The San Francisco call., 1898-05-08
GUARDING HIGH
 EXPLOSIVES
Precautions Taken for the Safety of the Plant
 at Giant.

The property of the Giant Powder Company is being very carefully pro- tected and guarded from evil-minded per sons and accidents. A few weeks ago there was an explosion at the WorkS at Clipper Gap, in Placer County, but that was caused by one of the buildings belng struck by lightning At the Clipper Gap Works armed guards are constantly on watch to prevent Spanish sympathizers from gaining access to the premises. It is the plant at Giant, in Contra Costa County. nineteen miles from this city, that the company is most concerned about. These works occupy tract or land of $50 acres, on which there are eighty buildings, where the manufacture of powders and high explosives is carried on. The tract is on a point Of land that extends out into San Pablo Bay, and in conseuuence the officers of the company are able to guard it well.
 As soon as the first signs of hostilities made their appearance the secret service agents of the Government requested the officers of the company to take extra pre- cautions, for the plant is of great lm- portance to the Government. It Is tne only place in the West where gelatlne TOT marine mines and dynamite guns IS made Some of the products carry over S0 per cent of explosive. Only a few days ago a large order of this stuff was filled for the Government As a matter of fact, the warning was hardly necessary, TOT the manager, Julian Sonntag, had already given directions to have the guard doubled and no one allowed on the prem ises not regularly employed there: Since the declaration of hostil1ties the force or watchmen has been increased, until near ly half of the force is either Deputy Sheriff or a Deputy Constable.
 Being situated on peninsula, the place is easily guarded, one waterman com manding a view of large areas of land. n all prOnineQt places are fastened signs. which read;
 Property of the Giant Powder
 Company, Consolidated Nouce
 Any stranger found in the premises
 of this company will be immedi-
 ately placed under arrest. FRANK
 ROLLER, Superintendent.
 Approved, JULIAN SONNTAG,
 General Manager.
 Notices have also been placed on the bay shore warning all boats and water craft to keep away. The nearest thor oughfare passing the lands of the com pany is the railroad, that great highway that the trampS have grown to consider as having been built for their special benefit. For about ten miles the weary wanderers are having hard time of it at present The deputies of the Giant have an understanding with the officers of the California Powder Works at Pnole, five miles further up the road, by which every tramp is kept in motion until he is long distance from either works. TrampS are not allowed to stop or rest for minute along the railroad track, which means that they have to hustle along or. go to jail. There is but little fear of the genuine tramp, but 1t is very easy for one sympathiZing with the Spanish cause to assume the garb of the wanderer and so get near to the works and thus be able to do mischief which would be of much importance to this Government.
 In order that no other than employees of the works may get upon the premises, a clever system has been put into practice by MT. Sonntag.. To each empioye is given a card, with the name, height. weight, color of hair, eyes, etc., and other peculiarities. These are examined very frequently by the armed deputies. Dur ing the night a large force is kept on duty, and these men make regular rounds, the same being registered by watchmen's clocks placed at a number of points. In speaking of the care being taken at the works, MT. Sonntag said We are not going to take any chances of having any thing happen. It is a valuable plant to us and to the. Government, especially at the present time, and we believe that while the country is more or less filled with spies and sympathizers of Spain we cannot be too careful as to whom we allow upon the premises"