Charles S. Kerrick letter to the Commandant of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Naval Districts - April 5, 1917

Transcript

Office Sunday U.S. Navy Insp. of Mach. [Navy Department letterhead] Works of Busch-Sulzer Bros. -Diesel Engine Co. St. Louis, [Missouri], April 5, 1917. From: Inspector of Machinery, U.S.N., St. Louis, [Missouri] To: Commandant, 9th, 10th, and 11th Naval Districts, Naval Training Station, Great Lakes, [Illinois] Subject: Reedy Foundry Company, Chicago; Military Guard for. 1. It is suggested that the question of providing a Military Guard for the Reedy Foundry Co., 46th and Iowa Streets, Chicago, [Illinois], be considered. 2. This Company makes all the iron castings used by the Busch-Sulzer Bros. -Diesel Engine Company in the manufacture of submarine engines; this Company has during the past two years been trained by the Busch-Sulzer Company to make suitable iron castings for marine work and is the only Company that has been able to turn out the class of work deemed necessary. For all other than iron castings, the Busch-Sulzer Company has from three to five sources of supply, so that this Foundry takes on a very important status as regards submarine work. It now has a large supply of patterns for marine work and more will be sent from time to time for the 1917 Building Program and for the 1918 Program contemplated. Damage by fire or otherwise to these patterns or to the finished castings would constitute a severe setback in the completion of finished engines for the Busch-Sulzer Company. 3. A letter was addressed to the Bureau of Steam Engineering on March 28, 1917, suggesting the advisability of a Military Guard for the Busch-Sulzer plant; further consideration of this subject makes me believe that this letter should have been addressed to you; a copy of it is appended hereto. Chas. S. Kerrick. Mr. Boyd