Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-01-11
The Du PONT POWDER WORKS.


How Their Founder came TO Engage In the
Businsss. ANA How he Cam. TO Locate the
works on the i,nnks Of the Brandywiue.
The recent celebration of the Tooth
anniversary of the landing in this
country. ut Newport, r. l., Of Eleu-
there Ircnec du Pont de Nemours,
founder Of the great du Pont powder
making works, recalls an interesting
story OF how he came to enuer upon
this business, and also of how he came
to locate tho works on the Brandywine,
rear this city.
Elouthore du Popt was chemist by
professions, and d young man fond of
sports. so that he frequently took his
gun and went in. search of game. The
fact that the powder made in this
country was very poor, and that only
the Imported article was really good,
turned his thoughts in the direction Of
manufacturing good article OF powder
Oh this sitie If the Atlantic.
Having d65idad to engage In the
venture, tho nuxt place was suitable
location ono that would afford good
water power, and ample surroundings
for an extension OF the business that
would.not bring the works into close
proximity TO communities of people
who might thereby he endangered by
explosions. In his investigation OF this
subject, he narrowed his selection to
three locations, MS follows:
|. The Falls of Passaic, on tho
Passaic River, N. j., the site of the
present city Of Paterson.
2. The present location, on the
Brandywine, near Wilmington.
B. a site on the Mattapony River,
near Charlottesville, Va.
1t happened that young du Pont
occasionally visited Thomas Jefferson
at the latter's home, Monticello, near
Charlottesville. Ills father, Pierre
Samuel du Pont, and Mr.. Jefferson
wero intimate friends ard both were
interested in tho raising of Mofino
sheep, the elder du Pont having
selected in Europe some fine Merino
rams for Jefersons farm. Young
du Pont paid visit TO Jefferson for
the purpose of consulting him with
reference to the location OF his pro.
posed powder works, and detailed the
three sites he had in view. He stated
that he had about made up his mind
in favor of the location on the Brandy.
wine as afrording the best advantages,
and where he would be least likely to
be incommoded by People building
their homes close TO the works. Mr..
jefferson tried to pursuade him to
choose the Virginia site.
II don't think / SHALL" replied
young du Pont, II don't like your
black Merinos. -
Never mind the black Merinos, ,,
reJoined the famous ex- President of
the United States, within 90 years
we will have them all back in Africa. -
The use of the term "hlack Merinos''
IN this conversation was with respect
to the negro slaves, of which Virginia
hnd large number, even at that early
date. 1t is matter of history that
jefferson was opposed to slavery, and
was at one time, in connection with
the elder James A. Bayard, interested
IN colonization society which had for
its object The deportation of the slaves
to Africa. But he could not convert
Eleuthere du Pont to his view of the
situation. On the contrary, the young
Frenohman insisted that the slaves
would never be gotten back to Africa,
and that in later years the institution
of slavery would prove bane to the
country.
For this reason he would not locate
his powder works in Virginia, and SO
he established them on the banks of
the Brandywine.
This story was given by one of his
sons to the Gazette's informant.