Lee County, Illinois - Chapter 14, 1920

The Xon-war Construction Buivau was organized in the State of Illinois (jn Scptcnilier 17, 1918. The State organization eniliraced a general committee of seven, iiainclx'. Samuel Insull. Chairman: John P. Hopkins. ,I,,hn H. Harrison, John Y. (V'sl'.v. David I-;. Shanahan. J,,liii A. Spoor an.l John II. Walker, with E. W. Lloy.l as Secretary. This cnnnnittee had its ottice at the State Colin, al of Defense Building. 12(1 \V. Adams St.. Chi.'aiio.

Stiliordinates to the general oriiaiiizat ion was a committee of three in each coiinty. The Lee County Committee was appointed a U-\\ days after thi' oiiiaiiizalioii of a gi'neral committee and consisted of Ilemy S. Dixoii. ( 'hairmaii. \\iii. B. Brinton and A. P. Armington, with E. S. Rosecrans as Secivtary. The committee had its otiii'c in the Lee Comity Court House and met every Monday at 11 o'clock A. M. until its discharge from fm'ther responsiliility ahout the niiddl<' of Xovemher, 1918.

it has conu' to the notii'c of this Board that new iiidiisirial i-orporalioiis are being organize(l in .lifferent sections of the ITiited States for the erection of industrial plants which can not le utilize(l in the prosecution of the war: and.

Whereas the carrying forwai'd of these activities will involve the utilization of labor, capital and mati'rials urgently re(iiiired for wai- purposes: now, llierefdiv, be it,

Resolved bj- the War Industiies Board, that in the public intcri'st all new undertakings not essential to and not contributing either directly or indirectly towards winning the war, which iiivoKc tli(> utilization of labor, material ami capital required in the production, supply or distribution of direct or indirect war ni'eds will be discouraged, notwithstanding tlie>- may be of local importance and of a character which shall in normal time nu'et with i'\-er>- encom-agement ; and be it fiirtli(a-

Pvesolvcd, that in fairness to those interested notice is hereby given, that this Board will withold fr<im such iirojects priority assistance, without which new con- .struction of tlie chaiacter mentioned will fi-e(|uently be found im|)iactical.li'. and that this notice shall be given wide publicity, that all jiarties interested may be billy appraised of the difficuUies and delays to which they will l-e subjected and (aiibark upon them at their peril."

"The undersigned hereby pledges itself not to use, nor so far as lies within its power permit to be used, any products of its manufacture now in, or which may hereafter come into its jiossession or control, save (a) for essential uses as that term has been or may be detiiied or applied from time to time by the Priorities Division of the War Industries Board, or (b) under permits in writing signed by or under authority of such Pii(jrities Division; that it will make no sale or delivery of such products to aii>' customer for resale luitil such customer has filed with it a similar pledge in writing, and that it will use its utmost endeavor to insure that its ]iroducts shall be dislril.uted s.ilely for essential uses. -

On September 3, 1918 Edwin B. Parker, Priorities Commissioner of the Priorities Division of the War Industries Board issued a circular, approved by Bernard N. Baruch, Chairman War Industries Board and directed to all manufacturers, jobbers, distributors, dealers and consumei-s of building materials, in which directions were givt'u as to requirements of permits for engaging in construction wmk. By the circular it was jirovided that when any one contemplating building who conceives his proposed project to be in the public interest or of sufficient importance that under existing conditions it should not be postponed he will make a full statement in writing, under oath, and present same to the local representative of the Council of National Defense, applying to such representative for his approval of the proposed construction ;that should such local representative approve the project he will promptly transmit the application, with a statement as to his reasons for approving same, to the Chairman of the State Council of Defense for his consideration; that if approved by the latter he will transmit it to the Chief of the Non-War Construction Section of the Priorities Division of the War Industries Board at Washington, D. C. for consideration, if need be further investigation, and final decision. In case the application have final aiijiioval it was jirovided that a construction permit be issued which would constitute a wan-ant to nianufactui-eis and dealers to sell and deliver the materials i-equired.

It was further piovided that certain projects should require no permits, such being construction woi'k done or to be done under the authority of the War Industries Board and other Federal Government agencies and a very few other limited lines; also that repairs and extensions of existing buildings to cost not more than $2500 and new consti'uction of fai-ni buildings costing not to exceed SIOOO shotdd require no jiermit from the Priorities Division.

It was afterwai'ds piovided under date of October 191S that the Local County Committee should without referring the matter to higher authority, pass upon applications for farm building constiuction to cost less than .flOOO and repairs on existing buildings to cost less than $2500.

A person desiiing to construct any building, without reference to its cost, or who wished to make repairs to any structure at a cost of iiioi-e than 82500, made written application for a iiermil upon blanks furnished him, giving the estimated cost of the work, character of construction and reason whv it should be allowed to be constructed. These applica- tions in Lee County were tiled witli the secretary JNIr. Roseerans anil a meeting of the committee held on each Monday morning, which the applicant was requested to attend. The committee having been created at the eiul of the huilding season there was not a great amount of work to he done, Imt usually two or three cases a week (inly t(i act upiin.

The Board in every instance reconunended to the geneial ( 'oiniiiit tee that permits for new liuildings in the cities or villages lie refused. In two instances it rci'onimended that pt'imits be granted to build barns to ri'|)lace barns on farms that had been destroyed by fire. It granted permission to make repairs costing less than S25UU in two or three eases and also granted a number of permits to build corn cribs, hog houses and cattle sheds costing less than $1000. Its general policy, however, in line with its instructions, was to refuse permits and recommendations for all kinds of construction not shown to be absolutely essential.

The work of the committee was concluded shortly after the signing of the armistice on November 11 as the ban on building oi)eiations was raised a lew days thereafter.

The work of the committee was greatly aided by its efficient secretary, Mr. E. S. Roseerans, who had charge of its details and handled them in a most satisfactory and efficient