The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-04-16
A POWDER MANDATORY.
THE WORKS WHERE MILLIONS OF
POUNDS ARE MADE.

Duponts, who are credited with owning
twenty-seven of the thirty-three plants in
the United States. Their works at Will
mington, Del, however, are the largest
they own, and it is there that the greater
part of the gunpowder used in this coun-
try by sportsmen and for blasting is manu-
featured.
These mills are on the Dupont estate,
comprising about 5000 acres of valuable
land, Just outside of the city of Will
mington. Here on this domain they
have established what may be termed a
small principality. The old manor house
on the banks ofth Brandywine is still the
Dupont homestead, but there are also q
number of other magnificent homes on
either side occupied by the various
branches of the family. They live there
among themselves.
While there are public roads running
through the Dupont estate, from
which a view of the magnigcent dwell
ings can be had, it is utterly impossible
to get within the powder works without
the permission of some one in authority.
This precaution is taken owing to the
dangerous nature of the contents. So
careful are the members of the firm that
they will not carry or allow any person
to carry match anywhere within the
inclosure of the mills. 1t is even said
that no Dupont was ever seen with
match box in his possession.
Apropos it is related that short time
ago number of matches were discov-
cred in one of the mills. No one knew
how they got there, and it was thought
at the time that some person had malic-
iously placed them in the mill. The
matter was reported to the Office, and
one of the Duponts went to the mill and
assisted in picking up the matches
This is characteristic of the family.
They will never ask workman to do
anything they will not do themselves.
Frequently the Duponts have exposed
themselves in places that were considered
dangerous in order to reassure the work.
men. Two members of the family have
lost their lives by taking these risks.
They were Alixis Dupont, who was killed
in big explosion in 1857 at the Whining
ton works, and Lamott Dupont, who was
killed by the explosion Of nitro-glycerine
at the Repanno Works in 1884. But
these fatalities have never deferred the
other members of the family from plac-
ing their life in jeopardy.
There are thirtyone separate buildings
in the Wilmington works, and pleasing
feature about them is that they are not
grouped in one spot, but are distributed
over an extended stretch of country.
The grinding mills are located along the
various water courses, while the maga.
zines are to be found almost hidden away
in the woods. These mills make gun
powder for the whole world. They have
been severely taxed during times of war,
but have always managed to turn out
enough powder to keep the armies sup.
piled.
In making blasting powder all kinds of
wood. are used. Willow is considered
the best, poplar comes next, and then
oak and chestnut. The average man
who goes off for cunning trip has a
very poor conception of the manner in
which the powder in his flask was made.
That is the most expensive of the var
ious kinds of powder. manufactured, and
only willow stems that would go through
a finger ring are used for this purpose.
In preparing it the branches are trimmed
of the bark and of all knots. They are
then placed in an air-tight resort with a
fire underneath, when the wood under
goes the process of transformation into
charcoal. Then it goes through the
various mills, grinding. composition,
rolling, pressing and glazing, until it
reaches the drying room and then the
can, when it is ready for the sportsman
to kill his game.
The mills are located along the banks
of the Brandywine, about several hun
dred feet from one another. They are
run by water power. The grinding
mills are two stories high, and the walls
are of the stoutest masonry. The roofs
are of iron, and so placed that when an
explosion occurs they fly off, and the
force of the explosion is spent before il
can do much damage to the side walls.
II is then only necessary to pick up the
roofs and put them on the buildings
again.
Many of the mills along the river work
almost automically and there is never
any one in a rolling mill when it is in
operation. All the workmen wear shoes
with heavy rubber soles 10 prevent any
possibility of an explosion When a
rolling mill is in operation he is off at q
safe distance; as there is always danger
of the powder becoming dry under the
revolving wheel and exploding.
In what are known as the composition
mills the sulphur, saltpetre and charcoal
are mixed. In the press mills the com
position is pressed into cakes four inches
square and half inch deep. This is
done by water pressure. 1t is in these
press rooms where the most sudden and
terrific explosions take place. They are
more fatal 10 human life ON account Of
the necessity of a more regular attend
anCe of the workmen. In the grinding
mills the powder is ground and sepa-
rated by sicyes into the various grades.
1t then goes through the dust mill, where
it is freed from particles Of foreign mat
ter. Then it is ready for the glazing
mill, where that shining appearance is
impaired TO it by running il through re-
volving barrels fitted with metal bullets.
Throughout all the various processes
the powder is kept in dampened condi-
tion. In the glazing miilra workman is
always in attendance with watering-pot