Weirton, U.S.A.

As steel magnate Ernest Weir looks down upon the valley of his bustling steel town Weirton, Ohio, the narrator describes the history of Weir's ambitions, ideals and success. After building a prominent tin plate operation in Clarksburg, West Virginia early in the century with his partner John Phillips, Weir expanded his steel manufacturing operation into the Ohio valley in 1909 and oversaw its growth into a steel giant. The film also includes the history of the Ungava iron ore used in steel production. Soon after the discovery of a large amount of Ungava ore by an Indian chief in Northern Canada, two mining companies and five steel companies, including Weir's, join together to investigate the area. Using drilling samples of the Precambrian land, geologists and engineers confirm the locations of the rich ore and map the area with aerial photography. The only nearby town, a small and isolated French and Indian village named Seven Islands, is suddenly transformed into a bustling town by the mining endeavor. After men and supplies are flown into the area, roads, bridges, dams and railroad tracks are constructed to support the needs of the burgeoning steel industry and the several hundred workers employed in the region. The ore is cleaned, packaged and then shipped by train to various mills, including Weirton. As described by the narrator, Weir believes the Ungava mining operation typifies the "planning ahead and vision in steel" needed for successful free enterprise. Back in modern-day Weirton, Weir claims that his town is not dedicated solely to industry, but is also a well-governed and patriotic city of 30,000, in which 95% of the population own their own homes. In addition to the single-family homes, the town is filled with various municipal buildings including a hospital, community center and library, which are all run with private funds. Portraits of various Weirton employees attest to a diverse population of various nationalities and religious faiths. The steel workers, who are some of the best paid in the industry, have their own "independent" union which has never gone on strike. Weir attributes the success of the industry to high quality standards and production goals. The film follows the production of the plants' various products, from the making of molten ore to the shaping of slabs, sheets, rolls and reels. In the sheet mill, some steel is galvanized and cut into sheets for the construction of Quonset huts. Other steel is plated in tin, cut into sheets, inspected and finally shipped to tin can companies representing the largest names in the food industry. Weirton Steel, one of the largest steel producers in the world, ships its products by rail, truck and barge down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to various industries throughout the country. Proud of his creation, Weir believes that the town should serve as a model of a good and productive livelihood for American families.