Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-07-13
WORK WITH Death
Powder Makers Toll In Constant
Peri! of Their Lives.
THEY DON'T WANT VISITORS

Men Callers Arc Permitted In the
Plant Only With Extreme Reluctance
and After Drastic Precautions. and
Women Arc Absolutely Barred.
In all the vocations In which man
can make living in the United States
there Is none more perilous than the
manufacture Of gunpowder and none
In which the public, which usually
suffers severely In case Of accident.
takes so small IN interest. The word
guDpowder itself carries suggestion
OF peril which is reflected in all the
superstitions Of the men wb, work in
tue trade.
The men who work in powder plants
are study in themselves. Probably
In no other business do the human
agents take more precautions against
disaster with such pitiful results.
Men who work in powder plants are
in constant fear Of death. They are
face to face with peril every second.
Instead Of growing hardened to it. as
d" the IabOrers In many other fields of
danger, they appear to be the most
OuImrstitious class of men on earth.
They are we'll paid. A man who has
nerve enough to work at this trade Is
worthy Ut his hire. He can command
$40 day. sometimes $50. He prac.
ticalIy makes his own rules. since he
Is the one to suffer from an infraction
Of them. His every suspicion Is re-
spected by his employer. he cannot
dictate the hours Of labor. since that
Ia a matter eternally In dispute, as in
other kinds Of labor. but he can die
tate the conditions under which be
works from the moment he enters the
factory until he leaves
These superstitions seem absurd
sometimes. but they are the law of
the gunpowder factory. II you are an
employer you break the law at the
risk OF financial loss: II you are fel.
low employee you violate It at the risk
OF your life.
One OF the tirst laws among the en-
pIOyees Ia that Ut self preservation.
They have a deep rooted fear Of the
casual visitor. Few men have gone
through gunpowder plant out Of
mere curiosity. They are not wanted
and are told 50 frankly. II they sue
ceed in obtaining the permission Of
the supertn, endent or possibly Of some
one higher in authority they are sub
jex'ted to IN extraordinary ordeal be-
fore they are admitted to the sacred
precincts
First they are searched. and no 20
lice official Is more adept in the art Of
''frisking" than Is the outer guardian
OF the average gunpowder plant
Every piece Of metal. from pocket.
knife to garter clasp-every coin.
match. suspender buckle. everything
that could possibly strike spark. IL
removed. The hatband of the most
fashionable derby is examined With
care to SEE that 1t carries no metal
initials. And this examination Is not
carried on alone by the official whose
favor you have gained. A representa-
i've OF the employees takes an active
part in the examination. and If he has
any doubts he will politely request
you to strip to the skin.
Once inside the powder factory you
are under even more careful scrutiny.
Your shoes are taken away. and you
are provided with felt slippers. Con.
WINGED that on your person there Is no
piece Of metal which under any provo
cation could strike spark. you may
feei at liberty to roam around. but
you are not. Your every movement u
carefully. and should you
make q gesture calculated to inspire
you would be hustled out Of !
The building and told to leave the
within given time.
| had a graphic illustration of the
care taken BY these men to
prevent an accident and to save their
,wn lives. After having been care
FULLY searched and after having sur. !
everything which might come
under the classification Of metal was
admitted to the plant. Secure In the
that | was thoroughly dis
infected" | assumed nonchalance |
which was far from feeling as l
the various processes of max.
ng gunpowder. was 50 we'll at ease |
hat | drew toothpick from my pock.
It and calmly picked my teeth.
Instantly | was thrown to the door
and while two husky men held me q
third searched my clothing When
5nally ! was released it was explain
I'd to me that they feared the tooth
pick might be u match
I.abOring under the constant fear Of
1eath. the employees grow extraordi-
1arily superStiriouS. Once allow a wo-
nan to set foot within powder fac
ory and the entire force will quit 1t
q one of the axioms of the trade that
! woman brings misfortune and 1t Is
useless to argue the question. A NO.
nan photographer for a newspaper on
! Sunday assignment" once was id.
nitted into an Illinois powder factory
oy an inexperienced official. and the
1ext day the plant was shut down.
The employees struck. The plant r.
NAMED idle until 40 entire new force
vas recruited News