It soon became evident that we could not depend upon civilian labor in the operation of the various chemical plants at Edgewood because of the danger involved. It was decided, therefore, to utilize enlisted men in the working crews. As the projects at Edgewood increased in size and number, the forces at the arsenal grew, until at one time there were 7,400 troops at this point.
Meanwhile the Government had at last been able to persuade a number of private chemical firms to manufacture toxic gases. The Government agreed to finance all new construction, but the operation was to be in the hands of the contracting companies. At each plant the Government stationed one of its representatives with necessary assistants. In the spring of 1918, these scattered factories by official order were made part of the Edgewood Arsenal, each plant being designated by the name of the city or town where it was located. Thereafter in Army usage the term "Edgewood Arsenal" embraced not only the group of factories on the Edgewood reservation, but also included the following projects:
Niagara Falls plant, operated by the Oldbury Electro-Chemical Co. Project—the manufacture of phosgene.
Midland, Mich., plant, operated by the Dow Chemical Co. Project—the sinking of 17 brine wells for the purpose of securing adequate supplies of bromine.
Charleston, W. Va., plant, operated by the Charleston Chemical Co. Project—the manufacture of sulphur chloride.
Bound Brook, N. J., plant, operated by Frank Hemingway (Inc.). Project—the manufacture of phosgene.
Buffalo plant, operated by the National Aniline & Chemical Co. Project—the manufacture of mustard gas.
In addition to these, the Edgewood Arsenal built at points advantageous to supplies of raw materials four other plants, and operated them as well. These were as follows:
Stamford, Conn., plant. Project—the manufacture of chlorpicrin.