Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-04-24
Alexis I. Dupont was killed in 1857.

Alexis l. Dupont was killed in 1857.
The greatest danger about powder
making occurs at the finishing mills.
where the powder receives it's last
treatment before it is ready for mar
ket. The men who work there are as
black as any darby when they leave
their work. The powder dust is so
/ Trick that the workmen are obliged to
wear damp sponges on their noses to
avoid breathing too much Of the black
Gust into their lungs, and yet it is said
to be very healthful, except in case of
accident, and then there, is not long to
Anger. II a man feels indisposed it
is not for long. He soon gets over it,
and it is so sudden that it does not
last long. A good many boys work
in the shipping department.. That is.
they pack the powder into cans and
into barrels for shipment. The boys
make 80 cents day, and also say they
IKE the work. No girls are employed
about the mills. The workmen are
required to exercise great care in the
clothes they wear, and they do not
have to be unreasonably urged They
are not allowed to enter the works
without changing their shoes. They
wear what they call powder shoes"
that is shoes with no sign of iron
about them. Not a vestige of metal
| lie substance is carried on or about
them. Not a man is permitted to
carry any matches. The sign 'No
Smoking is not needed about the
mills. They are not allowed to carry
any smoking material into the yards,
| although outside of the works they are
said to be great smokers.
But it is not likely that any outsider
will ever be killed by an explosion at
the Dupont works. There is no pos
sibility for him to get near enough
Approach any gate, and if you do not
heed the sign in big bold letters over
the gateway, .:No Admission a guard
will meet you and halt you. And then
no sane person will argue the question
at any great length. Nobody will VIC
lently break into a powder factory
What blessed place that would be to
Go work that required absolute. serene
| quietude. How one could give book
agents and life insurance agents and
kindred bores the horse laugh! Some
day | will own. a powder factory just
a little While to enjoy myself.
The Dupont powder mills of this
country were organized and built at
Wilmington, Delaware, by Eleuthere
Irenee Dupont, who was driven out Of
France by the French Revolution The
first factory in America was started in
1SO2-so that it will be seen that it is
no infant industry It has grown, and
modern methods Of manufacture have
kept pace with every other industry.
improvements are being constantly
made. The business is still in the
hands of the Duponts, and perhaps al.
ways will be. They have practically
a monopoly of the powder business.
But they also make dynamite, nitro
glycerine and other powerful explo-
sives at their Eastern factory. They
are worth many millions. Nobody
knows, perhaps, their wealth, for about
that, as about everything they do,
they maintain strict secrecy. They
believe thoroughly in the motto that it
pays best to mind your own business
The fact that there is the air Of mys-
terry about the mills, and that there is
TO admission, makes ones curiosity ali
the more keen. I asked the guard
what they would do if the Governor
of Iowa or the President would ask
admission. eve would keep him out"
was the prompt response. He after
wards modified that statement, how
ever, but theoretically there is no ad-
| mission to the Dupont powder works
under any circumstances unless you
are workman. It is a queer occu-
patton for family to choose, although
| it may be said that the present genera
! tion of Duponts are not to blame, for
they are bred and born to it as the
Prince is born to the purple, with the
exception that the Duponts are a ben
eft and a useful branch Of our civil
zation and it is safe to say that, since
none of the powder manufa ctured here
| is used for aught but in the industrial
and commercial world, they are a
! blessing to the world.
Looking for a Loan? See Elan
ders & Wood. They have made ar
rangements whereby they can loan
thousands OF Dollars.