The sun., 1915-10-24
Inside Story
ofLifeinBig
Powder Mill
Workman Reveals What
Actually Goes On Be-,
hind Barbed Fences.

man who has returned after working
for some time as an oiler in one Of
the plants near Deep Water.
There are three mammoth plants
located on the Delaware River between
Deep water and Penn's Grove. and
another is now under course Of con-
s,ruction at Deep Water Point. The
Du Pont company owns all the land
wing between Deep water and Carney
Point. a distance OF seven miles. This
ard varies in width from one and one
half to two and one-half miles, 10 that
the area owned by the company Il in
the neighborhood OF sixteen square
miles. Al present the powder made
for foreign countries Is for the most
par, shipped by rail to Carney's Point
and then transferred to boats. A huge
pier is now being built at Deep Water
Point, ard upon the completion of
Plant No. 4 all powder for foreign
countries will he shipped from this
pier.
Plant No. >. with which this article
will deal is located on a plot of ground
nearly five square miles in area. The
workings of the other plants differ in
but slight degree from the plant to be
considered here.
Employed at this plant are 5000
men. equal to the population Of large
sized town. Al Plant No. I, which
is the largest plant owned by the
company, more than $4,000 men are
employed. Except in the case Of seri.
Gus accidents the plant never stops.
Day and night. through all kinds OF
weather, the plant continues to turn
out It's supply Of explosives. The men
work in shifts Of 5000, each shif,
working for eight hours.
Around the plant is a barbed wire
''nt' S.N feet high and constructed
IN manner very similar to the fence
used In protecting prison Gamma IN
Nar times. At various places along
ne fourteen miles Of fence gates ar,
placed through which workmen enter
and rc'ntcr. Armed guards are placed
al each gate.
Many features of the plant are sur.
Sesil'e "f war times. The one most
"R".y I" attract attention is the fac.
INA; eacn workman must carry a nass
'h'ar IN many respects to a Euro
pe'n passport Scores Of correspon.
cents and reporters from various news.
paper, have applied for permission 10
"'re'. the plant. but they have in
'arabiy met with a refusal
ne entire fence is patrol,ed day and
ny mounted and armed guards
me ia Pont company is a firm be-
''-f IN safety first" One is clearly
reminded If this fact by the huge sign
''' ''r'hangs each gate. 1t reads:
I'D case You do not agree to he
'''"I"I do not apply for work.
On 'Lr npposite side in glarjnr h,.cL
''' '"IS inscription greets the eve
'"' man who has just secured EN-.
poymont.
''S 'e'ter to he careful than sorry.
throughout the plant, at distances
'"" 10 tho average city block. are
D'S' d'd stations. Here one will And
hfs' aid cabinet and respirator for
''''hS overcome by ether or Alcohol
,.",'S. l pom the cabinets are placed
,,'''' showing men working in safe
"'S'l" ways. Beneath the pic-
lures the inscriptions:
'IS factor in the cause OF
"'''dcnts, human negligence.
'"' Observers eye is Instantly A..
""'''d 20 the numerous one story
-h'dHlod iron buildings that stretch
''T mics IN every direction. The build.
."I> are ipr the most part ONLY tenn
F"'ary ~ course the power pls nj.
.'"rS ana other necessary buildings
are Quilt ,uhstantiallv.
me factory buildings are mainly
,oN ''e Story buildings, made of frame
I'N''fd''on and covered with gal
,''"'I ron The floors are for the
',''' part Of concrete and the sides
''' buildings are removable. AL
D"lIhS mad" after this manner serves
"'' lI' purpose for which II 4. do.
-".'I Explosions at powder plants
frequent and following an explo-
NV" NOR" - very little debris 10 be
,a''' away and the buildings are
..f repaired or replaced. Then. ton
',-i "i these buildings is con-
''I"'F loss than that OF permanent
'rIciuro.. '"""eh'
An enormous number of men In cor-
l' ''nI"Ned at the various plants
,., ''" ana replace buildings. Ma
''' I"r building is always kent on
''' 'h large quantities, as the com
'' Ia prepared to meet any emer-
"''' 'N'ng used in the manufacture
"'h'I"Ns powder, the kind used
.'''''' by the United States Gov
'S mad" at Plant No. 2. with
exception of guncotton and nitro-
,F'''Iu" The company maintains n
,"p'"i" llCohol distillery at plant
.,ra '"her is also manufactured in
urge Quantities
''"Sh"ut the plant il a railroad
rt,p ana operated by the company.
~. "ie connects all the plants owned
va" company and also connects
r.n. ~" pennsylvania and Reading
u,, narrow gauge electric !,
iba '"S through every building in
nou "dh'' and In used to carry the
'""uci IN the making from an. -.