James R. Harris letter to the Inspector of Machinery - January 5, 1918
Transcript
Office Sunday U.S. Government Msgs. of Mchy [January] 5 1918. From: Busch-Sulzer Bros.-Diesel Engine Co., To: Inspector of Machinery, U.S.N., St. Louis, [Missouri] Subject: 0-11 to 0-16
Transcript
[page 2] best method of expediting receipt of the castings we still need would be for you to get permission to issue envelopes for the balance of the casting required to finish these engines. (d) We feel that we have taken all possible steps to facilitate the early shipment of the engines. We are working overtime and paying overtime rates although we have not asked for nor have we received extra compensation from the Government therefor. (e) On our night shift we could use one hundred (100) additional skilled mechanics and although we have been using our utmost endeavors, we have not been able to get the skilled labor required to fill up our night shift. If the Department could secure these workmen for us at a reasonable wage which we could afford to pay, it would help materially in expediting our work. Recently, on account of our workmen not being specifically exempted as is done in the case of workmen who come under the Emergency Fleet Corporation exemptions, quite a number of our workmen have become anxious as to their exact status and have threatened to leave their work and join the Navy as they would prefer that branch of the service to entering the trenches. We have prevailed upon them to stay, giving them the assurance we would do all possible through the Navy Department to have them retained on the work they are now doing, and further informed them that we knew it was the wish of the Navy Department that they remain at their present work. We are just in receipt of information from you that the Navy Department desires a list of our employees who should be retained in their present positions and we presume action will be taken by the Department to see that they are exempted. If this is done, it will do more than anything else we can think of to expedite our work. Yours very truly, BUSCH-SULZER BROS.-DIESEL ENGINE CO. [James R. Harris]-c 1st V.P. & Gen. Mgr.
Details
| Title | James R. Harris letter to the Inspector of Machinery - January 5, 1918 |
| Creator | Harris, James R. |
| Source | Harris, James R. Letter to the Inspector of Machinery. 05 January 1918. Busch-Sulzer Collection. Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin. |
| Description | Letter from James R. Harris, the Vice President and General Manager of the Busch-Sulzer Diesel Engine Company, to the Inspector of Machinery in St. Louis, Missouri. Harris discussed the work his laborers were completing along with the hours they were working. He also provided the Inspector with a list of dates to expect shipments of engines. |
| Subject LCSH | Diesel engine; Submarine boats; Busch-Sulzer brothers Diesel engine company |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Submarine engine |
| Contributing Institution | Wisconsin Historical Society |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Wisconsin Historical Society: 608-264-6535 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | January 5, 1918 |
| Language | English |