ESSEN OF AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2741, 8 April 1916, Page 13

ESSEN OF AMERICA

THE GROWTH A^GREAT

MUNITIONS PLANT!

' The ''New York Sun'.', publishes -interesting facts concerning 'one" of 'the biggest of the many war plants which have sprung up in the Eastern States as a result of tlio enormous orders placed in America.by the Allies. A dreary stretch of pasture, marsh,; and woodland, ending in a reed-entangled pool besido a cemetery, formed a portion of the south-eastern outskirts of Bridgeport (Oonn.) less than a year ago. But one day (says the article) a magician waved his wand over the waste of land and puddle and almost overnight arose a labyrinth of immense factor}' buildings. . while around aro springing up homes which will accommodate 50,000 peoplo The first sod was turned in tha,construction of the plant of the Remington Arms and Ammunition Company at Bridgeport on December 16, 1914, ..but work on the main units was begun only on March 15, 1915. These comprise thirteen five-story buildings, each 272 ft. long by 60ft. wide, and twelve service buildmgs, 80ft. long by 43ft. wide. The service buildings connect the' main units, and form a continuous pathway tnrough the centre of the -chain for 1991 ft., or nearly half a mile;on*eich"of" the five floors. : i, .. ... , To the right aro five single-storey forge and machino shops. Beyond is a great power plant with an electric equip- | ment sufficient to supply power and light for a-city of 150,000 people. A I dry kiln, two storage houses, a.n employment olßce. a capacious garage, and a three-storey barrack-building complete this Essen of America. An idea of the magnitude iof the plant may be gained from the fact that to inspect it thoroughly entails a walk of fully ten miles, exclusive of stair climbing. The combined floor area is 1.43<J,856 feet. A cement wall, topped by. an iron railing seven feet high, encloses the 'grounds. Machinery is boin? installed as fast as it is 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. Tlio Remington Company has-acquired largo, tracts of land adjacent to the works and is building-hundreds of homes for its workmen.