PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
During 1925 and 1926 the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, with the Technical Advisory Corporation as consulting engineers, have been engaged in an industrial survey of Dayton. The engineers' report of this survey, in two large volumes, includes a number of topical sections and two summary sections. The first of the summary sections contains 80 specific recommendations bearing on industrial development in Dayton, together with some detailed discussion. The second, by prearrangement, is a bald statement of handicaps and advantages without much discussion or elaboration. It was stipulated when the survey was begun that such a summary should be Incorporated.
The sponsors of the present booklet have decided to make public the summary section referred to. It was not written for purposes of propaganda. It is not an attempt to gloss over the facts, but merely to present them as they are. It is believed that they sum up favorably for Dayton. Dayton has nothing to conceal and does not invite new Industries on the basis merely of optimistic estimates of its advantages. It aims to present in this booklet all of the facts which could be ascertained, regardless of their Implications.
The text which follows is, therefore, an engineer's report on Dayton as a manufacturing point. It is a digest of Section 2 of the report of the industrial survey, simply boiled down for publication in this form, without change of statement or implication in any part. The few unfavorable conditions which exist are faced frankly, without attempt to cover up. Many references to other cities, which properly occur in the report itself, would be out of place in this booklet and therefore have been eliminated.
Since Summary Section 2 is based on a number of topical sections, It is obvious that amplifying data is available on these topics; and this can be furnished to Interested parties.
What follows is, therefore, a digest of the report of the Technical Advisory Corporation, signed by its Vice President, William D. Ennis, addressed to the sponsor organization, the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, under date of May 1, 1926.
LOCATION AND CLIMATE
Dayton's Climate
Dayton's latitude and climate are favorable to year-around productivity. Its mean annual temperature, 52.9, is decidedly higher than that of the whole state of Ohio, 50.7; and very much higher than that of Buffalo, 47. During 1923 there were in Dayton only 18 days when the maximum temperature reached or exceeded 90 degrees. On the other hand, there were only 93 days when the minimum temperature fell as low as 32 degrees. The average frost-tree period is from April 17 to October 20, giving a particularly long growing season.
Dayton has an average precipitation which is about median, with only rare extreme quantities of rainfall, and with a fairly uniform distribution of rainfall throughout the year. There is very little snow, the average annual fall being 21.5 inches. There are never any very heavy snows. The maximum single fall recorded is 9 inches, which is less even than Cincinnati's record. Dayton has less snow than St. Louis.
The maximum wind velocity ever recorded is 62 miles per hour, and usual winds are moderate Out of six cities compared. Dayton has the maximum total sunshine (although its sunshine is somewhat variable) and the maximum percentage of possible sunshine.
Eastern Time Recommended
Dayton is on about the same meridian as Atlanta and Lansing. It uses Central Standard time, except during the summer months, when the city is on a daylight saving schedule. The adoption of Eastern standard time as a year-around uniform standard would work advantageously to Dayton.
Dayton at the Center of Things
If one were able to select the best location in the United States for an industrial city of Dayton's type, the point selected would not be far from where Dayton is now. Dayton lies 34 miles from the center of urban population of the United States, 43 miles from the median point of total population, and 56 miles from the national center of manufactures. This last point, like the center of population, steadily moves westward, but it has not moved westward as fast or as far as the center of population, and its next movement, to be recorded in 1930, will almost certainly be in a direction approximately toward Dayton. This will be the resultant of two forces; the steady westward pull which has been going on for a century or more, and the industrial development of the South.
A location such as Dayton's would be suitable for probably the majority of all specific industries represented in the United States. Dayton is at the very center of American Industry, with many special advantages of its own.
The Hub of the Wheel
Dayton's position, so far as location is concerned, as a point for the national distribution of goods is therefore highly advantageous. It is within easy reach of Chicago, New York, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. Any of these cities may be reached with practically no loss of business hours in traveling. Dayton's expansion into the distribution area is toward an increasing trade territory.
There are four trunk line railroads, many trains to all major points, and (in one or two important respects) an excellence of train service which would not be expected by one who had not made an examination of the railroad maps and schedules. Dayton has most favorable rail connections in all directions. Cincinnati is a transfer point to the southern trade areas.
Topography and Physiography
The city lies in a wide river trough at the junction of three rapid streams, with complete flood protection. The surrounding upland is a plateau of slight relief, covering practically the entire state of Ohio, at an elevation close to 1,000 feet. Few parts of the state show a greater relief, or more extreme dissection than that immediately around Dayton. Within and adjacent to the city the topography is entirely favorable for industrial sites. In the entire area in Dayton which has been zoned for Industry, every acre is either now in Industrial use or Is suitable for such purpose. It is interesting to observe that practically every such area is bordered by a river or a railroad line.
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