The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-08-11
A BIG PURCHASE.
HOW DUPONT SUPPLIED THE pow
DER FOR TIE CIVIL WAR.

On the banks Of the Brandywine in
Delaware, are the great Dupont Pow
der Mills. Established in 1902 by the
French Royalist, E!euthere T. Dupont
de Nemours, who found republican
France an uncongenial home, they have
grown to be the greatest mills In the
world for the making Of explosives. At
the time of the civil war the Duponts
were, as they are to-day, powder max
ers for the United States government.
In 1861 the secretary Of war sent for the
Duponts, and La Motto Dupont, one of
the heads of the firm, went to WASH
ington in reply to the summons.
Are you prepared to furnish a very
large amount of gunpowder?" asked
the secretary of war.
That depends on our obtaining salt
petre," was the answer. The saltpe-
tire of the world is mined in India, OF
course, under the control of the British
government and the markets are in
London and Liverpool"
The secretary of war was startled. II
England should prove unfriendly dur
ing the course of the war which was
opening, the saltpetre market would.
of course, be closed to the United
States.
'The government must buy a large
amount at once" he said.
Excuse me-" said Mr.. Dupont, "the
United States cannot go into the mar
ket and buy saltpetre at any reasona-
ole price--indeed, it might not be able
to buy it at all, but the Duponts can
get it without exciting comment"
''Will you so to England and buy it,
buy all there is?"
Mr.. Dupont agreed TO go, and he and
the secretary of war talked a few mo-
ments longer; they made a few figures
and the powder man was provided with
letters Of credit on the Rothschilds.
On the next steamer he sailed for
England and presented himself with
letters of Introduction to the Roths-
chiids.
Very sorry, Mr.. Dupont, your letters
Of credit have not arrived" and he was
politely bowed out.
He next presented letters of introduce
tion to Barring Brothers, the London
correspondents of the Duponts. One of
the firm, Mr.. Archibald, cordially re-
cetved the powder manufactures.
Very happy to meet you, Mr.. Du-
pont. We have never had the pleasure
of meeting Dupont, although We have
done business with the firm for fifty
years"
avn rr1a 60
the American. "for 1 am in need of
money"
I'VE shall be most happy to furnish
you with all that you require. About
how much will you need?"
Mr.. Dupont looked meditatively at
the floor for moment, and Mr. Archi-
bald looked with some curiosity at his
American customer. A homely man
was this powder maker; high cheek
bones, a square chin. covered with u
thin, uneven bristly beard, spectacles
on his deep, kind eyes; a man who
somewhat resembled Lincoln in the
character of his face. Mr. Archibald
thought he might want several hun
dred pounds. This American had per-
pensive than in his western simplicity
he had supposed. Mr.. Dupont, looking
up. said:
Il shall want 100000 pounds, and I
want 1t right away"
Mr. Archibald was amazed. Only his
British phlegm prevented him exhibit
ing his astonishment. Was this Amer
lean a new Monte Cristo!
by right away, do you mean now %
he managed to ask.
Il mean in twenty-four hours; that
is what we call right away in the
United States"
You will pardon me IL consult my
partners--it is a good deal of money"
MIR. Dupont admitted that 1t was a
good deal of money and he took his
hat
by the way, when you send word
to my hotel ask for Mr. Jones' am
registered under that name"
Before he was out or bed the next
morning Mr.. Archibald called. The
Barings would let Mr.. Dupont have the
money.
Mr.. Dupont now had money to burn
(this Is not altogether slang) and he Sc,
out to buy saltpetre. He proposed to
buy only the larse lots but to buy them
all. He went first to Liverpool, and
found the saltpetre in the hands Of four
dealers. He was a Mr.. JONES'" who
wanted some saltpetre.
He bought the stock of all the dealers
and each man hugged himself with de.
light because he had sold his saltpetre
until he discovered that there was none
an the market, and the price had ad-
vanced; therefore, the balance of his
days, he cursed the tricky Yankee.
This great supply of saltpetre bought
the next thing was to hire ships to
carry 1t to America He found Ameri-
can vessels in Liverpool which would
undertake to transport it, matter OF
some risk. for saltpetre was contraband
of war.
The loading began; everything moved
SLOWLY Mr. Dupont was exasnarataf