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THE MAN OF THE MONTH
relief at the time) ; the population of the area with the density per square mile; the sources of power available such as coal, gas, oil and steam; charts and figures of the water level of the major rivers over the past twenty years; the minerals available and those that would have to be imported; how the climate would be a factor.
But that wasn't all. Spencer had planned a "family" of plants for the whole area, how they could be built and how they would be integrated. How the waste products from one plant Vvfould be utilized by another. He listed the types of transportation
available with maps showing their routes. He pointed out there was a surplus of agricultural products in the region and indicated how these would fit into the defense plant picture, then went on to figure out just how much increase could be expected and the cost of each product or material. He gave the cost of raw materials, the cost of shipping them in, the cost of the land to build the plants. Not one single item was overlooked.
HE titled his survey report 'Tow der for the Arsenal of Democracy," put it into his briefcase and flew to Washington. There he met with engineers of the Ordnance De
partment and the OPM. His title page said:
"There is no other area within the interior of the United States where all of the raw materials and facilities to produce strategic munitions, smo\eless powder, TJ^.T. and ammonium nitrate are concentrated within a given small area. "Starting from zero, these all-important munitions could he more economically and quic\ly produced than at any other point within the interior of America.
"The Tri-State area eagerly awaits the 'all'Out' signal to start the production of powder — is waiting only on approval from V\/ashington. Time is an all-important factor. "Upon command to proceed, those charged with the responsibility will find in the area construction materials on hand, power facilities standing idle, which can he put to wor\ at once, and explosives may he delivered within a few months from that time.
"All the raw materials are at hand, transportation is more than adequate and American-horn labor, desperately in need of employment, is standing by. Housing is adequate and decentralized. The population is high per square mile hut distributed. Fuel is unlimited, land cost for sites is low and the climate is ideal for industrial activities. S\illed management is available. This manpower, these facilities, all await the command to proceed at once — all within the safest area in the world."
He organi2;ed himself as a one-man salesman. Back and forth went Spen