kept unen- cumbered is indicated by lines painted on the floor. Throughout both buildings, the floors are of oil- dipped maple, laid on creosoted sleepers, all rest- ing on concrete. Light, power and steam are ob- tained from the public service company, which is a neighbor. In the buildings are 17 toilet and washrooms and eight locker rooms, all finished in white. Spe- The ‘Arrangement of Tanks and Monorail Hoist Allows Several Tanks being Placed Within Small Compass The case-hardening boxes are drawn from furnace to conveyor, thence to sifting grid at end of conveyor. This department is in building separate from main factory June 20, 1918 TLL ee ATT The Welfare Department Offices iccommodate the director of mutual service, editor of factory paper, physician, library, ete Adjoining the welfare cafeteria, not yet entirely complete At opposite ends of the first aid room are similar accommodations for men and a physician's office for examination purposes : One meeting of employees, for example, was addressed by British ind American officers who had seen ictual service “Over There.’ In the compartments to the right of the view of compan) grocery store are placed baskets containing purchases un- til the employee is ready to start for home offices isa location of the toilets, some of these being placed on a small mezzanine floor in the rear towers adjoining the cial attention was given to the proper stairs, space which otherwise wouid be wasted. In the hardening department a special wash room contains shower baths. The washing facilities elsewhere are of the long trough type, of white en- amel, the water being dispensed by sprinklers in- stead of from ordinary faucets, this not only econ- omizing the use of water, but making what is used thoroughly effective. Incidentally, one or all sprays may be turned on, a single man wanting to wash his hands finding it unnecessary to waste water. He simply turns a by-pass valve and gets enough for his needs. Drinking water comes from a well 400 ft. deep, drilled by the company, the water being distributed throughout the plant at fountains. As in most factories the expectorating habit creates something of a problem. The first cost of cuspidors is not great, but the cost of car- THE IRON AGE 1589 MUTUAL SERVICE SECTION ON FLOOR PART OF THIRD ing for them is considerable. The company has therefore decided to use paper receptacles, these being destroyed after use. To the welfare department 8000 sq. ft. on the third floor has been assigned. It contains a cafe- teria, restroom, library, physician’s office, where examinations may be made with privacy, a room for first aid treatment, a nurse being in a bed for women and another for men in separate rooms, a room for the director of mutual service and another for the editor of the factory paper en titled “Scraps.” The company conducts a complete grocery store, a view of which is shown herewith. An employee, on coming to work, leaves his order and before he leaves for home the order is filled and his purchases are placed in a basket. The basket is placed in one of the several compart ments shown to the right of the picture, where it can be located without delay. The employee takes it home when he goes. The company, it may be charge; 1590 added, was the first in Indianapolis to go “over the top” 100 per cent strong in the “war chest drive” beginning May 20. The amount of money sub- scribed was $26,232.23 with 50 employees absent. Great attention has been given to accident pre- vention. Elevators cannot be moved until the gates are closed, moving parts are protected, and all piping is painted distinctive colors in accord- ance with a standard code. Created Department for Removal The company is not yet entirely housed in the new plant, although everything is in readiness. Moving a plant of magnitude, meanwhile not in- terfering with production, required no little study. It could not be done all at once without a pro- tracted shut-down, and the utmost care was neces- sary to avoid confusion and the temporary break- ing down of a department in a way that would hold up manufacture. Therefore a special depart- ment was organized, composed of members of the various departments, a chief appointed, etc., and the work functionalized. It is the duty of those assigned to devote themselves exclusively to it. Outside help was employed, of course, but the “details” from the various departments were to see that everything went right. A schedule was devised covering the period from March 11 to July 24, which designated not only the day and hour each department or part thereof was to move, but the number of loads re- quired, and the time which should be consumed. Departments which could not be disturbed, even for a short time on a week day, were transferred Saturday night or Sunday. So far the system has proved satisfactory. The following illustrates the manner in which the removal of the departments was scheduled, the sheet reproduced herewith showing how the removal of the machine shop, tool crib, toolroom, carpenter shop, etc., was managed. Altogether there were twenty-seven loads and as three truck and trailer loads were moved daily it required nine days for the trans- fer. Three days additional were required to set machinery and counter shapes, according to esti- mate. Association of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers The twelfth annual convention of the Association of Iron and Steel Electrical Engineers will be held in the Southern Hotel, Baltimore, Sept. 9-14 next. A tentative program of papers has been prepared for the meeting as follows, in addition to those which will be presented by the standardization, electrical develop- ment and safety committees: “Methods of Education for Electrical Employees of Iror and Steel Mills,” by the Educational Committee “Remote Controlled Sub-Station,” by W. T National Tube Co., McKeesport, Pa. “Automatic Engine Stops,” by Walter Greenwood, safety engineer, Carnegie Steel Co., Youngstown “Standardization of the Rating of Large Motors,” by K. A. Pauly, General Electric Co., NZ. “Practical Method of Selecting Carbon Brushes,” by Alfred Mullhaupt, Jr., Corliss Carbon Co., Bradford, Pa. “Bridge Motors for Cranes,” by R. H. McLain, Genera electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y. “Condensers and Condensing Engineering Practice,” by D. D. Pendleton, Wheeler Condenser & Engineering Co., Pitts burgh. “Roller Bearings for Cranes,” by P. B Orange, N. J. “Installation and Operation of Auxiliary Drives,” by J. D Wright, General Electric Co., Schenectady, N. Y. “High-Tension Installations under Severe Conditions.” by Jas. Farrington, La Belle Iron Works, Steubenville, Ohio “Electrically Driven Mills, Showing Tonnages, Costs, etc..’ by J. T. Sturtevant. “60-Cycle versus 25-Cycle for Steel Mills,” Crocker-Wheeler Co., Ampere, N. J. Snyder, Steel Mill Schenectady Liebermann, East by J. E. Fries THE IRON AGE June 20, 1918 Exacting Inspectors of War Material The following account of some of the difficulties man- ufacturers are having with Government inspection is given by the New York Commercial: Federal inspectors rejected several hundred pounds of common bolts for airplanes because they weighed 6 oz. more to the hundredweight than the specifications called for, and also a large quantity that did not come within the thousandth part of an inch of the set meas- urement, none of which varied from it by the hundredth part of an inch. It is possible to make such parts with greater exactness than this bolt factory did, but it would more than double the cost and also consume the time of two or-three times as many men who would have to be employed in finishing them by hand. Manufacturers are exasperated by such rejections when the departure from set standards are of no importance. To speed up production of airplanes and other war materials, American manufacturers must use auto- matic machine tools. If an automatic machine for working steel is set to the thousandth part of an inch the wear on the cutting tool will soon cause a micro- scopic departure from that standard. To be accurate within the thousandth part of an inch the machinist would have to stop the machine after every cut, caliper the product with a micrometer and adjust the tool and make a test cut, which would also have to be calipered. A manufacturer might as well scrap his automatic ma- chines as use them in that way. An old-fashioned lathe would do more work under such conditions. Take the lot of bolts that weighed 6 oz. more than the specified hundredweight. That represents a departure of about one-third of one per cent, or one three-hun- dredths, from the standard. Before those bolts passed through the various hands and became part of a finished airplane they would lose that 6 oz. and more by attri- tion. Such inspection is ridiculous. In the case of the nuts, they would lose more than the thousandth part of an inch in being screwed on with a wrench, and what wrench would find the difference of a thousandth or a hundredth part of an inch, which is less than the human eye can perceive without the aid of a micrometer or a vernier gage? There are not enough skilled ma- chinists in the United States to finish parts for 40,000 airplanes to such fine measurements in five years. Tests of Gray-Iron Castings Made from Steel Scrap in Electric Furnace A description of the process of making pig iron and iron castings direct from scrap steel in an electric fur- nace was published in THE IRON AGE, Aug. 30, 1917. It was stated in the article that castings made and used by the company producing electric cast iron from scrap gave better satisfaction than the same kind purchased in the open market. Tests have been made at Colum- bia University on bars cast from pig iron made by this process. The results are as follows: Bar No. 1 No. 2 Tensile strength, lb. per sq. in.... . 45,030 40,730 Modulus of rupture, Ib. per sq. in... 71,440 71,500 PUIG a tbs ee TRE CAP AR SN Ababa’ Fine Fine granular granular Per Cent Per Cent Total carbon .. ‘ pe ce id ‘a ee 3.40 Ree EIEN HOMIE <ic’ a> ein a tacnlada ww eae Ge Wik ere le 2.54 2.67 ae Se eae een 0.72 9.73 ee Hae Awake’ bah eae eee eee 1.50 1.91 NN te at a ie i ane ee oe eile ie 0.41 0.42 So ge EE ERE ROSCOE eee yo ee 0.020 0.022 SNE isa Wlbla ta ac ae wih eh a arb a ee eae e 0.012 0.010 The tensile tests were made on rough square bars instead of machine turned round bars, as is customary. It is claimed that considerably higher results would have been obtained on machine turned bars. It is reported that the Yankee Steel Co. of America will build a plant near Sharpsville, Pa., under the direc- tion of Ephraim Truxall, 1014 Union Bank Building, Pittsburgh, who is president of the company. June 20, 1918 Bethlehem to Build New Shipyard The Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Bethle- hem, Pa., will build a new shipyard at Alameda, Cal., on San Francisco Bay, to be known as the Liberty plant. The new yard will have 10 shipways and com- plete shops for fabricating steel and making engines, boilers and other ship equipment. Machinery will be purchased soon. A similar shipyard may be built somewhere on the Atlantic Coast, though the matter is being held in abeyance for the present because no ar- rangements have been concluded for housing facilities for workmen and their families. The Emergency Fleet Corporation will furnish the capital necessary for the expansion at Alameda. The yard will build troop ships of 25,000 tons displace- ment for the War Department. The New York Ship- building Corporation, Camden, N. J., which is greatly expanding its plant, will also build troop ships of the same type in the new part of its shipyard. The Fleet Corporation will also authorize the New- port News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va., to build a new plant at Richmond, Va., for the manufacture of reciprocating engines and boilers. It was considering plans for the doubling of the plant of the Sun Shipbuilding Co., Chester, Pa., but this project has been abandoned for the present. Many contracts are being entered into with small boiler shops throughout the country for the fabricating of boilers for merchant ships. Copper Consumption and Exports in War Time The part played by copper in the war is clearly brought out by the following table showing American consumption and exports in the last five years in pounds: Domestic Consumption Exports 1917 1,316,463,754 1,126,082,.417 1916 1,429,755,266 784,006,486 1915. 681,917,955 1914 $40,080,922 1913 926,000,000 It is of interest to know that shipments of Ameri- can copper to our allies in 1917—well over a billion pounds—were more than the total smelter production of .this country no longer ago than 1911. In 1913 domestic consumption and our shipments to foreign countries about offset each other, with Germany our largest customer. In 1914, with its disturbance to all lines of American industry, our absorption of the metal was only 620,000,000 Ib., or less than one-half the meltings in 1916 and 1917. Now home consumption and exports are about equal, with Germany, of course, eliminated from the list of export customers. Fabricated Steel Business in May The amount of bridge building and structural steel contracting in May was about 7000 tons less than in April. According to the records of the Bridge Build- ers and Structural Society, collected by George E. Gif- ford, its secretary, contracting for May totaled 60 per cent of the country’s capacity or 108,000 tons, against 64 per cent for April. The total amount of business so far for the five months of this year is about 500,000 tons or 150,000 tons less than for the same period of 1917, or before the fabricated steel shipbuilding move- ment was a factor. The society voted at its meeting on May 10 to re- quest the Director General of Railroads to direct the railroads to issue acceptances to help “relieve a situa- tion that is rapidly becoming both burdensome and critical to all who sell to the railroads.” A movement is on foot to erect a suitable monument in memory of Frank H. Buhl, the well-known iron and steel manufacturer, who died at Sharon, Pa., recently. The matter has been taken up by the Chamber of Com- merce of Sharon and a committee was appointed to confer with Mrs. Buhl. Sharon, Farrell, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wheatland will unite in the me- morial. THE IRON AGE 1591 Ordnance District Offices of Greater Scope General Williams, acting chief of ordnance, has de- cided to place all the activities in each ordnance dis- trict under the supervision of a single head, and has nominated to fill the office of district chief in each dis trict the men who were formerly at the head of the production division in such district. The order was issued on June 15 and the following gentlemen are now district chiefs in their respective districts: Levi H. Greenwood, Boston; Waldo C. Bryant, Bridgeport, Conn.; E. A. Russell, Chicago; C. L. Harrison, Cincin- nati; Samuel C. Scovil, Cleveland; Fred J. Robinson, Detroit; John C. Jones, Philadelphia; R. M. Dravo, Pittsburgh; F. S. Noble, Rochester, N. Y. The New York district is vacant, owing to the resignation of Samuel G. Allen. Announcement will shortly be made of the appoin- tees to the offices of production division district man agers to fill the vacancies created by the above ap- pointments. General Williams also announces the organization of the group of manufacturing specialists, each of whom will specialize on a particular phase of ordnance pro- duction. W. W. Coleman, president Bucyrus Co., South Milwaukee, and A. L. Humphrey, president Westing- house Air Brake Co., Pittsburgh, will, for instance, specialize in the supervision of guns and carriages of all sizes and types. Until all the factories are produc- ing smoothly, Mr. Coleman and Mr. Humphrey will go from one plant to another, co-ordinating the manufac- ture of one part of a carriage or gun with the manu- facture of another part. Where a factory is engaged in making several kinds of munitions they will ignore everything but the products which they are co-ordi- nating. C. E. Davis, New York, an engineer and manufac- turer of experience, is assigned to supervision of the manufacture of fire control and other optical instru- ments required by the Ordnance Department. J. R. Harbeck, vice-president American Can Co., will supervise the operations of all loading plants, includ- ing those in which fixed ammunition is assembled and loaded, and also those plants in which the loading of larger shells with explosives, and preparation of com ponent charges for these larger shells is undertaken. J. M. Young, plant manager American Can Co., and Herbert Wolff, vice-president American Car & Foundry Co. at Chicago, will follow the machining of shells of various calibers for mobile artillery. H. H. Blood, Pratt & Whitney Co., Hartford, Conn., has been assigned to follow up production of fuses, boosters and adapters for shells of all kinds. George C. Brainerd, general manager Hydraulic Pressed Steel Co., Cleveland, will follow up the pro- duction of shell forgings. The services of this squad of specialists will not be required permanently, but until full production is obtained all along the lines they will continue to swing around the circle of zones from time to time. By keep- ing in touch with the district offices they will be able to keep the district chiefs informed of progress and methods in other districts. To Increase Brazilian Manganese Output The firm of Wigg, owner of one of the largest man- vanese properties in Brazil, expects to increase its pro- duction considerably. The mine is situated at Burnier, in Minas Geraeas, 300 miles from Rio de Janeiro. A new installation will consist of an electrical generator to develop 150 hp., thereby electrifying all the power requirement of the mine, replacing the 10 separate steam units now in use. It is expected that the produc- tion of the mine will be increased from 120 to 180 tons daily. What is claimed to be the smallest and lightest practical set of electrical testing instruments has been brought out by the General Electric Co., Schnectady, N. Y. The line includes alternating and direct current ammeters, voltmeters and wattmeters, which are ap- plicable to all commercial frequencies and wave forms. Barred Industrial Zone in Eastern States No New Manufacturing Plants to Be Built in It Because of Present Conges- tion and Impossibility of Getting Coal WASHINGTON, June 18.—What has been denominated a “red flag” zone, within which no more manufacturing plants will be allowed to established, has created by the joint edict of the War Industries Board and the Fuel and Railroad administrations. The re stricted area, which comprises the New England States, eastern and southern New York, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and eastern Maryland ex clusive of Baltimore, will be barred because it is already congested with steel works, munition plants, fac tories of all kinds and shipyards that it is practically impossible to secure adequate supplies of labor, coal and satisfactory transportation be been sO facilities for existing a PENSBURG ™@ . \" => J SH of oy V/TUTHERFDRD YARDS “Sh j ( ‘i A = * . | / 7 \ my f 5 “ ff 7 ah —= A r . , Z LN: aN } i “ « vue ‘ is aoe : 4 z * 3 jy" ) 2 * & SS ae POTOMAC TY / * 4 vs 4 YARDS Py, ic fl, - " ’ A A ae riRrs A _— eS | B ind Z. ‘ W concerns. This congestion has been progressive during the past six months and the only remedy is believed to be the drastc¢ step that For several weeks the the suggestion of the Fuel Administrator, has had the establishment of barred industrial zone sideration, but has hesitated to promulgate a tive order until after an exhaustive investigation could be made of the probable effect of prohibiting the estab- lishment of additional plants in so large and important With a view to expert opinion on the subject the project was reduced to brief memorandum together with a sketch map was submitted about a fortnight ago to the State fuel administrators in the region affected and to a few manufacturers operating which might has just been taken. War Industries Board, at a under con- restric an area as was proposed. obtaining a and , as typical plant i require enlargement to meet the demands of the Gov ernment. As the result of the wide circulation given to this memorandum a brief statement of the Govern- ment’s plan found its way into the and was promptly followed by a deluge of letters of inquiry and protest, as the result of which it was deemed advisable to issue the order without further delay. press No Coal for More Plants While it is intended that the restrictions embodied in the new ruling shall be carefully observed, a large measure of discretion will be exercised by the War Industries Board in considering applications for exten- Boston nASSACHUS, a7 } ? “_re f ca Y HARLEM CY , RIVER SS Ce fi $Y hiladelp! ia 5 A 4 ~ a Y of restricted ra | arstric? gateways —— = — J i Se ois eg an Ina rie Boar k | j \ sions of existing plants and in very meritorious cases for the establishment of new plants. The Fuel Ad ministrator has expressed the opinion that it is abso- lutely impossible to distribute more coal to the “red flag” district than is absolutely required to plants already established therein, and this opinion is based both on coal production and railroad facilities for operate its distribution. At the same time it is appreciated that there are some plants in the district which are making articles the production of which must be in- creased as a war necessity and that it is not practicable to secure such increase except by enlarging the exist ing plants. To establish additional plants outside the restricted area would uneconomical and in certain impracticable if impossible. Engineering difficulties, impossibility of securing experienced labor be cases not 592 — June 20, 1918 and the impracticability of establishing a divided super- vision stand in the way of increasing production in such cases by locating new plants outside the restricted zone. The shipyards embraced within the barred district are understood to be exempted from restrictions and more or less enlargement of their capacity will be per- mitted, although Director General Schwab of the Emer- gency Fleet Corporation is on record as opposing any very great enlargement of Atlantic seaboard yards by the construction of additional shipways. Southern yards, and especially those of the Gulf coast, will be encouraged to increase their capacity. In the case of all of the shipyards, however, the requirements as to coal, steel and other materials have been granted the highest priority, and if there is any shortage of fuel or materials in the new “red flag’ district the ship- yards will not be the establishments to suffer. Boundaries of Restricted District The eastern boundary of the restricted district is the Atlantic Ocean. The western boundary starts at the Canadian line in northern New York, a short distance west of Lake Champlain, runs south to Saratoga, thence southeast, skirting on their western limits the cities of Schenectady and Binghamton, N. Y., and Will- iamsport and Altoona, Pa. From Altoona the line runs due east to Shippensburg, thence southeast to Balti- more, which city it skirts on the east, after which it follows the Chesapeake Bay shore to a point near Claiborne, where it straightens out and runs due east to the Atlantic Ocean. Considerable thought has been given to the question of including the city of Schenec- tady in the barred zone because of the necessity of en- larging certain important plants manufacturing elec- trical apparatus, locomotives, etc., at that place. To protect the Albany gateway, however, it was finally decided to bring this city within the “red flag” area. Similar consideration was given to Altoona, but the importance from a railroad standpoint of that city, with its repair shops and great mileage of railroad tracks, induced the board to carry the boundary line to the west so as to include the entire municipal limits. The situation in Baltimore was found to be peculiar in that in spite of the proximity of Sparrows Point and other important manufacturing establishments there is still a good supply of labor and numerous desirable loca- tions for plants. It was finally decided to leave Balti- more outside the barred zone. From the standpoint of the iron and steel the new zone is of much importance. While it does not include the Pittsburgh district, it does embrace the Bethlehem and Midvale plants, the steel works and shipyards at Sparrows Point and all the manufacturing establishments in Delaware and New Jersey. No part of the district has it been more necessary to safeguard than Connecticut, with its hundreds of large and small factories, which have absorbed not only all the neigh- borhood labor but large importations of foreigners. The coal supply question has been of special importance in New England because of the severe winters, the difficulty of distributing coal even under normal condi- tions, and the fact that a large proportion of the ship- ping facilities heretofore relied upon for the distribu- tion of coal have been commandeered by the Navy De partment and the Shipping Board. The Official Order ndustry The official statement establishing the “red flag” district is as follows: \ 1 has be vcdopted and made effect | g& further ! eas ire Var l bet f estal h t y ! wr the ongested n facturing d tra port ct This district comprises the New I and St: ‘ er nd southern New Yo Pennsvivania as far west W ims port and Altoona a of New Jersev and Ds ware easterr Marviand, not clue Bal re Exceptions to this policy will be made onl) f unavoid- il through inability otherwise to provide for war needs The congested district comprises those East St which so large a proportion of war industri« s located as make t difficult to supp! all with necessa raw er l ar fue Tl difficulty obtains he ise for THE IRON AGE industries mined 1 the territor ve \] Mountair it must be carried into this congested by t limited number of railroad ihe ind by hip Hampton Roads and Baltimore The amount of coal, therefore vhich ca | tra t into this congested area during a1 season ind ji in entirel separate problem from the productior coal However much coa mined in western I syl W t Virginia and Ohi sé ich is availabl r conge district } ! i na I yn into it \ ireful i f 1x I il m nt \ that tl cT ed ind ! ti\ eas “ has created a requireme fe il which exceeds the of possible transportation of coal, plus nec iry materials for manufacture \ map of the congested and re district has beer ssued to | Government departments More Sailings from South Atlantic Ports The creation of the restricted district as above pro vided will have a powerful influence in developing the importance of the Atlantic ports south of Baltimore Ever since the coal last February the Railroad and Fuel administrations have used every available device to divert traffic from the north Atlantic ports to Newport News and other southern harbors The Shipping Board is now co-operating in this move ment and a considerable percentage of Government freight destined for will be routed via those ports and conveyed abroad by transports and chartered vessels. crisis arose France It is probable that there will be a very great increase in the near future in the regular sailings fron south Atlantic ports as the result of the establishment of the barred industrial zone. Rate of Ingot Production Shows a Slight Loss in May The daily rate of production of steel ingots showed a slight reduction in May from that of April, accord ing to the monthly figures compiled by the American Iron and Steel Institute. These show that in that month 3,256,965 gross tons was produced by 29 com panies, which in 1916 made 88.14 per cent of the total ingot production. While the total for May is larger than for any month since October, 1917, when the re ord was 3,351,935 gross tons, the daily working days was 120,628 compared daily 121,670 April. Assuming that the 29 companies made 88.14 per cent of the in- gots in May as they did in 1916, the May output for the country would total 3,695,215 yearly rate of 42,289,000 days to the year. In the table below the ingot produ tion of the 29 companies is given by past 12 rate for 27 tons, with the average of tons in gross tons, or at counting 309 tons, WOrkKInyY months for the months, all ires representing gross tons iii’ Cyne He rt H emer} \ ) Youngstown, Ohi $6,911,339, being $809,000 of industries in the The payroll district for May is given as larger than for April, and $587,000 larger th: before paid out ir month. The May dist a single ments included a 15 per cent wage advance 1 industries. Wage disbursements in the Youngs district for the first five months of this year total > 615,998 $24,487,134 in the same period of 191 It is expected that the pay roll of the Youngstow: trict for the year 1918 may reach between $70,000,000 against and $80,000,000, against about $65,000,000 in 191%, $45,000,000 in 1916 1594 TO STOP LABOR ADVERTISING Government Bureau Extending Its Service— Motor Trucks to Save Men WASHINGTON, June 18.—While the recent appeals of the Department of Labor to manufacturers to apply to the United States employment service for workmen instead of seeking them through their own employment bureaus or other private channels have met with a fairly satisfactory response, the department has found in many instances that although manufacturers have applied to the employment service they have continued an advertising campaign that has practically nullified the efforts of the Government agency to provide the desired labor. On this account the Secretary of Labo: has issued a request to all employers to cease advertsi ing and to use the Government service. To all who are now advertising for workers or seeking them through private channels, the department is now making an appeal, saying among other things: We have 350 branch offices in all parts of the countrys 17,000 recruiting agents, virtually in every county, and a daily intelligence system which keeps us informed of the employment situation in every section We are finding and placing 6000 men a day Why not stop advertising and ask us to get your men” It will cost you nothing and you save on advertising. Common Labor Shortage A report upon an employment survey covering the situation on June 1 has been made by the employment service that shows an improved condition of affairs with respect to the skilled trades, but a serious common labor shortage. In all districts there is a lack of balance due to faulty distribution which the employ- ment service is making every effort to rectify. Mechanics are wanted in 28 cities, while supply and demand are even in 55, and a surplus is reported by four cities in the West. The surplus mechanics are for the most part automobile and electrical workers and from no city is there a report of more machinists and tool workers than it can use. Twenty-six cities are calling for more boiler makers, blacksmiths, drop forgers, coppersmiths and other skilled craftsmen. There is still great idleness among the building trades. Carpenters, plasterers and others are without employ- ment in 31 cities, while only eight report a shortage. Out of 105 industrial centers covered, 75 report a shortage of common laborers, while but 23 report normal conditions, and seven a surplus. During the previous week 56 cities had shown a shortage. The demand for women in factories is steadily growing in the North and East, where 30 cities report a shortage. Three Southern cities show a surplus and 54 report normal conditions. College Men in Munitions Work College men enrolled in the Public Service Reserve's “war service during the summer vacation” campaign will perform a variety of essential work. Among the plants that have expressed willingness to employ col- lege men to augment their man power this summer are the following representative firms: Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Conn Savage Arms Corporation, Utica, N. Y Root & Van Der voort Engineering Co., East Moline, Ill.; Semet-Solvay Co high explosives, Syracuse, N. Y.; Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co Milwaukee; Chase Metal Works, Waterbury, Conn.: New York Air Brake Co., Watertown, N. Y.; Warner & Swasey Cleveland, Ohio; West Penn Steel Co., Brackenridge,’ Pa A. M. Byers Co., Pittsburgh: Brown & Sharpe Mfg. Co., Providence, R. I.; and the Klauder-Weldon Co., Yardley, Pa. Many More Motor Trucks to Be Used Wider use of motor trucks for rural express sys- tems is not only being planned under the general super- vision of the War Industries Board, but is being urged by the Department of Labor as a method of saving men and horses for essential war work. In addition, the Dveing Machine movement is being encouraged by officials here to sup- THE IRON AGE June 20, 1918 plement railroad transportation not only for farm produce but for the output of thousands of small manu- facturing establishments in the North and East, many of which ar