Evening journal., 1898-01-28
SMOKELESS POWDER.
Uncle Sam Will Purchase
$1,000, 600 Worth.
DU POINTS WILL BENEFIT BY IT

BUT THE GOVERNMENT WILL ES-
TABL1sH A POWDER PLANT.
NEW RULES AFFECTING THE
EXPLOITATION OF EXPLOSIVES
TO SOUTH AFRICA.
One Of the best customers of the
great powder manufacturing concern,
the 10. /. Dupont de Nemours and Com
pany, OF this city, has ever been tho
United States Government. IL has
purchased from the local concern mill
lions of dollars worth OF explosives in
the years succeeding the establishment
of the plant. Hence, any legislation In
regard to explosives affects the plant
on the Brandywine materially.
Adviccs from Washington are that
1t is regarded as settled that the naval
appropriation bill now being framed
by House Subcommittee will contain
three important items. namely, $1,000
600 for smokeless powder. $500 900 FOR
reserve ammunition and $93 900 for tho
establishment of a government powder
factory.
The matter of having an ample sup
ply of powder, In order to meet the re-
quiremeDts of our naval vessels In an
emergency, has received careful atfen-
ton from members Of the committed.
AS long as the old style of black pow
der was In use the many private COM
panies making this article gave assur-
ance that a supply could be secured on
short notice. Now. however, with the
general adoption Of smokeless powder,
the opportunities for speedy supply are
said to be much reduced
For that reason it is proposed TO all
low $1,000 900 for the purchase OF this
article and at the same time provide a
government plant which will hereafter
produce an ample supply The item Of
100000 for reserve ammunition will
cover all classes OF naval material
large and small to meet require
ments OF vessels nearing completion.
and OF such emergencies as may arise.
A Wilmington man who has an inti-
mate acquaintance with the workings
OF the mills Of the DUPONT Company
says that 1t will benefit largely by the
Two appropriations first named, and
VIII doubtless supply nearly one-hali
OF the explosives to be purchased by
the government. The last item will
prove a detriment not only to the Du-
Pont Company, but also to all other
I
the government once goes into the
powder manufacturing business ther,
is no telling where it will stop.
Collectors Of custom have also re
ceived notice from the British consul.
relative to the shipment OF explosive.
TO British possessions. The local firm
will also have to pay due regard L
this notice. II is particularly applica
bic to the new regulations concernin,
the shipment Of explosives to British
possessions in South Africa, which re
Gently went into effect because Of tn,
trouble prevalent in that part OF thu
country. Large quantities Of explosive
are exported from Philadelphia an,
Pigeon Point, this city, ald the collec
tors are requested by the cOnsuls L
/ notify shippers of dynamite and othe
explosives bound for various pOrt
In South Africa that the importer /
required TO satisfy the port officer a
such ports, by the production Of the Ii
| cense or otherwise, that the impOrta
ton Of the explosive in question /
duly authorized in Great Britain. A
1 Port Elizabeth. however, where a larg
quantity Of dynamite Is imported fror
I foreign countries for the dynamite mo
/ nopoly and mines Of the South Afrioa,
I Republic, the following special reg1ila
: ton has been adopted:
If explosives are exported from
foreign port the application to Ian
Z must be accompanied by an officia
certificate, stating that the explosive
has been manufactured from which
has been manufactured under lioens
Of the government from which IL Is ex
ported, and further sworn certificat
J fran a qualified chemist, to be ar
I proved by a British consul genera
consul or vice consul"