ESSEN OF AMERICA

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1916, Page 8

ESSEN OF AMERICA

THE GROWTH OF A GREAT ' MUNITIONS PLANT. The "New York Sun" publishes interesting facts concerning one of the biggest i)f the many war plants which have sprug up in the Eastern States as a result of the enormous orders placed in America by the Allies. A. dreary stretch of pasture, marsh, and woodland, ending in a reed-entangled pool beside a cemetery, formed a portion of the south-eastern outskirts of Bridgeport (Con.) less than a year ago. But one dav ,says the article, a magician waved his wand over the waste of land and puddle and almost overnight arose a labyrinth of immense factory buildings, while around are springing: up homes which will accommodate 5 0,000 people. The first sod was turned in "the construction of the plant of the Remington Arms and Ammunition Company at Bridgeport on December 16th, 10 14, but work on the main units was begun only on March 15th, 1915. These comprise 13 five-storey buildings, each 272 feet long by 60 feet wide, and 12 service buildings, 80 feet long by 43 feet wide. The. service buildings conr nect the main units, and form a continuous pathway through the centre of the chain for iqqr feet, or nearly half a mile on each of the five floors. To the right are five single-storey forge and machine shops. Beyond is agreat power plant with an electric equipment sufficient to supply power and light for a city of 150,000 people. A dry kiln, two storage houses, an employment office, a capacious garage and a three-storey barack buildings complete, this Essen of America. An idea of the magniture of the plant may be gained from the fact that to inspect it thoroughly entails a ualk of climbing. The combined floor area v is 1,434^856 feet. A cement wall, topped by -"an iron railing seven feet high, encloses the grounds. Machinery is being installed as fast as it ; s received, and at present the number of machines in place is sufficient to keep 6000 men busy day and night in three shifts of eight hours each. The Remington Company has acquired large tracts of land adjacent to the works, and is building hundreds of homes for the workmen.