The Penn's Grove record., 1915-09-03
NO. 3 IN OPERATION.
A FAST RECORD IN CONSTRUCTION.
CONSTRUCTION NEARING
AN END.

Plant No. 8 was started into operation
on Wednesday and it is hoped to turn out
powder this Friday, but it will probably
not be until the fore part of next week
thai the finished product will be seem.
Four of the six boilers now furnish steam
for power. Fires have been under them
for W weeks. Last Sunday the pumps
were started and the leaks and, adjust
ments were made for operation by We'd
nesday. Two more boilers are to be erect
ed to give power for all the operating
houses when finished,
The erection of Plant 3, presumed to
cost a million and a half dollars, has been
in record breaking time.
The first plans were drawn in May.
Engineers staked out the buildings about
the middle OF June. Construction began
about July LIST and has been rushed with
greater speed than ever before made III
constructing a powder making plant in
America, ia fact, in the world. Some oil
the buildings were erected faster than the
plans were sent over from the engineering
department in the DUPONT building in
Wilmington.
Being duplicates of building aud ma
chinery in Plants l and 2, the making
and construction were easily done, be-
cause the workmen were transferred from
those plants.
A year ago, in a month after the great
European War started, the duPonts be-
gan to receive orders for powder. BY the
middle of October million dollar orders
were received. By the first OF November
the orders amounted to hundreds OF mill
ions of pounds, and subsequent orders be-
came go amazing as to bewilder tine Off
Gals how to fill them.
By the first OF November the enlarge
ment OF the plant was urgent. Engineers,
carpenters and mechanics were paid pre-
minm prices. By January l, some new
additions to Plant / were ready for ma
chinery. The last large addition to Plant
| was finished in June. The additions to
Plant / las cost probably a million and q
half, and doubled the capacity.
In January the need Of Plant 2 became
manifest. Its construction began the lat
ter part OF February and operation OF
making srnokeless powder began about
the first OF June. This plant cost probably
two millions.
A picric acid plant was built on Deep
Water Point in April. 1t cost nearly a
million.
During May the reed OF Plant 3 became
manifest, 30 large were the urgens orders,
when it was seen that the great sanguin-
ary conflict in Europe would not end IN a
year.
Since the first of last December hun
dreds Of carloads OF building lumber and
machinery have arrived. Not only by
train loads, but also by hundreds OF truck
loads from Wilmington. Large castings
weighing hundreds Of pounds have been
received by express, no matter what the
cost
The erection Of the powder plants along
the road from Penns Grove to the Peans
Neck Canal, has been like the wonders OF
Aladdin. Buildings have gone up over
night and machinery installed, ready for
manufacturing in a few weeks. Never in
the history Of the world has such con-
struction been made at the cost OF five or
six million dollars.
The big construction is nearing an end,
with the exception Of the addition of the
picric acid plant OH Deep Water Point
where probably half a million more will
be spent.
Plant No. 4 has not been manifested.
1t is rumored that it will be erected, but
not in Penns Neck Township.