The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-10-07
SALTPETRE CORNERED.
How The Supply To Garry On
The War Was Raised.


is well known the world over, and is
Immediately associated when heard,
with gunpowders from the fact that
the Duponts were the fathers of the
manufacture of that destructive arti-
Gle III this country, and by their
shrewd business sagacity, thrift and
enterprise, built upa reputation and
business which leads the world, and
leaves them to-day a family of enor-
nous wealth, controlling vest manu-
featuring interests and holding a p ISL
ton, social and political, which can
not be excelled in the world. The
Duponts were French noblemen, as
the affix de Nemours to their name
would indicate. The great grand
father of the present generation was
president of the first council of 100
of the French republic. Through
political, jealousies incident to the
times, he was laid under the ban of
suspicion and driven out of France.
He with his family came to this coun-
try at the beginning of the nineteenth
century, and began the manufacture
of gunpowder. As a result they
have supplied the United States
government with powder ever since
1904. furnishing the necessary supply
to carry on the war Of 1872, the
Mexican war and the rebellion. For
the latter service they did not receive
a cent of pay until after the close of
the war, trusting the government for
between sc 100000 and 100000
worth of powder, which is a striking
example of their faith in the cause of
the North as well as giving some idea
of thee enormous wealth they have &C.
cumnlated.
The Dupont estates are located at
Wilmington, Del, and after about
fifteen minutes drive from the depot
one enters their boundaries. From
hence they extend some five mlies,
ending in lovely valley, where are
situated the immense powder works
of F. /. Dupont, De Nemoursl& Co
This firm. as has been said, enjoys a
world wide reputation, and there is
scarcely a powder or dynamite COM
pany in the world in which they are
not stockholders.
The Duponts are all noted for their
uniform kindness and consideration
for their men. As an instance thew
have always carried on savings
bank, where their employees could
invest their surplus money and let it
draw interest. A great many have
taken advantage of this to save up
enough to move west and buy them
selves little places. In the southern
part of Ohio is a large and thriving
colony of old employees of this firm,
and their case is a fair example of
the appreciation and regard the en-
ployes have for the Duponts. In
1856 there was a terrific explosion
at the works in Wilmington, causing
a heavy loss to the firm The Ohio
colonists learning of it made up a
purse of SIS, 900, which they forward
ed to the Duponts with their sympa-
thies; saying that if necessary they
would send more. The money was
retured with grateful acknowledge
ments, the firm having plenty of
money TO meet their losses, but the
action was none the less appreciated.
The firm has magazines distributed
through all the principal cities of the
aud one of the secrets of
their wealth accommodating continually
is the fact that they bny up large
tracts of land in the suburbs of cities
for these magazines. and as the cities
build up and they find themselves in
the settled portion. and have to move
further awsy, their land has greatly
increased in value.
Beiderman Dupont, of Louisville,
KY, one of the brothers, is the owner
of the Brooklyn street car line in this
pity. He it is who backed Tom
johnson in his 6ght Tor the line and
came to the front to work the Scoville.
ave. paving scheme through.
Readers of the Sun will remember
a terrible explosion at tie Repanna
Chemical Co.'S works, in Gibbstown,
n. u, last March, at which Lamont
Dupont and five Of the leading men
in the Wilmington works were killed.
The party had gone to Gibbstown to
make some experiments. While
they were looking around, word was
brought to them that there was some
trouble at the nitro-glycerine house.
Mr.. Dupont and the others started to
investigate and just as they reached
the building the explosion occurred
Lamont Dupont was the head and
front of the great firm in latter years
He was one of the finest chemists and
rxxaofacf mn hopoa t1oione IN fao TInifa1