USA > New Jersey > Camden County > History of Camden County in the Great War, 1917-1918 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
"Be it resolved, by the citizens' of Camden in mass meeting assembled, that without dissenting voice, we hereby consecrate to the sacred cause in which we are engaged and to the Government of the United States our unreserved support and to that end we pledge our material resources, our service and life itself to the ac- complishment of the unselfish purpose of the President, the Congress and the Nation.
"Resolve, that we call upon the Government to exert every lawful effort in the prosecution of the war to a successful conclusion, including especially in such effort the enactment of legislation to the end that there shall be universal training in the bearing of arms, and that a just distribution of the burden through fair draft of its male citizens may be secured, such system being the only
167
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
equitable method of procuring the service of both the willing and the unwilling in the defense of our common country.
"Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be sent to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives."
ALL SPECIAL OFFICERS
Each member of the Public Safety Committee was sworn in as a special officer and presented with a badge of authority to make arrest and carry weapons. Each member was subject to the call of the mayor in case of riots, fire, insurrection or any trouble. The occasion never arose that necessitated the call of the committee for that purpose but it did great work during the war es- pecially during the influenza epidemic in the fall of 1918.
The committee's greatest feat was to organize a parade on the day that the armistice was signed within seven hours. Mayor Ellis called the committee at 5.30 a. m., on Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, to meet in his office at the City Hall at 7 a. m., to plan for a parade at I p. m. A committee left for Camp Dix atio a. m. to con- fer with Major General Hugh L. Scott, commander, in regards to having troops sent to Camden for the parade. Arrangements were made to have two companies sent on a special train and the parade took place.
Prior to Christmas, 1917, the committee secured an appropriation from City Council and the Board of Free- holders for the purchase of articles to be made into Christmas packages for the men in the service. These Christmas packages were forwarded to army camps, where they were distributed by committees and the gifts to the men overseas were forwarded by mail. At the re- quest of the Government the committee became known as the Council of Defense before the war ended and be- came a branch of the New Jersey Council of Defense.
I68
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
VICTORY JUBILEE COMMITTEE
T' `HE Victory Jubilee Committee took the place of the Council of Defense, previously known as the Pub- lic Safety Committee. Mayor Charles H. Ellis named the committee shortly after the armistice was signed and the first meeting was held at the Board of Trade office on November 17, 1918, when the following committees were named and officers elected :
President, Charles H. Ellis
Secretary, Charles M. Curry
Vice President, F. F. Patterson, Jr. Treasurer, Walter J. Staats
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mayor Charles H. Ellis, Chairman
Charles K. Haddon
Chas. S. Boyer
Arthur R. Gemberling
Walter J. Staats
Charles M. Curry
Thomas W. Jack
James J. Scott
George A. Frey
Harry M. Knight
F. F. Patterson, Jr.
Francis B. Wallen
Isaac Frisch
David B. Jester
Charles A. Reynolds
John B. Kates
David Baird, Sr.
W. Penn Corson
Elias Davis
John Prentice
Dr. Daniel Strock
Wm. D. Vanaman
Frank Sheridan
Andrew B. F. Smith
Volney G. Bennett
M. A. Neeland
Charles F. Wise
William D. Brown
William S. Abbott
E. G. C. Bleakly
Arthur C. Abele
F. Morse Archer
William J. Kraft Frank S. Van Hart
Samuel Curriden Sidney P. McCord
William L. Hurley
John H. Fort Ernest F. Lloyd
Walter L. Tushingham
George A. Wonfor
Joseph H. Forsyth
Frank J. Hineline
Townsend Stites
D. A. Henderson
James E. Bryan
Dr. Alex MacAlister
Frank T. Lloyd
Benjamin Natal
Antonio Mecca
William J. Cooper
J. H. Lippincott
Rev. Martin Lipinski
ADVISORY COMMITTEE William J. Cooper, Chairman
A. Ransaville Frome Very Rev. B. J. Mulligan George A. Tatem
George A. Frey
Arthur Stanley
Frank P. Cocchiaraley
David A. Henderson
Rev. Thomas J. Whelan
James F. Lennon
Marco Marino
Louis Tartar
Philip Auerbach
Arthur Truscott
Upton S. Jefferys George Barrett
Sig. Schoenagle
Garfield Pancoast
Patrick H. Ifarding
Rev. George E. Morris
Joseph E. Nowrey
Preston D. Hughes
Antonio Mecca
Samuel T. French
Dr. Henry H. Davis
James H. Long
Rev. J. B. McCloskey William J. Dallas Rev. Holmes F. Gravatt William D. Sayrs, Jr. Dr. Clement T. Branch David M. Anderson
Vincent Cioffi Alex. Jasienski Joseph Kraz
Rev. R. E. Brestell
.
169
LL HONOR TO C .- HERO SO
CE.
WONFOR OGRAPHER
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
PEACE JUBILEE PARADE Returned Heroes Marching Under Memorial Arch on September 6th, 1919
I71
VICTORY JUBILEE COMMITTEE.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE-(Continued.)
Rev. Alex. Corson
John G. Payne
William F. McAllister
Anthony R. Rohmer
Rev. John B. Ha'nes
Harry P. Roesch James W. Firth
Rev. J. H. Townsend Rev. John R. Read
Rev. Orlando Watts
William C. Raughly
Wiliam R. Sentman
Wilbur B. Ellis Rev. Chas. I. FitzGeorge
James E. Tatem
David M. Anderson
J. S. Carter
O. D. Kline
Frederick Lange Edward F. Dold
Larson Homer W. I. Tomlinson
Rev. H. J, Vosburgh
William D. Brown
William J. Dallas
Steve Mignogno
Rev. Thilo M. Gorr
Harry W. Hagerty
S. M. Jacobson
Thomas A. Graham
O. Glen Stackhouse
FINANCE COMMITTEE F. F. Patterson, Jr., Chairman
J. W. Sell David Baird, Jr. Harry C. Sharp
James F. Lennon Samuel Wood
Charles Laird, Jr.
Frank O. Stem
Alfred L. Sayers Charles A. Wolverton
COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION David Baird, Sr., Chairman
Wm. J. Browning Joshua C. Haines
William T. Read
T. Harry Rowland
Joseph Wallworth Harry C. Kramer
Ralph W. Kellam
RED CROSS COMMITTEE Dr. Daniel Strock, Chairman George W. Whyte
MEMORIAL COMMITTEE James J. Scott, Chairman
Joshua C. Haines James E. Hewitt Theo. T. Kausel Harry C. Sharp
Charles A. Reynolds E. E. Read, Jr.
J. Walter Levering
James H. Long
Townsend Stites Michelle Ferrante
Warren Webster
SCHOOL COMMITTEE James E. Bryan, Chairman
Powell G. Fithian
Rev. F. J. McCallion M. D. Cornish
PARADE COMMITTEE
James H. Long, Chairman
Frank G. Riggins Joseph H. Forsyth Chas. M. Curry
Joseph E. Nowrey Frank C. Sayrs E. Kessler Webster
John W. Kelly, Jr.
Rev. Giovanni Allegri
Percy H. Pedrick
John McCallion William T. Lippincott
Alfred M. Matthews
Louis Zeitman Rev. John W. Lyell Samuel A. Dobbins
Horace Bradbury Thomas W. Jack Fred C. Sickler J. H. Lippincott, Jr. William J. Salter
William Williams Charles Houvington
Rev. Stephen Wiesnski
Powell K. Martin
Wm. D. Sayrs, Jr. Antonio DiPaolo
172
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
PUBLICITY AND HISTORICAL COMMITTEE Frank Sheridan, Chairman
Frank H. Ryan, Sec'y
John D. Courter
Charles J. Haaga
Charles Schuck
James L. Polk
William Rothman
Alvah M. Smith
William Jefferys
Benj. W. Courter
RECEPTION COMMITTEE W. Penn Corson, Chairman
William D. Brown
W. D. Sayrs, Jr.
Wm. J. Strandwitz
Rev. Orlando Watts
Robert J. D. Field
Frank S. Van Hart
Charles F. Wise
Harry Pelouze
James H. Long
Antonio Mecca
Charles M. Curry
MEDICAL COMMITTEE Dr. H. H. Davis, Chairman
Dr. John F. Leavitt
Dr. Orris W. Saunders Dr. A. M. L. Maldeis
Dr. Harry F. Palm
Dr. Edward C. Pechin
Dr. Marcus K. Mines
Dr. Paul M. Mecray Dr. Alexander S. Ross
Dr. Wm. P. Wingender
Dr. David S. Rhone
DECORATION COMMITTEE Samuel C. Curriden, Chairman.
Andrew B. F. Smith
Charles S. Boyer John W. Kelly, Jr.
Wm. S. Abbott
Walter L. Campbell Charles M. Curry
W. H. Turnbull
COMMITTEE ON WELFARE
Charles H. Greer
Fred W. Gercke Thomas W. Binker
George L. Bender
E. Frank Pine
VICTORY SINGS
William S. Abbott, Chairman
Prof. C. Harold Lowden William L. Roberts William J. Kelly
John T. Rodan J. Hartley Bowen
COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS Frank S. Van Hart, Chairman
F. F. Patterson, Jr.
Wm. D. Sayrs, Jr. F. Morse Archer
Frank J. Hineline
WOMEN'S COMMITTEE Mrs. Mary Walsh Kobus, Chairman
Mrs. F. F. Patterson Mrs. William Lacy Miss M. A. Burrough
Mrs. Wm. L. Hurley Mrs. Wm. Eastlack Mrs. M| H| Sidebottom
Mrs. H. G. Longwell Mrs. John A. Mather Mrs. S. A. Taylor
Mrs. L. Read
Mrs. Irving Buckle Mrs. W. W. Fry
Miss E. C. Reeve
Mrs. Francis D. Weaver Miss L. Y. Clopper
Daniel P. McConnell
Daniel M. Stevens
Frank S. Albright
Richard S. Ridgway
Rev. G H. Hemingway Robert D. Clow, Jr.
Volney G. Bennett John Prentice
Dr. Harry F. Bushey Dr. Lozenzo B. Hirst
Dr. Thomas B. Lee Dr. Joseph E. Roberts
Dr. A. Haines Lippincott Dr. Wesley J. Barrett
174
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
EQUIDIJUN
---
CAMDEN COUNTY PEACE JUBILEE
[Photo by W'onfor.]
Admiral Henry B. Wilson and Colonel Daniel T. Mather Viewing Parade from Grandstand at Broadway School, September 6th, 1919-Front row left to right: Col. D. T. Mather, Wm. D. Brown, Hon. David Baird, Admiral Wilson, John W. Sel!, Congressman Wm. J. Browning and Dr. Henry H. Davis
175
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
4.
JAMES J. SCOTT [Photo by Wonfor.] Chairman of Memorial and Monument Committee.
177
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
[Photo by Wonfor.] FRANCIS F. PATTERSON, JR. Chairman of Finance Committee
179
VICTORY JUBILEE COMMITTEE.
WOMEN'S COMMITTEE-Continued.
Mrs. J. M. Cramer
Mrs. Raymond Warren
Mrs. H. N. Scheirer
Mrs. A. Fuhrman
Mrs. Julia Sensor
Mrs. A. B. F. Smith
Mrs. K. Johnson
Mrs. Myrtle Trucksess Mrs. M. Rockhill
. Mrs. Richard Teal
Mrs. Horace Budd
Miss M. E. Davis
Mrs. M. Cornish
Mrs. Wm. T. Read
Mrs. Peter Gulcz
Mrs. Isaac King
Mrs. R. E. Brestell
Mrs. Antonio Mecca
Mrs. G. Dore Cogswell
Mrs. Carl Mankey Jr.
Mrs. Chas. H. Greer
Mrs. B. F. Royal
Mrs. F. Walter Toms
Mrs. John Prentice
Dr. E. M. Richardson
Mrs. F. S, Dodd
Mrs. W. Penn Corson
Miss N. Deighan
Mrs. G. H. Hemingway
Mrs. Helen Webb
Mrs. W. B. M. Burrell
Mrs. Ida Palm
Mrs. Eva Wycoff Hall
Mrs. G. W. Bradley
Mrs. J. Saul
Mrs. Austin
Miss Janet Bradley
Mrs. L. P. Roth
Mrs. Frank Miller
Mrs. John H. Thompson
Mrs. J. McAdams
Mrs. Felton
Miss S. P. McWilliams
Mrs. R. A. Conner
Mrs. Malcolm Letts
Mrs. J. Keunzie
Mrs. Warren Coffin
Mrs. James Henderson
Mrs. Harry Wright
Mrs. Charles H. Ellis Mrs. Schuck
Mrs. Mary Baird Fox
Mrs. E. A. Y. Schellen-
Mrs. A. S. May
Mrs. Charles M. Curry
ger
Mrs. Russell Lane
Mrs. Sue Wells
Mrs. Paul M. Mecray Mrs. T. B. Lee
Mrs. Chas. I. FitzGeorge
The committee became known as the Victory Jubilee and Memorial Committee of Camden City and County and appropriations were granted by City Council and Board of Freeholders amounting to $25,000, four-fifths of which was granted by the city and the balance by the county. The committee then ordered victory arches erected at Federal street, Market street and Kaighn ave- nue terminals ; a court of honor at the Court House, City Hall and Broadway and Kaighn avenue.
Because the Government restricted the size of pack- ages as Christmas gifts to the men overseas and con- fined the parcels mainly to their families, the committee sent a new crisp two dollar note to each man in the ser- vice as a gift from the city and county in 1918. The committee was also instrumental, through its influential members, in having a bill passed by Legislature in giv- ing communities the right to bond themselves to raise sufficient appropriations for the erections of memorials.
The committee caused the names of the heroic dead to be placed on the main arches of the court of honor at the Court House and City Hall. A committee on memorial resolutions was instructed to prepare parchments to be
-
180
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
presented to the families of the men who died in the ser- vice as a testimony of esteem from the city and county. Through the efforts of the mayor and the committee re- turned soldiers were secured employment.
The first big reception conducted by the committee was the welcome to Vice Admiral Henry B. Wilson. This was followed by the welcome of the 114th Infantry. Then as each unit arrived from overseas they were either greeted at the ports or at Camp Dix by committees and given candy and cigarettes.
The committee held a celebration at the Court House on the night of June 28, 1919, when the peace treaty was signed at ยท Versailles and it was attended by thousands.
The committee decided among other things to hold a great victory jubilee celebration September 6, 1919, to erect a suitable memorial in honor of the men who gave their lives in the service, and to dine all men in the coun- ty who served in the war at a great banquet during vic- tory jubilee.
PEACE JUBILEE
The Peace Jubilee was the crowning effort of the Vic- tory Jubilee and Memorial Committee. The jubilee was celebrated on the afternoon of September 6, 1919, with a monster street parade followed by a banquet to the hun- dreds of men from this county who served the nation in the war on land and sca. The parade was viewed by Admiral Henry B. Wilson, Col. Daniel T. Mather and the Mayors of Camden county.
The festivities began with a parade at 2.00 o'clock. James H. Long, chairman of the Parade Committee of the Victory Jubilee and Memorial Committee, was mar- shal. It was the county's first opportunity to honor at home all of the men who served in the war and they were accorded a mighty welcome. Thousands of persons lined the route of the parade. Cheer after cheer greeted the
182
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
[Photo by Wonfor.] W. PENN CORSON Chairman of Reception Committee
183
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
[Photo by Wonfor.] JAMES H. LONG Chairman of Parade Committee
185
VICTORY JUBILEE COMMITTEE.
heroes of land and sea. Lieutenant Colonel Harry C. Kramer was marshal of the soldiers' division and his aides were Major Winfield S. Price, Captain Edward West and Commander Francis W. Hoffman. Veterans of the Twenty-ninth and Seventy-eighth Divisions and the sailors and marines marched with steady tread behind their battle flags.
Behind the heroes marched thousands of men and wo- men who backed the boys at the front. Almost every fra- ternal order in the city was represented in the line of march. The Masonic lodges were headed by the uniform- ed members of Cyrene Commandery, Knights of Tem- plar. Camden Lodge, No. 293, Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks; Camden Lodge No. 11I, Loyal Order of Moose; Camden and Assissi Councils, Knights of Co- lumbus; Camden Aerie, No. 65, Fraternal Order of Eagles; Patriotic Order Sons of America, Colored and Polish societies, Order United Americans, Improved Order of Red Men were represented in line together with many other fraternal orders.
The Camden Fire Department made a particularly good appearance with fine motor apparatus and uniformed men headed by Chief Peter B. Carter. The firemen of the var- ious towns in the county participated. Mounted police acted as an escort, headed by Chief of Police E. A. Gravenor.
The Camden County Chapter of the American Red Cross appeared in uniform. Oversea nurses and work- ers, who toiled long hours at home making bandages and - knitting warm apparel for the fighters, marched in uni- form and were heartily cheered.
Boy Scouts, Ninth Ward Republican Association, Whitman Park Improvement Association and the Italian societies of the city and other organizations were in line.
The churches and the Sunday Schools of the county participated in great numbers.
186
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
The industrial division included hundreds of factory workers and magnificent floats. Members of the Victory Jubilee and Memorial Committee headed the parade with Mayor Charles H. Ellis marching in the lead of the divi- sion. Members of City Council, Board of Freeholders and all of the city and county attaches were in line with the equipment of all city bureaus.
The great throng paused in its jubilation long enough to remember the heroes, who did not return, when the magnificent memorial float slowly wended its way over the gaily decorated route of parade. Church bells tolled when the beautiful tribute to the heroic dead began its journey down Sixth street from State under the canopy of a blue heaven and under the fluttering flags of nations whose joint arms had brought peace to the world and crushed Prussianism under the heel.
Mounted majestically over the float was the bronze image of a Yank soldier. He stood on a white marble pedestal and at his feet were wreaths. A huge gold star, bearing the number "135" carried the sad message that that number had answered the "roll call up yonder." A guard of honor, men from the army, navy and marine corps, who served overseas, marched on either side of the float.
The relatives of the service men viewed the parade from a grandstand in front of the Court House.
The school children of the city massed at Broadway and Line street in front of Carnegie Library. They were led in singing by Prof. Powell G. Fithian, Director of Music of Public Schools. One square above, the children of Broadway School were led in singing by Prof. C. Harold Lowden in a Victory Sing.
Following the parade a great banquet was served by the Camden County Chapter of the American Red Cross in the Third Regiment Armory to the service men who marched in the parade. It was the largest meal ever pre- pared in the city and was served by hundreds of Red Cross workers.
188
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
FRANK S. VAN HART Chairman of Memorial Resolutions Committee
189
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
[Photo by Wonfor.] FRANK SHERIDAN Chairman of Publicity and Historical Committee
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
191
[Photo by W'onfor.] SAMUEL C. CURRIDEN
Chairman of Decorations Committee, Who Directed the Erec- tion of all Victory Arches and Decorations for Receptions to Troops, Admiral Wilson and Peace Jubilee
193
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
WAR BUREAUS FUEL ADMINISTRATION.
W HEN the fuel situation became acute in the winter of 1917 and 1918, Dr. Harry A. Garfield was named national fuel administrator by President Wilson. So great was the demand for fuel to keep the ships going with supplies for the troops, for moving troops and for feeding the allies that there was a short- age in this country. The mines were unable to produce enough coal to meet the situation and to make matters more acute the worst January in history produced twenty days of snow.
Richard Jenkinson, of Newark, was named fuel ad- ministrator for New Jersey and Charles K. Haddon, of Haddonfield, was named a member of the State Fuel Committee. Walter J. Staats, of Merchantville, was named administrator for Camden and Gloucester coun- ties. The associate administrators for Camden county were J. Walter Levering and David Baird, Jr., and for Gloucester county, G. M. Ashton, of Swedesboro, and L. B. Mockett, of Woodbury.
On January 21, 1918, one of the most drastic orders ever issued in this republic was made by National Ad- ministrator Garfield, when every factory, office building. hotel, school, store, church, lodge and society was denied fuel for lighting and heat. The order applied to Mon- days with few exceptions and was in effect several weeks. Then came lightless nights when every business house, church, club and factory was not permitted to have exterior illumination. Lamps were burned in churches, inns, clubs and other public places.
Coal became so scarce that the administrator allowed but a half ton to a customer and then only after the cel-
194
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
lar of the purchaser had been searched by the police to prevent hoarding. Factories manufacturing non-essen- tials had the coal consigned to them commandeered and turned over to hospitals and public works, such as water works and electric power plants. Streets were dark at night because of the scarcity of coal at the power plant of the Public Service Corporation.
The heavy snow in January delayed the shipment of coal for days from mines and often the coal consigned to Camden was stolen from the cars before they reached here by the population of Pennsylvania towns suffering also from the lack of fuel. Churches, hotels and clubs burned cord wood and bituminous coal where it was possible.
During this crisis Administrator Staats had the volun- teer services of Andrew B. F. Smith, Clarence H. Lum- mis, Edward M. Middleton, Charles Laib and Frank B. Middleton at the fuel office which was established at 311 Market street.
FOOD ADMINISTRATION
When it became recognized that the United States must act the role of feeding almost the entire world and when Herbert Hoover was appointed national food ad- ministrator, Camden county prepared to do its share in conserving various foods. Circuit Court Judge Frank T. Lloyd and Prosecutor Charles A. Wolverton were ap- pointed the administrators in the early summer of 1918. It was a very difficult work, especially from the fact the American people had never been accustomed, at least in this generation, to having their food supply measured. It was also rather difficult to always follow to the letter the many conflicting orders, reports and what not that came from the national or State Administrations, but both Judge Lloyd and Prosecutor Wolverton evidenced a happy propensity for obtaining the best possible in-
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
195
for
[Photo by Wonfor.] WALTER J. STAATS Fuel Administrator of Camden and Gloucester Counties.
197
WAR BUREAUS.
terpretation out of the regulations and that they were successful was evidenced in other counties seeking infor- mation from them. The sugar, wheat, meat, flour and other staple commodities particularly affected by the rules created no end of contention in the beginning on the part of housewives and bakers, but they soon recog- nized the need for the administration and eventually be- came staunch aids to the food arbiters. It was a won- derful experience for all concerned and in the end learn- ed many a person the true value of food and the foolish- ness of wasting it. This particular work, one of the most difficult in the war, was also one of the most successful.
WAR RESOURCES COMMITTEE.
In connection with the prosecution of the war, the War Industries Board early in the summer of 1918 de- cided that it would be necessary to employ the full man- power of the United States and utilize every ounce of certain classes of raw material. To this end the Re- sources and Conversion Section was created and the country divided into twenty districts, called "regions." Camden and South Jersey came under the jurisdiction of the Philadelphia district and was known as War Re- sources Committee for Sub-Regian No. 10 of Region No. 4. At the suggestion of the Camden Board of Trade, Ernest R. Trigg, regional advisor, appointed Charles S. Boyer, chairman of this sub-region, which in- cluded Camden, Gloucester, Salem Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic counties and, from August 10 to November II, he devoted practically his entire time to the work. An advistory committee consisting of the follow- ing, at considerable personal sacrifice, gave valuable and efficient service in the work.
Benjamin S. Mechling, C. D. Mathews, Ward D. Ker- lin, Theo. T. Kausel, Bedford G. Royal, James J. Scott, F. Morse Archer, George F. Kappel, J. Walter Levering,
198
CAMDEN COUNTY IN THE GREAT WAR.
A. M. Parker, A. R. Frome, Frank S. Van Hart, James L. Myles, Charles W. Russ, of Woodbury; Lucius E. Hires, of Salem; Charles F. Cox, of Bridgeton, Edward A. Wilson, of Atlantic City.
Charles M. Curry, as secretary of the committee, was actively identified in every movement and worked untir- ingly to carry out the instructions of the War Industries Board.
The purposes of this organization were to provide in- formation with respect to new sources of war supply and manufacturing opportunities and to act as the point of contact between the War Industries Board and manufacturers.
It was immediately patent to the local committee that the first thing to be done in this sub-region was to pro- cure an industrial census of the entire district. This survey was started and had been nearly completed when the armistice was signed. It included in addition to the usual information, not only data relating to individual power plants, but also complete lists of all machine shop equipment and the possibilities of converting non-essen- tial into essential industries. The power information was turned over to the Emergency Fleet Corporation, while the machine shop data was filed with the Ordnance Department of the Army.
The sub-region maintained an office at 542 Federal street, Camden, where all priority rulings of the War Industries Board were received and information relat- ing to priorities matters furnished to interested parties.
Several investigations were made at the request of dif- ferent branches of the War Department, including com- plete data relating to the refrigerating plants in this region and the buildings available for emergency hos- pitals. The chairman was instructed to ascertain whether there was any rattan available in this territory, whether there were any establishments that could be turned over to the making of semi-steel shells, whether
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.