Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-06-20

Prussia gave him the contract for her new breech-
leaders The Khedive of Egypt followed this with
a large order for war material, and Russia fol-
lowed with contracts for large quantities of new
weapons.
While the Essen works were designed for gen.
eral foundry work, the output for many years has
consisted almost entirely of heavy guns; but it
was not until 1916, 20 years after his fathers
death and 36 years after the founding of the firm
that Alfred Krupp began gunmaking His first
results were pieces of small caliber. AS he be-
came interested in the science, and his dis
coveries in steel casting developed the size and
weight Of the cannon he was able to construct
increased steadily until these monsters, which
have become world-famous, became common oc-
currences in the Essen works.
The Krupp field gun is the basis of the mobile
artillery of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Rus
sa, and Turkey. Under the administration of
Friedrich A. Krupp Essen turned out the great
pieces which guard Germany's fortresses and are
mounted in her coast defenses Krupp answered
Krupp from the emplacements of Port Arthur
against the siege batteries of Japan. And side
by side with the instruments Of war Essen placed
a thousand and one steel products, illustrating
Alfred Krupps first and chief maxim: mo good
steel without good iron, used in today's TOOLS ma
chinery, railroads, and ships.
Krupp ordnance has roared all over the world.
Some Of the guns that fired at Deweys squadron
at Manila came from Essen. The siege guns used
in the Franco-German and in at the
bombardment of Paris were from this factory,
and the Parisians terror of them not dimin-
ished by the memory Of one of the Krupp master
pieces which had been exhibited in their city in
1867. 1t weighed $4,000 Kilograms, and made away
with $500 worth of powder and iron every time 1t
was fired. After that war the Krupps refused to
make cannon for France.
AS the business grew collateral industries were
developed and Essen which had been tiny vii
lage, expanded to town Of over 100000 inhab
Ell he
mines, coke ovens, iron mines, steamships, rail
roads, and blast furnaces were bought. In 1872
Alfred Krupp owned Ala iron ore diggings, and
when his son Friedrich died he owned over 500.
Upon Alfred's death, July IA, 1887, Friedrich A
Krupp became the head of the establishment. 1t
has been said OF him that he devoted himself to
the financial rather than the technical side of the
business, but in 1902, at the annual meeting in
London of the Iron and Steel institute. the Besse
mer gold medal for scientific research was award
ed to him. This is of the highest honors that
can be paid to any man in the iron trade. 1t was
given to him for his discoveries in the manufac-
ture of armor plate. The son was thus following
in the footsteps of his father
Both Alfred and Friedrich A. Krupp declined
titles One was offered to the father by King
William, afterward Emperor William L. in 1864.
and Williams son, the present emperor, renewed
the offer to Krupp's son. Neither would accept.
At the time of his death he was by far the rich
est man In Germany, and was called -the German
Morgan" The imperial income tax returns
showed that in the year Esfore his death he had
yearly income of between 20,OO0,O00 marks (s4-
760,O0O) and z1.000,000 marks. The second
wealthiest man in the empire had an income OF
only 100000 marks.