The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-25
THE kRUPP WORKS.
The Largest Business in the World De-
pendent on One Individual.

chiefly by Essen. A wonderful and
impressive scenei Around the many
storied edifices with their high CHM
neys that make the iron-works-there
must be at least hundred such-the
vast plain is dotted as far as the eve
can reach with buildings of the in
Vulnerable iron and coal mines, with
chimneys floating white banners OF
smoke. The landscape is variegated
with pretty hamlets, glimpses of rivers,
endless poplar avenues along white
highways, and everywhere moving
lines of shining cloud where trains of
the three great railways that encompass
Essen speed perpetually and in ali
directions. Frederick Krupp, belong
ing to an old Essen family, started his
works in 1910, but he suffered by ten
years lawsuit, which, though won,
burdened him with debt. After his
death, in 1926, his widow barely man.
aged to secure for her Alfred a good
education, and when he was called to
the works, in 1913, he found, to use his
own words. 'Shree workmen and more
debts than fortune" Its he, now a hale
and hearty gentleman of seventy-three
years, who has built up the Krupp
works to their present immensely. The
firm name is still Fred Krupp,n but
the works do not belong to Il company,
nor yet, as some suppose, to the
but to this one man,
Alfred Krupp, who thus owns probably
the largest business in the world de-
pendent on an individual. The works
within the town cover more than 800
acres. half of which are under cover.
to a census taken in Septem-
Der, 1881, the number of hands en-
ploycd by Mr.. Krupp was 1860, the
members of their families 1916,
65,3Sl persons supported by
his works. Of the laborers, 11,211
were engaged upon the works in Essen,
the rest being employed in the sur
mines, the branch works at
Neuweid and Sayn, and the mines in
Spain (BilbOa,) from which, though
less extensive, the finest ores are
brought. Mr.. Krupp owns 547 iron
mines in Germany. He owns four sea-
steamers, and there are connected with
his Essen works ~ miles of railway,
% locomotives and SS3 cars,
SO horses with 191 wagons, and 40
miles oftelegraph wires with 80 stations
and 30 Morse apparatuses. The es-
possesses a grand chemical
a Photographic and lithO-
crapic atelier. 4 printing-office with
steam and 6 hand presses. and Il
book-binding room. The establishment
even runs a hOtel-an excellent one,
rs | have good reason to KNOWN
Essen; and three years ago, for the adj
vantage of the population he had gath
cred, Mr.. krupp erected large central
supply store, connecting with it many
branches and extending its benefits to
all parts OF the town and to the colonies
he has built for his workmen in the
ncighborhood. Although rumOrs have
gone through the world of the vast eX-
tent of these works. it is difficult from
mere printed statistics to estimate
the impressiveness of this great indus
rial center until one has looked upon
It from some height. and attempted to
through and around it.
To the general world the name
'Krupp" has almost ceased to be per-
'Onal; it signifies a particular instru-
nent of destruction. Two-thir1s of the
work here are devoted to things be-
onging to the arts of peace-all the
parts of steam-engines, locomotives,
ron aXles, bridges, rails, wheels. tires,
switches, springs, shafts for steamers,
mint dies, rudders and parts of all va
'ieties of iron machinery are prepared
lcre for manufacturers. That is, they
ire not combined here; all the iron
parts of Il locomotive may be obtained
lere, but not locomotive, although
nearly all of the locomotives and en-
zines used in the works are made in
hem. Both Brahma and silva are in
he employ of Mr.. Krupp, but the
creative power preponderates, and if |
he destroyer is more famous it must be |
attributed to the worlds keen interest |
II fight.
Krupp is king. Iron is master of |
he situation. When an ancient king |
displayed his gold, a sage said: But !
'Ou, he will be master of all this gold"
The late Franco-Ierman war is mod |
I'm instance. 1t has just been discov-
red that although NJ. Theirs declared
proudly to the victorious Germans:
You may have all our money, but not
/ foot of our territory nor stone of
'ur fortresses," privately he had adj
Used differently: ''Retter surrender our
provinces than our money, for our
money can buy back our provinces"
had to part with both, and Berlin
las grown magnificent with French
billiards. The French also find that
money can not always buy iron. For
10 amount can they purchase Krupp
,uns. This patriotism is in notable
ontrast with the impartiality of Eng
ishmen. Wherever Englishmen are
Tiled. in Africa or in the East, it is
With English guns. In the Indian Mu-
cum in London there is an organ
epresenting a tiger devouring an En-
it was constructed by Bir-
bingham house for England's chief
nemy, Tippoo Saib. who was wont to
ave it set going during his meals that
e might listen with delight to the IL
-er's growls and the Englishman's
.roans. Mr.. Krupp has no objection to
cling guns to England, but is shrewd
n that direction. Recently England
rished to purchase one or two of his
ltest and best cannon, but Mr. Krupp
aid he would not sell them less than a
Million pounds worth. Should they
btain one or two they would presently
e copying them at Woolwich, just as
he Russians have long been copying
.rupp originals at Aboukhoff. If the
.nglish would give him a million
ounds' order, under condition that the