Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-08-16

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founder of tho immense works distin-
guishcd rs the "Brandywine Power
Works." near Wilmington, Delaware.
He was u native OF France and emf
grated to tho United States in tho
fall Of 1899, landing at Newport,
Rhode Island, January LIST, 1900.
Having noticed tho poor quality Of
the Gunpowder then made in America,
hc resolved 10 engage in its manufac-
turo, of which hc had some knowledge,
having been a pupil of tho celebrated
French chemist. Lavoisicr, who had
charge of tho "Bureau dc Poudrcs CT
Salpetres' under the French Govern
mcnt.
After somc time spent Ia selecting
a location, Mr.. Du Pont established
himself on the Brandywine creek,
about four miles above the town OF
Wilmington, in the State of Delaware,
where he prosecuted tho business with
such success that, at the timo of bis
deccasc, at the United States Hotel in
Philadelphia, In 1894, his establish
ment was the most extensive of its
kind 10 this country, as it now is
probably in tho world
Since the dcccase Of its founder, the
business has been managed by his
sons and grandsons, who maintain the
old firm.siylc of 4. J. Du Pont de
Ncmours Il Co. The works Of the
firm comprise five complete manufac.
tories,--four Of them on the Brandy
wine, and one in Luzerne county,
Pennsylvania, where Blasting Powder
for GOLFERS use is largely made.
The original works, on tho Brandy
wine, commenced operations in 1902,
and have capacity for producing
FIVE thousand pounds of Sporting
Powder per day
The middle, or llagley Works, COM
mcnced in 1872, comprise two com
pletc sets of works, in one enclosure,
under fall of twenty-five fcet--so
arranged that both can work on the
same description of powder; or, il re-
qulred, one set can manufacture ono
kind of powder, and the other set
another kind the two combined hav-
ing a capacity of twenty-five thousand
pounds of Blasting Powder per day
The lower works. commenced in
1916, are under a fall Of twelve feet,
and have capacity of five thousand
pounds of Sporting Powder per day.
The Saltpctrc Refinery, with Labo.
ratory attached, is two hundred and
fifty.eight feet, by nincty.six feet,
with ample appliances for supplying
all the nitro required for the fabrca-
tion Of Powder, and also considerable
quantities for the market, for such
purposes as require an article chemi-
cally pure. In proximity to the Re-
fnery are large warehouses for tho
storage of salipctre.
The Charring Houses, for the prepa-
ration of charcoal-threc in number
ARE capable offurnishing all the coal
required for the mills, the wood being
stored and seasoned in extensive
buildings adjacent
The firm having two shipping points
-one on the river Delaware, with
magazines, and a wharf at which large
vessels can lio; the other on the
Christiana creek, with ample wharf
age Tor coasters, and Tor landing coal,
woou, &c
"A Passenger Railway has been es-
tao'ished between the city OF Wi
,ningtoh ana inc properly OF inc
Messrs' Du roht; ~
Attacheo 10 'ne rover " orks are
extensive Macniho ana M'nwrghs
ohops, where an repairs are 'haue, anu
most Oh tne macninery Is ouit; aiso
u Saw-ml'', Iiah,hg' mn, carpenter
ana Diachsmilh snops, ana oapacious
ou'lu'ngs ,or ,no nahulaeture OK
woouen anu 'heea',c hoss anu oarre'S,
anu ., Powuer can'sters'
na,,roau ',nchs arc ,"lu ,hrous'i
we "a. M Iowuer "orks' anu .ne ouik oI
.ho transportation oi tne Powuer, ~
us various stages OF mahuiacture' Is
uone ot ours uraw" py HORSES OF
mu,es, OF which inc nrm nave aoou1
e'gn'y',
pesiues 'ne Iowaer,m'ils, 'nc nrm
own over Two thousand acres OF iand,
'na. s'rs'encS ior uIs'"hco Oh 'nree
sn'es .,, J'i oos'' ~ SUES " .no s'ream anu
on tn's properly .nore are tnrco
Wooien' mus, a OotIoh-miii, Mer-
cnants ana urist-mi,', anu popura-
uon OF hcarly four thousand persons,
The farms attached to the works are
IN a high state oil cultivation, and the
foads are all macadamlzed Tor ease OF
transportation. The buildings on the
estate are mostly OF stone, and very
substantial, and the machinery is OF
the best and most costly character.
The high reputation SO long main
tanned for the Brandywlne Powder IS
due to the care bestowed on its manu-.
facture, and to the constant personal
supervision OF the owners Ihe con.
sumption OF saltpetre, the princlpai
Ingredient IN the manufacture, has
been IN single year. including the
Luzcrne county mills, ocer seven mil
lions Of pounds, the bulk OF which was
imported from Calcutta. The ma