ASSAILS FORD'S PLANS.

The New York Times
November 25, 1916

River Rouge Factories Would Cripple Detroit, Says Business Man.

DETROIT, Nov. 24.—Andrew H. Green of Detroit, General Manager of a large manufacturing concern situated near River Rouge, a suburb, testified today before a Court Commissioner that the plan of Henry Ford, President of the Ford Motor Car Company, to build great blast furnaces on the River Rouge would "be a calamity," so far as Detroit business was concerned.

Green's testimony was given at the hearing of a temporary injunction obtained against Ford by John F. Dodge and Horace E. Dodge to restrain Ford from using the profits of his company to develop its business. Dodge Brothers, who are local automobile manufacturers, are seeking to have the temporary injunction made permanent.

According to Green, the construction of a large plant or of several factories on River Rouge would seriously cripple the transportation facilities from Toledo. A great amount of coal, steel, and iron comes to Detroit via Toledo, he said, and to reach this city must be transported through the River Rouge district. Constant opening of drawbridges over River Rouge to allow ore boats to pass would cause a congestion of freight traffic, he asserted.

Major Harry Burgess of the United States Army Engineering Corps testified that he considered Mr. Ford's plans for River Rouge furnaces were practical.