The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-30
Foreigners Buy Land Overlook
ing Big Powder Mills.
Command Sight of Uncle Sans
Ammunition Supply.
FARM LAND" THEIR EXCUSE
But They Buy Only Tracts on
High HilltOps.
One Shell Could Put All Mills
Out of Business.

New York April 30-A japanese
syndicate which is said to represent
ing the Japanese government has been
secretly purchasing a number of
mountain tops overlooking the great
DUPONT Smokeless powder plant at
Haskell, N. J. The powder of this
factory is manufactured almost exclu-
sively for the United States govern
ment. 1t is this powder which is used
by the big guns of the army and navy.
With such caution have the Jap
anese taken titles to the hills to the
northward of the Haskell plant, that
the residents of the neighborhood did
not become aroused until the present
agitation in California against alien
ownership of lands began to develop
it's proportions.
why they quietly settled here be-
side us, is a puzzle" said one of the
officials of the Dupont Powder COM
pany. eff they wanted to, they could
mount a few guns and throw few
shells into our midst that would pretty
nearly put US out of business"
That the United State government is
wholly dependent upon the powder
trust for the ammunition for it's navy
was shown by evidence set forth in the
government suit for the dissolution of
the MONOPOLY. 1t was shown that the
DUPONT company made 100 per cent
of all the smokeless powder, outside or
the comparatively small amount
manufactured by the government
itself.
The Japanese began to investigate
the country around Haskell shortly
after the United States government
began work on the Panama canal. One
Japanese after another made fleeting
visits to the valley of the Wanaque, so
the residents of Haskell say, but there
were no direct overtures for the pur-
chase of land until about three years
ago.
Factories Short Distance Apart.
The hills bordering the Wanaque
river, which are known as the Camp
bell range, are interSected with low
scooped valleys. In one of these many
of the powder houses of the Haskell
factory are located. To the south of
the snokeless powder company fac
tory, about a mile, are the fuse and
cap plants of the trust, also hid in
other valleys to the southwark. The
cap factory is furtheSt south, being
situated not far from Pompton lakes.
All of the factories are located only a
short distance to the east of the Green
wood Lake division of the Erie rail-
road.
Following the acquisition of the
Sloat property, the Japanese turned
their attention to other hilltops which
commanded views of the valley in
which many of the buildings of the
hundred acres included in the Sloat
homestead, were added the David
farm, it is said, which comprises a
total area of 800 acres.
Since then the japanese syndicate
has increased its holdings little by lit
tie until they now are said to total
1900 acres. The names of all of the
farms could not be ascertained because
of the quietness with which they have
been acquired.
Arthur Roman, son of the proprie-
tor of the Lake Side hotel at Haskell,
said that he accompanied a Japanese
dow fT-TrN fnY mn mt lin
top land last spring.
''This Japanese told me he repre-
sented the Japanese government" said
young Roman. HE said Japan want
ed some good farm land and it was his
business to find it. 1 thought it funny
that he picked out mountain tops