Mr. Ten Brink came in early July 1, 1941, quite perturbed because June 30, 1941, story in Muskegon Chronicle gave him the impression that a recreation center only would be built, which, from previous contact, he had gathered this had been the judgment of Mr. Moore of the Washington Office of Education. Got him straightened out. Copies attached, showing his letter to Mr. Norman Borgesen and clipping later the same day. School is more important, in my opinion, than recreation center. A local architect, Edwin Valentine, is drawing sketches of a 15-room addition to Glenside School. Got contractor Dattner to let one of his men make a survey of school grounds to help Mr. Valentine. The application to Public Works Administration for same will follow. I suggested an underpass under road for safety of our children going to school. Should Public Works Administration object to the cost (they are trying to get a long-desired gymnasium and meeting hall as well as school addition at this time, sensing a golden opportunity), I suggested they consider coming directly across the street to put a community center at lower cubic-foot cost in what is now set up as a commercial area on project, if that is permissible. If built across the street on school ground, the auditorium would be of brick, but might cause the cost to run too high thereby. Kindergarten and nursery included in the contemplated 15-room addition. Many widows work. Frequently both parents work, unlike United States Housing Authority experience. Double shift contemplated at Glenside until and if above addition is O. K.'d and built by say, December of this year. Glenside has been growing and that, together with project children makes double shift the lesser of two evils, preferable to transportation of pupils to Muskegon schools. That is, looking from the eyes of Muskegon Township and of Mr. Ten Brink, because it must be admitted there is a lot of jealousy between the city and county. City has 17 vacant classrooms within a mile and a quarter or so, but under circumstances shouldn't be used. Mr. McIlwain, township board member as well as personnel man at John Wood Manufacturing Co. and president of personnel men's association contends city might take pupils for a while and later dump them all back in lap of the township; he and the rest feel that now is the chance to get additional rooms for school, even although payment in lieu of taxes is inadequate. DEAR MR. KRAUSS: Muskegon Township reports the following building activity for the first 7 months of 1941: 117 new houses with a permit value of $207,512.. We believe this tremendous building activity which is increasing month by month is due to the defense activity in the Greater Muskegon area. Our estimate is that 70 percent of Muskegon's industrial population are engaged either directly or indirectly in defense activity. Very truly yours, JOSEPH F. CIHAK, JR. RECREATION [Interoffice memorandum] FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY, To: Albert J. Horn, supervisor, area No. 3. Confirming telephone conversation, September 3, 1941, with Phil Wagner, liaison and management, area No. 3. Although not nearly as important as the other consumers' services noted in letters of this date such as addition to Glenside School across the street and de cision as to the use of the so-called commercial area, I would like to be advised as to the possibilities of recreation as outlined in the good letter dictated by Joseph S. Niles and signed by myself dated August 25. [Interoffice memorandum] To: Albert J. Horn, supervisor, area No. 3. FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY, From: Eugene A. Krauss, housing manager, Mich. 20031, Muskegon, Mich. Subject: Consumers' Services-Commercial area. Confirming telephone conversation, September 3, 1941, with Phil Wagner, liaison and management, area No. 3. To revise my letter of August 21 to the effect that if area now shown on plan as "Commercial area" is not to be used for commercial purposes, suggest that it be used as a park area, inexpensively shrubbed and planted with grass seed. You have in your files a letter from Omar P. Stelle, president, Real Estate Exchange Corporation, Muskegon, Mich., dated May 6, 1941, expressing a desire to build a commercial building directly across from the project if he is assured the so-called commercial area shown on the plans will not be actually so used. He has spoken several times to me on the above subject and while I hold no brief personally for him nor for any other individual who might want to put up a structure in the vicinity of the project, I feel it advisable to have an early decision as to whether or not the commercial area is to be retained. Please advise if commercial area is not to be retained, as to the alternate use of the area. EXHIBIT 42.-HOUSING DATA AND SCHOOL CENSUS OF MUSKEGON COUNTY, MICH. REPORT BY JAMES TEN BRINK, SUPERINTENDENT OF MUSKEGON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MUSKEGON, MICH. AUGUST 7, 1941. MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 1 Three hundred new dwelling units are under construction here on the Government reservation. An increased school enrollment of 450 children is anticipated. Fifty new homes have been erected or are under construction in this area. Erection by private individuals. School census: 1939, 701; 1940, 700; 1941, 687. MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 11 Building data: 1939, 27 new homes at a cost of $27,665; 1940, 40 new homes at a cost of $40,587; 1941, 11 new homes at a cost of $11,525. School census: 1939, 246; 1940, 256; 1941, 291. MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP DISTRICT NO. 8 Building data: 1939, 11 new homes at a cost of $5,290; 1940, 18 new homes at a cost of $10,507; 1941, 6 new homes at a cost of $8,030. School census: 1939, 128; 1940, 168; 1941, 223. MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP DISTRICT NO. 9 Building data: 1939, 7 new homes at a cost of $9,735; 1940, 31 new homes at a cost of $24,504; 1941, 27 new homes at a cost of $21,757. School census: 1939, 99; 1940, 99; 1941, 121. FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 5 Building data: 1939, 19 new homes; 1940, 28 new homes; 1941, 21 new homes. School census: 1939, 187; 1940, 217; 1941, 264. EGELSTON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 1 Building data: 1939, 5; 1940, 46; 1941, 86. EGELSTON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 4 Building data: 1939, 39; 1940, 39; 1941, 38. NORTON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 2 Building data: 1939, 25; 1940, 27; 1941, 56. NORTON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 3 Building data: 1939, 20; 1940, 27; 1941, 32. NORTON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 5 Building data (estimated): 1939, 8; 1940, 10; 1941, 7. NORTON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 6-F Building data: 1939, 40; 1940, 65; 1941, 50. School census: 1939, 233; 1940, 277; 1941, 378. MUSKEGON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 6-F Building data: (No data available). School census: 1939, 100; 1940, 99; 1941, 109. LAKETON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 3 Building data: (No data available). School census: 1939, 104; 1940, 94; 1941, 99. LAKETON TOWNSHIP, DISTRICT NO. 7-F Building data: (No data available). School census: 1939, 79; 1940, 86; 1941, 82. EXHIBIT 43.-DEFENSE EMPLOYMENT IN KALAMAZOO, MICH. Dr. PAUL SANGREN, KALAMAZOO CHAMBER OF COMmerce, President, Western Michigan College, Kalamazoo, Mich. DEAR MR. SANGREN: In response to your request that I accumulate information concerning industrial defense production, I state that I have telephoned responsible persons in the following firms and show by table their answers: 1 To National Youth Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps schools for instruction. Kalamazoo Stove & Furnace Co. has had some defense business; not now active, but trying to get more. This sums up to be the equivalent of about 1,780 employees on defense work. There are undoubtedly some more, but detecting where they are is difficult. Very truly yours, KALAMAZOO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, By E. S. WEBER, General Manager. EXHIBIT 44.-NONDEFENSE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM IN MUNCIE, IND. REPORT BY LESTER C. BUSH, MANAGER, MUNCIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC., MUNCIE, IND. AUGUST 19, 1941. Our estimate that from 8,000 to 10,000 people would be thrown out of work in case the Henderson plan is made fully effective, is probably low. Fact is that unless defense business in sufficient quantity is given our local manufacturers, in the event of effectiveness of the Henderson plan, Muncie and its business life would be seriously and disastrously affected, and employment here would be at an exceedingly low figure. As we point out in letters, etc., attached, since January 1, and until August 1, Muncie industries have had about $10,000,000 worth of prime and subcontract business, all of a total of $85,000,000 which is the average rate of manufactured production now, considered upon an annual basis. Therefore, you can readily see that curtailment of nondefense business here would practically put us out of business. All we ask for is replacement of nondefense business with defense orders, to keep our factories in operation and our employees at work. Any other course would be ruinous to us. (Accompanying the above report were the following enclosures:) OFFICE OF PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT, Washington, D. C., August 13, 1941. Mr. LESTER C. BUSH, Secretary, Cooperative Committee of Muncie, Ind. DEAR MR. BUSH: Your letter of July 28 addressed to Hon. Harry Hopkins has been referred to me for reply. Various members of my staff have already conferred with representatives of the workers at the Warner gear plant. We are giving every consideration to this situation in Muncie, which has been called to our attention. We will endeavor to secure, insofar as possible, defense contracts or subcontracts for those companies which are forced to curtail production because of priorities on strategic materials. We would appreciate your sending us as soon as possible a list of the various industries in Muncie, showing the number of workers employed in each plant. We should also like to know the approximate number of workers which may be laid off because of materials shortages. In addition, we should like to have s detailed statement of the various raw materials which industries in your community have been unable to secure or will be unable to secure in the near future. Sincerely yours, Mr. J. DOUGLAS BROWN, J. DOUGLAS BROWN, Chief, Priorities Branch, Labor Division. MUNCIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC., Chief, Priorities Branch, Labor Division, Office of Production Management, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. BROWN: Since I am secretary of the Cooperative Committee of Muncie (nonpaying) and manager of the Muncie Chamber of Commerce (paying job) I am answering your letter of the 13th instant about nondefense production here. I am glad to know that members of your staff conferred with workers' representatives of the Warner gear division lately. I had been so informed. Herewith am sending list of our industries together with average employment figures. The average total employment here now is 16,000 in industry of all kinds according to our latest check which was last month. There hasn't been much change either up or down since. Up to date, exclusive of Chevrolet Muncie division, General Motors Corporation, makers of aluminum forgings and transmissions, and the Delco Remy battery division, General Motors Corporation, Muncie industries have had approximately $10,000,000 worth of prime and subcontracts since January 1. Much of this total has already been produced. Total figures on local General Motors plants defense business are not obtainable because the local managers do not know what proportion is defense and nondefense business. It is likely that the central office, General Motors Corporation, Detroit, is able to segregate this business. The average rate of annual manufactured production here now is on a basis of about $85,000,000, therefore, you can readily see that many of our plants would be directly and seriously affected in case of drastic reduction in materials and supplies to them because of their nondefense production. Such reduction would probably directly affect from 8,000 to 10,000 employees. As many of our plants are in metal production of one description or another, they would need continuous supply of steel, scrap, copper, brass, etc., mainly, and a continuous flow of defense orders. From two to three times a week this office sends to a list of about 60 manufac turers the bulletin information of the Defense Contract Service, Office of Production Management, Chicago office. Some of our industries have benefited from it. If an orderly change-over from nondefense to defense business is worked out, we won't have any difficulties at Muncie, and that is what should be done. We cannot overcome overnight the neglect and mistakes of the past 8 years in not properly preparing during that time for the defense of our country. Furthermore, we cannot afford to throw millions of our people in this country out of work at this time; the consequences upon our country and its people would be disastrous. |