Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-05-24
GUNMAKER KRUPP.
The Great German Iron Works
And Their Founder.
Seventeen Thousand Work.
men Employed in Essen.


as he has been called, is Herr Frcdcr-
ick Krupp of Essen, WestphaIa. lie
is monarch among gunmaEcrs anu
iron founders, immensely wealthy ana
of tremendous influence, but he IS
personally little known outside of his
own country.
The great works at Essen were cs-
IabIishcd by his father in 1927. Az
first the elder Krupp had only TWO
workmcn and the works were con-
Quoted on the most limited scale; Du'
under the supclvisi,n Of the son they
attained their present colossal proper
tons. Herr Krupp is tho dlscovcrer
OF the method Of casting steel in very
large masses.
He sent to the London Exhibition
of 1851 block weighing foIty-llvc
German quinIals; and at the p'o>c"'
time he is able to cast block weigh
inc more than 1000 quin,aIs. lie
manufactures large number Of arL'-
cles used for peaceful purposes; but
his name is more particularly assocl-
atcd with the gigantic steel slegc-suh'
which the Germans used with such
terrible effect against the city OF lHris'
In 1864 the King of Prussia offered
him letters Of nobility, which he de-
clincd to accept.
Krupp's factories, in which are c'h'
ploycd II, 900 workmcn. turn out all
the big guns with which the German
army and navy arc equipped and most
of the machinery for Germany's ships
of war. To fill up space and lImc'
steel rails, too are manufactured, ana
whereas it is rumorcd that the German
Emperor is silent partner in the con-
ccru, and Germany runs its own rail-
roads, the contracts for ali rails and
engines needed are filled by Mcssrs.
Krupp & Co.
Essen is situated in the very heart
of that region of Westphalia where
coal and iron are found in abundance
The process Of converting iron into
steel has been and, if am correctly
| Informed, is still kept secret by the
firm. But few visitors are allowed
ON the premises. They are conducted
around BY guide, who shows ihcm
only so much as the firm thinks fl u
let them see, and in the short time i'll
which the favored guest is hurried
through the establishment, which
covers several square miles of ground,
he can hardly take with him more
than few general impressions, OF
which one is the greatness of the c>-
tablishmenl, another the precision and
order with which the work is carried
on, and third the genial, elaborate
system which makes such an order
possible.
Every system, be it one adapted fol
the management of railroad, fac
tory or even Il city or country, Is
growth. 1t found its origin and de
vclopmcnt in the needs Of the time ~
thcv sprang up, one after the Other
and had to be dealt with. No on
human being could have issued foitI
at once the system which meets all th
wants of this immense composite or
ganism. Half a century ago the iirl
was small concern and OF
Mr.. Krupp a mere blacksmith. Re
turning from his travels he is said t
have brought home with him or in
vented recipe how to change moltc
iron into steel. lie made Use of It 70
, various purposes, was successful i
IFS adaptation for the manufacture o
, steel guns, and since that time the C:
tablishment has grown from year
, wear until it is now the largest an
, wealthiest of its kind in the world.
There is. however, another itel
| which makes the Essen works tn
most noted in Europe, if not III I'll
: world. 1t is the care with which I'll
, Iuborers are treated. Although nom
= nally every laborer is free to qu
= after having given two weeks notic'
1 privilege which also is accorded
8 the management if it wishes to di
e charge man who does not give sati
k faction, changes rarely take plac
:. There have never been strikes SIMON
C the employees of Krupp nor lockout
c The management (Which is rather I
l. military kind) has always endcavore
to adjust wages with the purchasli
po yer of the money.
This policy has kept the Lahore
: contentcd. According to their earl
L ings they are obliged to contribu
I toward fund from which they +
= ceive aid in sickness and support
y case they should be disabled by
s. accident or old age. A school is su
ii ported by Mr.. Krupp. IN which Il
y children of luborers Cat least numb
l of thcm) receive instruction. He ow
u a number of houses, which he lets
. fair prices, and runs number
. stores, in which the laborers can obla
u their groceries, clothing, etc., at
y tritln above cost. 1t is an cXccllc
y" thing that while he offers them low
)" prices lie insists upon cash businc'
! Under no consideration is ere,
= opened for any one. -[San Francis
l. Chronicle.
rs The Preservation Of Valley Forge