The Cecil Whig., 1871-08-26
The DUPONT Powder Works.

| AAO DuA 1OVucT VOIhSs
We take the following description of the
DUPONT Gunpowder Works from Bishops
History of American Manufacturers:
Eleuthere Irene DUPONT was the founder
of the immense works distinguished as the
"Brandywine Powder Works." near Will
mington, Delaware. He was native of
France, and emigrated to the United States
in the fall of 1899, landing at Newport,
Rhode Island, January 1st, 1900. Having
noticed the poor quality of Gunpowder
then made in America, he resolved to en-
gage in its manufacture, of which he had
some knowledge, having been pupil of
the celebrated French chemist, Lavoiser,
who had charge of the "Bureau de Pou-
dres ct Saltpetres " under the French Gov
ernment.
After some time spent in selecting loca-
tion, Mr.. DUPONT established himself on
the Brandywine Creek, about four miles
above the City of Wilmington, in the State
of Delaware, where he prosecuted the bus
mess with such success, at the time of his
decease, at the United States Hotel in Phil
adelphia, in 1884, his establishment was
the most extensive of its kind in this coun-
try, as it now is probably in the world.
Since the decease of it's founder, the bus
iness has been managed by his sons and
grandsons, who maintain the old firm-style
of D. l. Dupont de Nemours & Co. The
works of the firm comprise five complete
manufactures; four of them on the Bran
dywine, and one in Luzerne county, Penn
sylvania, where blasting powder for colliers'
use is largely made.
The original works, on the Brandywine,
commenced operation in 1902, and have
capacity for producing five thousand pounds
of sporting powder per day.
The middle, or Hagley works, commenced
in 1872, comprises two complete sets of
works, in one enclosure, under fall of
twenty-five feet-so arranged that both
can work on the Same description of pow
der; or, if required, one set can manufac-
ture one kind of powder, and the other set
another kind the two combined having
capacity of twenty-five thousand pounds
of blasting powder per day.
The lower works, commenced in 1746,
are under fall of twenty feet, and have a
capacity of five thousand pounds of sport
ing powder per day.
The Saltpeter refinery, with laboratory
attached, is two hundred and fifty-eight
feet, by ninety-six feet with ample appli-
cation for supplying all the nitre required
for the fabrication of powder, and also con-
siderable quantities for such purposes as
require an article chemically pure. In
proximity to the refinery are large ware
houses for the storage Of saltpeter.
The charring houses, for the preparation
OF charcoal-three in number-are capable
of furnishing 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 the maga-
zines, and wharf at which large vessels
can lie; the other on the Christiana creek,
with ample wharfage for coasters, and for
landing coal, wood, etc.
A passenger railway has been established
between the city of Wilmington and the
property of the Messers. DUPONT.
Attached to the powder works are ex-
tensive machine and millwright shops,
where all repairs are made, and the most
of the machinery is built; also a saw-mill,
plaining-mill, carpenter and blacksmith
shops, and capacious buildings for the man.
ufacture of wooden and metallic kegs and
barrels, and of powder canisters.
Railroad tracks are laid through tho
powder works, and the bulk of the trans
portation of the powder, in it's various
stages of manufacture is done on cars
drawn by horses or mules, of which the
firm have about eighty.
Besides the powder mills, the firm own
over two thousand acres of land, that
stretches for distance of three miles or
both sides of the stream; and on this prop
erty there are three woolen mills, cotton
mill, Merchants and grist mill, and
population of nearly four thousand per-
sons. The farms attached to the works
are in high state of cultivation, and the
roads are macadamized for ease of trans
portation. 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 maintained
for the Brandywine powder is due to the
care bestowed on it's manufacture, and to
the constant personal supervision of the
owners. The consumption of saltpeteI,
the principal ingredient in the manufac-
ture, has been in single year, including
the Luzerne county mills, over seven mil
lions of pounds, the bulk of which was
imported from Calcutta. The machinery
in operation for the manufacture of gun
powder is driven by three steam engines
and forty-seven water wheels, the greater
part of which are Turbines.
The manufacture embraces all descrip-
tions of powder, viz: Mammoth, Cannon,
Mortar, Musket and Rifle, for army and
navy ordnance service; Diamond grain,
Eagle, and the various grades of Canister
and Sporting powders; Shipping, Blasting,
Mining and Fuse powders.
The production of the mills is princi-
pally consumed in the United States, the
firm having agencies and magazines at all
the most important points, with princi-
pal depot for the Pacific States at San Fran
cisco, and agencies in South America, in
the East and West Indies.
Toillustrate the progress which has been
in the manufacture of powder in the United
States, it is only necessary to recall the
the fact that during the Crimean war the
Allies, to enable them to prosecute the
siege of Sebastopol, were obliged to pro-
cure large supplies of gunpowder in the
United States (one-half of which was fur
nished by the Brandywine Powder mills,)
and that the American powder compared
favorably with the best they could procure
in Europe.